The American Vice Presidency: From the Shadow to the Spotlight

by Jody C Baumgartner, Thomas F. Crumblin (Editor)

Overview

It is quite possible that no elected office has been more historically maligned than the vice presidency of the United States. From the beginning of American politics the office has been the object of ridicule by scholars, pundits, humorists, citizens, and even vice presidents themselves. The perception among many is that institution and its occupants are at best irrelevant. Recent history would suggest otherwise, but as it stands no book exists that takes a detailed look at the new, impactful vice presidency that’s been forged since Clinton/Gore took office. The American Vice Presidency fills an important hole in the literature available to those interested in the modern vice presidency. Concise yet comprehensive, this book is the fullest and most accurate examination of the office to date, covering the origins and constitutional roots of the institution, its history, and the slow transformation of the office starting in the mid-twentieth century. Jody C Baumgartner and Thomas F. Crumblin highlight major changes in vice presidential selection as well as the new and various roles that vice presidents are being asked to play in their administrations. The book emphasizes the increasingly substantive Vice Presidencies of Gore, Cheney, and Biden and both informs and spurs the debate surrounding what form and role the Vice Presidency will take on moving forward.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442228894
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/23/2015
Pages:	234
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Jody C Baumgartner is associate professor of political science at Eastern Carolina University and the author of Conventional Wisdom and American Elections: Exploding Myths, Exploring Misconceptions.

Thomas F. Crumblin is an independent researcher and author who received a bachelor's degree in political science from Syracuse University. His interests include American and British politics along with media and politics.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction: The Vice Presidency Chapter 2. Origins: The Constitutional Convention & Pre-Twelfth Amendment Vice Presidents Chapter 3. The Traditional Era: Nineteenth Century Vice Presidents Chapter 4. Setting the Stage: Transitional Era Vice Presidents Chapter 5. The Rise of the Modern Vice Presidency Chapter 6. Vice Presidents in the Modern Age Chapter 7. Al Gore and the Gore-Clinton Partnership Chapter 8. Dick Cheney: George W. Bush’s Loyal Lieutenant Chapter 9. Joe Biden: Barack Obama’s Handyman Chapter 10. Making Sense of it All: The Future of the Vice Presidency

Editorial Reviews

As the authors of this book note, no other elected office has been more maligned than the vice presidency—but no other book will do more to correct that historical error than this one! Jody C Baumgartner and Thomas F. Crumblin have produced an informative and authoritative account of the least understood of all public offices, yet managed to make the book so accessible and engaging that it should be appreciated by a very wide audience.

Robert P. Watson

No longer just an office that helps presidential candidates unify the party and win electoral votes, modern vice presidents share the burden of governing and have become major Washington players in their own right. Detailed case studies on Gore, Cheney, and Biden make it clear that recent vice presidents bear only a slight resemblance to their historic predecessors and make a compelling argument that future presidential candidates should carefully consider whom they choose to join them on the ticket.

Joseph A. Pika

Baumgartner and Crumblin provide a detailed account of the history and development of the American vice presidents. The authors do a good job of surveying the early period from the Constitutional Convention to the late 19th century, and also provide an assessment of the transition of the position into the modern era. The particular benefit of the book, however, is the authors’ coverage of the most recent vice presidents: Al Gore, Dick Cheney, and Joe Biden. Their assessment of Cheney—easily one of the most controversial vice presidents—covers his influence over national security policy to his role in George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign, and is thorough and fair. A similar treatment is given of Biden, who, like Cheney and Gore before him, is a key presidential adviser. Baumgartner and Crumblin do well in showing that the office of the vice president is no longer ‘a resting place for mediocrities’ as Arthur Schlesinger once opined. Instead, it is an important position that attracts strong and forceful politicians. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and undergraduate students all levels.

Choice Reviews

Jody C Baumgarter and Thomas F. Crumblin’s outstanding analysis of the historic evolution of the vice president into the “presidential alter-ego” is especially insightful for the three most recent vice presidents, Al Gore, Dick Cheney, and Joe Biden. This original and persuasive book shows how presidents use their vice presidents for policy and political advice and how they have become presidential surrogates both at home and abroad.

James A. Thurber

Baumgartner and Crumblin provide a detailed account of the history and development of the American vice presidents.  The authors do a good job of surveying the early period from the Constitutional Convention to the late 19th century, and also provide an assessment of the transition of the position into the modern era.  The particular benefit of the book, however, is the authors’ coverage of the most recent vice presidents: Al Gore, Dick Cheney, and Joe Biden.  Their assessment of Cheney—easily one of the most controversial vice presidents—covers his influence over national security policy to his role in George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign, and is thorough and fair.  A similar treatment is given of Biden, who, like Cheney and Gore before him, is a key presidential adviser. Baumgartner and Crumblin do well in showing that the office of the vice president is no longer ‘a resting place for mediocrities’ as Arthur Schlesinger once opined.  Instead, it is an important position that attracts strong and forceful politicians. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and undergraduate students all levels.

Choice

Baumgartner and Crumblin provide a detailed account of the history and development of the American vice presidents.  The authors do a good job of surveying the early period from the Constitutional Convention to the late 19th century, and also provide an assessment of the transition of the position into the modern era.  The particular benefit of the book, however, is the authors’ coverage of the most recent vice presidents: Al Gore, Dick Cheney, and Joe Biden.  Their assessment of Cheney—easily one of the most controversial vice presidents—covers his influence over national security policy to his role in George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign, and is thorough and fair.  A similar treatment is given of Biden, who, like Cheney and Gore before him, is a key presidential adviser. Baumgartner and Crumblin do well in showing that the office of the vice president is no longer ‘a resting place for mediocrities’ as Arthur Schlesinger once opined.  Instead, it is an important position that attracts strong and forceful politicians. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and undergraduate students all levels.

CHOICE