By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times
A college student asked me today why so much attention is being paid to the two candidates for vice president of these United States of America.
So, I tried to explain the intense media scrutiny of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic candidate, and U. S. Sen. J, D. Vance, the Republican nominee, both of whom have been getting more press exposure of late than their running mates who picked them.
The answer is quite simple, really. It’s because the vice president is the first person in the presidential line of succession. That means they become president if the president dies, resigns, or is impeached and removed from office.
How likely is that to happen?
Well, President Joe Biden is the 46th person to hold the presidency in our history. We have had nine vice presidents automatically ascend to the highest office in our land and three of those have happened in my lifetime.
Eight accidental presidencies resulted from the death of the man in the White House. Becoming “Mr. President” in that manner were John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry S. Truman, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Gerald Ford moved up because President Richard Nixon resigned during the Watergate scandal.
Four of the nine VPs – Andrew Johnson, Arthur, Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson gained the presidency through the assassination of the president. Altogether, 17 attempts have been made on the lives of sitting American presidents.
Another reason for importance of the vice presidency is that he or she serves as president of the U. S. Senate and has the option of casting a tie-breaking vote in case of a deadlock in that chamber.
At present, there are 49 Republican senators and 47 Democratic senators but there also are four independent senators who usually vote with the Democrats.
Political strategists believe the right vice presidential candidate can be the key to victory in a tight race like we are witnessing between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
As voters, we must ask ourselves who would be the best choice to serve as president if the unthinkable happens a 10th time. Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.
