Report Outline
Special Focus
Introduction
The qualities that make a good vice president do not necessarily make a good president. The ideal vice president—loyal, discreet, willing to stay in the background—may not be able to master the presidency. But a vice president who has strength, vision and leadership ability—qualities of a good president—may find the subordinate role intensely frustrating and may not be able to do it.
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Overview
The vice presidency's quadrennial season in the spotlight has arrived. For much of the time from now until the Republican and Democratic national conventions later this summer, political discussions are likely to focus on the two parties' choices for the nation's second-highest office. With their own presidential nominations firmly in hand. Vice President George Bush and Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis will be able to devote a major part of their attention to the selection of running mates. Campaign staffers and political pundits will endlessly debate which of the two lengthy lists of potential vice presidential nominees will bring the most electoral strength to their tickets. Because most observers predict an extremely close election, the final vice presidential choices will probably come down to sophisticated calculations of regional and ideological advantage.
The choices probably will not involve much consideration of what the running mate would actually do once he or she got elected. Throughout its history, the vice presidency has been better known as the target of jokes than as a significant position within the federal government. Other than the constitutional roles of presiding over the Senate and succeeding to the presidency in the event of the death, incapacity or ouster of the incumbent, the vice president has few obligatory duties and little real power other than what the chief executive chooses to give him. |
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Executive Powers and the Presidency |
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Feb. 24, 2006 |
Presidential Power |
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Nov. 15, 2002 |
Presidential Power |
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Feb. 02, 2001 |
The Bush Presidency |
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Jun. 20, 1997 |
Line-Item Veto |
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Jun. 14, 1996 |
First Ladies |
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Oct. 21, 1988 |
Dangers in Presidential Transitions |
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Jun. 10, 1988 |
The Quandary of Being Vice President |
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Jan. 06, 1984 |
Presidential Advisory Commissions |
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Jul. 28, 1978 |
Presidential Popularity |
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Feb. 13, 1976 |
Evaluating Presidential Performance |
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Dec. 12, 1975 |
Presidential Protection |
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Jul. 11, 1973 |
Presidential Reorganization |
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Mar. 07, 1973 |
Presidential Accountability |
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Sep. 24, 1971 |
Presidential Diplomacy |
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Nov. 11, 1970 |
Vice Presidency |
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Oct. 02, 1968 |
Presidential Power |
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Mar. 14, 1966 |
War Powers of the President |
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Nov. 23, 1960 |
Transfer of Executive Power |
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Apr. 04, 1956 |
Vice Presidency |
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Oct. 15, 1952 |
Change of Presidents |
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Jun. 09, 1950 |
President and Mid-Term Elections |
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Oct. 20, 1948 |
Federal Patronage |
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Mar. 24, 1948 |
The South and the Presidency |
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Dec. 05, 1947 |
Military Leaders and the Presidency |
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Apr. 16, 1947 |
Veto Power of the President |
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Sep. 20, 1945 |
Succession to the Presidency |
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Sep. 12, 1940 |
The War Powers of the President |
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Feb. 11, 1938 |
Emergency Powers of the President |
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Jan. 06, 1938 |
The Power to Declare War |
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Dec. 28, 1937 |
Extension of the Veto Power |
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Dec. 28, 1936 |
Limitation of the President's Tenure |
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Mar. 12, 1935 |
The President and the Congress |
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Dec. 16, 1932 |
The Veto Power of the President |
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May 28, 1931 |
Presidential Commissions |
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Oct. 23, 1928 |
Presidential Appointments and the Senate |
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Mar. 21, 1928 |
Business Conditions in Presidential Years |
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Jan. 20, 1927 |
The Monroe Doctrine |
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Mar. 18, 1925 |
The President's Power of Appointment |
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Sep. 10, 1923 |
The President's Position on Patronage |
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