The Vice Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary [Hardcover]

L. Edward Purcell (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1997 | ISBN-10: 0816031096 | ISBN-13: 978-0816031092

Political and historical, Vice Presidents collects the life stories of every man that has held this office. Each expertly written biography addresses the state of the country at the time these men were in office and features:
An analysis of prevailing political conditions
The opposition
The relationships between the vice president and presidents
The political machinations of these men, some of whom gained the ultimate prize, presidency
A full chronology of the political history of the United States from 1789 to 2000.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

If Americans don't know much about government, the vice presidency has been even less known. Yet the holders of the position have often been distinguished leaders and several have become president. Although a large number of undistinguished persons have held the office, the position is one step from leading the nation.

Information on the 45 individuals is readily available in a variety of sources, but the current work succinctly brings together a wide range of material in an engaging way. Each of the 7-to 12-page profiles has been written by a historian who has previously published on the person or was responsible for his official papers. Entries are alphabetically arranged. Preceding each entry is a portrait or photo, and references at the end identify the source material. Appendixes include a chronology, an alphabetical list of vice presidents with years of service, a list of vice presidents by state (New York has supplied the most), a chronological list of unsuccessful candidates, and a bibliography of general sources.

In addition to basic information, the entries provide a human dimension, capturing the politics and drama of the subjects' lives. As an example, the Dictionary of American Biography gives the facts on Garret A. Hobart, who served from 1897 to 1899, in one and a half pages, but this work brings him much more alive in a nine-page profile. When Hobart was very ill, President McKinley gave him the difficult task of asking for the resignation of the Secretary of War, a close friend. Hobart died soon after, but was considered to have restored the position to distinction during his short tenure.

The Vice Presidents will be useful in a wide range of libraries for students seeking both factual information and an understanding of the times in which these men lived. It covers its subjects in more depth than McFarland's The Vice Presidents [RBB D 1 96]. However, considering the $50 price tag, smaller school and public libraries may decide they can get by with the information on vice presidents available in such works as Congressional Quarterly's The Presidency A^-Z [RBB Mr 15 93], or in general encyclopedias.

Reference Books in brief

Product Details

• Hardcover: 474 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816031096
• ISBN-13: 978-0816031092
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,279,834 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read, A Great Resource, July 3, 2008

By 

James Gallen (St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vice Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary (Facts on File Library of American History) (Hardcover)

"Vice Presidents" presents the reader with a brief biography, generally running six to ten pages, about each Vice President of the United States. Each biography covers the pre-vice presidential, vice presidential and, where applicable, post vice presidential careers of its subject. Every entry is written by an expert in the field.

This book can be used as a reference or as an introduction to the varied and accomplished men who have served as our vice presidents. I found that reading it through provides an understanding of the office and the men who have held it. For all of the jokes, the vice presidents are a very distinguished group. Besides the ones who have served as president, many of the others were seriously considered for the office. Most had impressive careers which either ended or were continued when they reached the vice-presidency.

The changing nature of the office can be gleaned from a reading of these biographies. Originally the vice presidents were, primarily, presiding officers of the Senate, with little or no involvement in the president's administration. Over time the vice presidents gradually shifted from the legislative to the executive branch. Garrett Hobart (1897-99) was an early one to be a confidant and aid to the president. Calvin Coolidge (1921-23) began the tradition of vice presidents' attendance at cabinet meetings. Beginning with Richard Nixon the veeps acquired increasingly important roles in the administration. Today we expect a vice- president to maintain unquestioning loyalty to the administration. This has not always been so. Some, most recently John Nance Garner, actively opposed Administration programs, even to the point of voting against administration backed bills in the Senate.

All the impressive things we learn not withstanding, there are some whose habits are so at variance from our standards as to be funny. Two who come to mind are Richard Johnson (1837-41) who was shunned, not because he had a family with a slave, but because he was open about it, and Aaron Burr, the All-American villain.

For those seeking to get beyond the high points of history, "Vice Presidents" is a great place to start.