Vice-Presidential Trivia at CNN
CNN has a neat story titled A Celebration of Almost-Great Men. It has some trivia relating to American Vice-Presidents. It was written by Linda Rodriguez. Of course, if being a great man means becoming President, two of the men noted achieved that goal.
Here are a few highlights:
* Two Vice-Presidents were charged with treason. Both actually appear to have been guilty. These were Aaron Burr and John Breckenridge.
* Richard M. Johnson who - "Despite his credentials as a war hero and a Kentucky senator, Vice President Richard M. Johnson was never accepted in Washington. Perhaps that's because he dressed like a farmhand, cursed like a sailor, and made no secret of his three black mistresses, who were also his slaves."
* William Rufus de Vane King, who was sworn into office in Cuba and died 25 days later from tuberculosis and severe alcoholism.
* Henry Wallace, believer in eastern mysticism and a communist sympathizer.
President Chester Arthur and President Andrew Johnson are also covered in the article.