For much of American history, the vice presidency was a political afterthought. Presidents and vice presidents sometimes disliked each other, worked against each other, or barely communicated at all. So how did the office become one of the most influential positions in Washington?
On this episode of American History Hotline, Bob Crawford talks with Elaine Kamarck, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies and Director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution, about the surprising evolution of the American vice presidency.
Kamarck explains how changes to the presidential nomination process transformed the relationship between presidents and their running mates — and why modern presidents increasingly chose vice presidents who could actually help them govern.
Along the way, they explore Theodore Roosevelt's vice president actively working against him, Harry Truman learning about the atomic bomb only after FDR's death, Al Gore's groundbreaking role in the Clinton administration, Dick Cheney's extraordinary power after 9/11, John McCain's controversial selection of Sarah Palin, and the vice presidencies of Joe Biden, Mike Pence, Kamala Harris, and JD Vance.
Plus: Was Dick Cheney really running the show during George W. Bush's first term? Why did Sarah Palin go from an exciting running mate to a political liability? And what should future presidential candidates look for when choosing a VP?