Who Is Worst VP?

Posted on July 23rd, 2007 by Neil Aquino

Some say our current President is the worst President ever. That could be true.

It might also be so that Vice President Richard Cheney is our nation’s worst Vice President in history. 

Let’s review the candidates for this distinction along with the years each served as Vice President—

Aaron Burr of New York (1801-1805)—While Vice President, Mr. Burr shot and killed founding father Alexander Hamilton in a duel. After leaving office, Mr. Burr would scheme to form a new nation involving the western holdings of the United States. 

John C. Calhoun of South Carolina (1825-1833)—In opposition to tariffs approved by Congress and by President Andrew Jackson, Vice President Calhoun took his native South Carolina to the brink of secession with his false doctrines of interposition and nullification. Later President Jackson would say he regretted not having hung Calhoun.

Spiro Agnew of Maryland (1969-1973)—Mr. Agnew resigned in disgrace for tax evasion while Governor of Maryland. Vice President Agnew was also the right-wing attack dog for President Richard Nixon.

Richard Cheney of Wyoming and Texas (2001-Current)— Mr. Cheney has played a key role in the failed invasion of Iraq. He has advocated a great and unneeded secrecy in government. Mr. Cheney has also claimed that the Vice President is not part of the executive branch.  

My pick–Calhoun

Tags: Other Political Thoughts // 5 Comments »

  • http://www.inspiritry.com Anne McCrady

    While it is interesting to remember other despicable Vice-Presidents, you left off the most agregious acts of VP Cheney:

    1)He and his political allies (read: industry colleagues) started a tragic war from which they made millions paid by federal debt, all the while killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

    2)He mastermined the dissolution of America’s moral authority on human rights abroad and here at home through torture, discrimination and disregard for privacy.

    3) He made dozens of members of his administration take the blame for illegal and unethical policies he instituted and ordered.

    Lest I sound too harsh, I do not discount that Cheney must have some goodness inside him. Still, he gets my vote in your poll.

  • desertbug

    And we left off the part about where he got drunk and shot his friend in the face.

    Still, not sure who I’d vote for. Neck and neck between Calhoun and Cheney, I guess. Off with both of their heads.

  • http://texasliberal.wordpress.com/ Texas Liberal

    Ms. McCrady–The question of any goodness in Mr. Cheney is beyond my knowing. He might love his family but so have a lot of bad people in history.

    desertbug–Off with their heads? Bastille Day just passed. I knew I should’ve done a French Revolution post.

    Amazing how much better Spiro Agnew seems to be looking in people’s eyes.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Anne –

    Excellent list.

    Thanks for your comments.

  • http://texasliberal.wordpress.com/ Texas Liberal

    Yes. Thank you for your comments. I did indeed mean to say that. Ms. McCrady has now left three comments on posts I’ve made and she seems as nice a person as I could imagine. I don’t think she could ever sound too harsh.

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