Throughout most of American history, the vice presidents were either runners up or chosen by their parties. After WW2, candidates finally got a say of their own. This is the story of the major party VP picks from 1948, why they were chosen and the reasons they could have been picked.
1948
Alben W. Barkley (Harry S. Truman): Southern Democrat, lots of experience, former Congressman, Senator, Senate Minority and Majority Leader, great speech at the 1948 DNC and supported the New Deal.
Harry S. Truman unexpectedly (in his mind) ascended to the presidency following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death in 1945. Because the 25th Amendment, which mandated vice presidencies and filling the vacancy, had not yet become a thing, Truman was not obligated to have a deputy until the next election. When 1948 came, it was time for him to pick a running mate.
Barkley, like Truman, was from a border state. He nevertheless had more cred with the Southern Democrats, as Truman’s civil rights proposals alienated them. It was hoped that Barkley was southern enough to help in that respect, but also palatable to northern voters due to being from a border state.
He had a wealth of experience- he’d been a Congressman, Senator, and both Senate Minority and Majority leader. He’d been in power since 1913, and had a reputation as a liberal who was extremely loyal to the party. Barkley had strongly supported the New Deal, which would likely mean he would support Truman’s Fair Deal.
Finally, Barkley’s popularity within the party and his electric speech at the Democratic National Convention in 1948 helped his chances enormously. Truman had wanted someone else as VP but was rejected, and upon hearing the audience’s reaction to Barkley, decided to choose him as a ticket mate.
Did He Help? Whilst Barkley was not ideological or geographically too far away from Truman, his strong credentials, popularity and loyalty made him a fairly strong candidate. Considering Truman was expected to lose in 1948, one might think that Barkley was a boost that helped him win-if ticket mates have that much power.
Earl Warren (Thomas Dewey): California Republican Chair, Attorney General of California, Governor of California, popular and a little more liberal.
Thomas Dewey lost to FDR in 1944, but decided to have another go in 1948. He won the nomination and set about searching for a ticket mate. He had wanted Earl Warren in 1944, but had failed to get him, but finally managed to persuade him in 1948. Warren was the Chair of the California Republican Party, and had a history as Attorney General and Governor of the state. Like Dewey, he had no experience outside of state government.
Warren provided a geographic balance to the New York based Dewey, being from California. Interestingly, both states are now very much Democratic on a federal level. Warren was a noted liberal, contrasting with Dewey’s moderate ideology.
Did He Help? Some believe that had Dewey chosen someone else, he might have been tipped over the edge. Warren didn’t bring much in the way of campaigning or experience, though the campaign wasn’t great. Whilst Warren didn’t help as ticket mate, he is lauded as a fantastic Supreme Court Chief Justice, a role he served in from 1953 to 1969.
1952
Richard Nixon (Dwight D. Eisenhower): Anti-Communist, Congress, Senate, young, California and political experience.
Dwight D. Eisenhower was courted by both parties due to his war hero status. He eventually came out as a Republican. Regarding his ticket mate, Eisenhower had no strong opinions and was happy to have someone chosen for him. After some back and forth, Richard Nixon was chosen. Nixon was younger- twenty-two years younger in fact, and was both a Congressman and a Senator, helping to counteract Eisenhower’s lack of political experience.
Along with his legislative experience, Nixon had another two assets: he was virulently anti-Communist and was from California. California provided an important amount of electoral votes, and as the Cold War grew, anti-Communism became a more popular ideology.
Did He Help?: When the controversy surrounding campaign fund improprieties came out, Eisenhower was ready to drop Nixon. Nixon, however, managed to turn things around with the legendary Checkers speech. The outpouring of support, including from Mamie Eisenhower, saw the general keep Nixon on the ticket. Whilst Eisenhower was a likely victor anyway, the choice of Nixon clearly energised the party.
John Sparkman (Adlai Stevenson): Once incumbent Harry S. Truman realised how truly unpopular he was, he decided not to run again. After a contentious convention process, grandson of former Vice President Adlai Stevenson I, Adlai Stevenson I, was chosen. Talk soon turned to the ticket mate. After some conversation, John Sparkman of Alabama was chosen.
Sparkman was a Southerner to Stevenson’s Northerner and conservative to his moderate. It was hoped that Sparkman’s status as a Southern Democrat and ardent conservative would shore up that vote.
Did He Help?: Sparkman didn’t do much for the campaign, both as a person and a candidate.
1956
Estes Kefauver (Adlai Stevenson): Adlai Stevenson decided to do a Thomas Dewey and run again in the next election. With his nomination locked in, he looked for a new ticket mate. Sparkman was not in contention this time, and the honour instead went to Estes Kefauver. Kefauver had nearly won the nomination in 1952, and was second place in the popular vote in 1956. He was a Southerner, being from Tennessee, and had experience in the legislature as a Congressman and Senator, unlike Stevenson.
Kefauver was also noted for his campaign against organised crime, a mantle Robert Kennedy would later take up. He was a populist compared to the moderate Stevenson.
Did He Help?: Eisenhower was almost certain to win re-election, and Kefauver did not do much to help the campaign.
1960
Lyndon B. Johnson (John F. Kennedy): When the young Catholic John F. Kennedy won the Democratic nomination in 1960, his team knew that they needed a solid ticket mate to offset the criticism he received. After lots of discussion, the role was eventually offered to the bombastic Lyndon B. Johnson.
Johnson had a lot to offer the ticket. Firstly, he was extremely experienced- he was a Congressman, Senator, Senate Majority Whip, Minority and now Majority Leader. As Majority Leader, he proved to be an extremely effective legislator who knew how to get votes and politicians in line. This compared to Kennedy, who had been both a congressman and senator, but without much responsibility. His experience and older age- he was nine years older than Kennedy- made him seem like a sage older mentor.
Perhaps most important was the fact that he was a Protestant and Southern Democrat. Kennedy was a devout Catholic at a time when many in the United States, including in his own party, were very wary of Catholicism. This was particularly prevalent in the South, where Johnson resided. Kennedy was also seen as an elitist and very representative of the north, whereas Johnson was a salt-of-the-earth Texan.
Did He Help?: Johnson was perhaps the greatest asset of the campaign aside from their money and Jacqueline Kennedy. His wealth of experience, geographical region and religion helped push Kennedy over the edge in an extremely tight race- if you believe that it wasn’t fixed.
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr (Richard Nixon): Richard Nixon seemed the natural heir to Eisenhower, and gained the 1960 Republican nomination. He eventually chose Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. as his running mate.
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. was a Senator, having served non-consecutive terms so that he could serve in WW2. He had lost to John F. Kennedy in 1952, and him being from Massachusetts saw Nixon hope that it would force Kennedy’s hand in the state. Lodge, like Kennedy, came from an elite family with political experience and connections.
Nixon had good foreign policy experience, as did Lodge, who had been a noted UN Ambassador with anti-Soviet and anti-Communist convictions. It was hoped that their shared wealth of experience would make Kennedy look even more inexperienced.
Did He Help?: No. Lodge’s promise to have at least one African-American cabinet member was extremely controversial and lost him votes. He was not good at talking to the electorate as a whole, and lost Massachusetts to Kennedy.
1964
Hubert Humphrey (Lyndon B. Johnson): Lyndon B. Johnson ascended to the presidency following John F. Kennedy’s slaying in November 1963. He was without a vice president during this time, and thus chose during the 1964 convention. Robert Kennedy was desperate to become VP, but Johnson hated the man (and the feeling was mutual) with the fire of a thousand suns, so refused. He eventually went for Hubert Humphrey.
Humphrey was a liberal from Minnesota, and it was clear that they hoped this would balance the ticket geographically. He had been a Senator since 1949 and mayor of the major city of Minneapolis beforehand. Like Johnson, he was a champion of civil rights, and would thus assist his upcoming agenda. Humphrey also wanted to be vice president.
Did He Help?: Johnson rode the Kennedy wave to elicit sympathy, and this combined with his skills and Goldwater’s controversial campaign made him almost a sure favourite to win. Humphrey may not have been a huge factor, but he was far from a hindrance.
William E. Miller (Barry Goldwater): 1964 was a tough year for the Republicans, and there was a huge struggle to find the perfect candidate. The ardent conservative Barry Goldwater of Arizona eventually won the day, and now it was time to find a vice president. He chose William E. Miller, a New Yorker. Goldwater straight up said that he picked Miller because he ‘drove Johnson nuts.’ In a more realistic standpoint, Miller was a Congressman and Chair of the Republican National Committee. As a New Yorker, it was hoped that he would bring their key electoral votes to the table.
Did He Help?: Miller remained an obscure figure whose deep conservatism didn’t distance him from the allegations that Goldwater was an ‘extremist.’ Johnson and Humphrey won in a landslide, and Miller’s home state of New York went Democrat.
1968
Spiro Agnew (Richard Nixon): Centrist bulldog, fighter, would say what others wouldn’t, tough during the Baltimore riots and Governor.
After failing to become California’s Governor in 1962, Richard Nixon swore that he was out of politics for good. He did not keep this promise, however, and soon entered national politics again in 1968. After winning the nomination, Nixon chose his ticket mate- Spiro Agnew. Agnew was the Governor of Maryland, and had impressed others with his extremely tough stance during the MLK riots in Baltimore. He was seen as a centrist, and had previously been very popular with African-Americans. Even more fortunately for Nixon, Agnew was more than happy to be the attack dog of the campaign, saying what others wouldn’t.
Did He Help?: Yes. Agnew’s comments were controversial but they did have their appeal, particularly among the ‘Silent Majority.’ It is said that he helped bring out the South and suburbanites, though they narrowly lost Maryland.
Edmund Muskie (Hubert Humphrey) : Moderate Northerner, Governor, Senator and environmentalist
After Johnson announced that he wasn’t running again, the Democratic race was wide open. Robert Kennedy eventually pulled ahead, but an assassin’s bullet put an end to all that. Humphrey managed to defeat Eugene McCarthy. He chose Edmund Muskie of Maine as his ticket mate. Muskie was a New Englander who had experience as both Governor and Senator. Whilst Humphrey skewed liberal, Muskie was a moderate.
Did He Help?: The election was tighter than expected on the popular vote, but Nixon did much better in the Electoral College. Muskie was undoubtedly barely a factor in this.
1972
Sargent Shriver (George McGovern)- Kennedy association, Director of the Peace Corps, Ambassador to France and poverty work.
Richard Nixon had both the benefit of the incumbency and a general popularity, so the Democrats needed a good candidate. After Edward Kennedy announced that he wasn’t running and Edmund Muskie’s campaign was overcome by scandal, George McGovern became the candidate. Thomas Eagleton was initially McGovern’s ticket mate, but the revelation that he’d suffered from severe depression and had undergone shock therapy caused problems. Just over two weeks after becoming the vice presidential nominee, Eagleton resigned after McGovern asked him to step down.
After a number of candidates turned the offer down, Sargent Shriver agreed. He was connected to the Kennedy family through his wife Eunice, sister of JFK, RKF and Edward Kennedy. Though he had no legislative or gubernatorial experience, he’d been Director of the Peace Corps and Ambassador to France. He had also done a lot of anti-poverty work.
Did He Help?: Nixon’s campaign may have been dirty, but it was also strong when it needed to be. Coupled with his popularity and incumbency advantage, he was the clear favourite. Shriver was the closest thing the Democrats could get to a Kennedy, but he fell short of the actual thing.
1976
Walter Mondale (Jimmy Carter): With a 2% name recognition, Jimmy Carter was a dark horse candidate, but managed to win the 1976 Democratic nomination. Now he needed a ticket mate, and that turned out to be Walter Mondale of Minnesota. As a Senator, Mondale had the legislative experience and ties that Carter sorely lacked. He had been Attorney General of his home state of Minnesota. His midwestern background balanced the ticket against the southern Jimmy Carter. Mondale was ideologically liberal, but not terribly so.
Did He Help?: The election was a lot closer than many expected, so Mondale perhaps added something to the ticket that tipped them over the edge.
Bob Dole (Gerald Ford): Gerald Ford had ascended the presidency in August 1974 after Richard Nixon became the first president to resign. He chose Nelson Rockefeller (more on him later) as his running mate, but felt pressure to ditch him for a more conservative candidate. Rockefeller was happy to step down, but Ford would later say that it was the most cowardly thing that he (Ford) had ever done in his life. Ford faced a tough campaign from conservative Ronald Reagan, but came out on top. Ford would choose Bob Dole as his running mate.
A war hero and a conservative, Dole had served in both Congress and the Senate. He had also been chair of the Republican National Committee. It was his conservatism that made him the favourite, as Ford had a more moderate bent.
Did He Help?: No. Dole’s poor performance during a debate against Mondale weakened the ticket. Whilst Ford did come close to winning, his pardon of Nixon essentially killed any chances of reelection- something that Dole couldn’t help.
1980
George H. W. Bush (Ronald Reagan): Ronald Reagan may have failed to gain the nomination in 1976, but he won in 1980. He faced a strong challenge from George H. W. Bush, and surprised many by choosing him as his ticket mate. Reagan believed that Bush would appeal to moderates. Bush was also extremely experienced- he was the CIA Director, China Liaison, Chair of the Republican National Committee, UN Ambassador and Congressman. This contrasted with Reagan, who was primarily known for being an actor and Governor of California.
Bush was also a war hero from a political family- his father had been a Senator. Perhaps cynically, it could also be a play for the family values vote- Reagan would be the first divorced president, and Bush had been married young to wife Barbara. Bush was also thirteen years younger than Reagan.
Did He Help?: Whilst Bush did not match Reagan’s legendary charisma, he proved a genuine and energetic campaigner. Whilst Carter did have incumbency advantage, he was deeply unpopular.
1984:
Geraldine Ferraro (Walter Mondale): With Ronald Reagan safe as the incumbent and Republican nominee, the Democrats were looking to knock him off his perch. Former Vice President Walter Mondale beat Gary Hart and Jesse Jackson to become the candidate. Hart was one of the finalists for the vice president slot, the rest were minorities and/or women. Mondale wanted to make his ticket mate the ‘first’ of their kind and attempt to draw media attention through this. He finally chose Geraldine Ferraro.
Ferraro was the daughter of Italian Catholic immigrants. She had a working class background and it was hoped that she energise those kinds of voters. Ferraro was also a Congresswoman.
Did She Help?: Absolutely not. The initial excitement of a female vice president faded, and scandal broke out. Issues with her family’s finances came up, with her husband’s holdings and her Congressional disclosure causing major problems. Reagan and Bush won in a landslide, winning all states but Minnesota and DC, 3K votes short on the former.
1988
Dan Quayle (George H. W. Bush): Young, Congress and energetic
George H. W. Bush was the natural heir to Ronald Reagan in 1988, but did face competition from Bob Dole and conservative Christian Pat Robertson. After he won the nomination, he looked out for a running mate. There were a number of high profile candidates, but Bush went for young Dan Quayle.
Quayle was a congressman and Senator. He was young- twenty-three years younger than Bush, and younger than his eldest son. Compared to the more polished Bush, Quayle was energetic and enthusiastic.
Did He Help? Bush was riding on Reagan’s popularity and Dukakis ran a poor campaign, but Quayle was a generally questionable choice. He surely didn’t help when he was actually VP.
Lloyd Bentsen (Michael Dukakis): Michael Dukakis manages to survive a primary process that felled other candidates, including the controversial Gary Hart. He then chose Lloyd Bentsen as his ticket mate. Bentsen was older- twelve years older- and a four term Senator who has also served in Congress. Most importantly, he was a Southern Democrat from the electorally important Texas.
Did He Help?: It would have been hard for the ticket to win, but Bentsen’s legendary put-down of poor Dan Quayle during one of the 1988 debates remains in our collective memories. Unfortunately, they did lose Texas.
1992
Al Gore (Bill Clinton): Bill Clinton’s rise to power saw him nicknamed the ‘Comeback Kid.’ He considered many candidates before narrowing it down even further, and finally down to Al Gore of Tennessee. It was seen as an odd choice- Gore was around Clinton’s age, was a fellow moderate and came from a southern state.
Clinton only really had experience in Arkansas, whereas Gore had been a Congressman and a Senator. Gore’s father has also been a Congressman and Senator. Unlike Clinton, Gore had actually served in Vietnam and had volunteered to go.
Did It Help?: Despite not providing much variety on the ticket, Gore was more of an asset than he was a liability.
1996
Jack Kemp (Bob Dole): Republicans were hoping to unseat Bill Clinton in 1996, and they chose former vice presidential candidate Bob Dole to lead their ticket. Despite personally disliking him, Dole chose former AFL, Congressman and Cabinet secretary Jack Kemp. Kemp was more progressive than Dole and had a libertarian streak. He was also seen as having good relations with minority voters.
Did He Help?: Unfortunately for Dole and Kemp, the economy and Clinton’s charm brought him another term. Kemp was nevertheless a strong campaigner.
2000
Dick Cheney (George W. Bush): Texas Governor George W. Bush followed in his father’s footsteps by running for president. After beating John McCain for the nomination, Bush asked Dick Cheney to head his search and vetting committee. To the surprise of many, Cheney was chosen as Bush’s VP.
Cheney was older than Bush by five years, but had a wealth of experience. He had been Deputy Chief of Staff, White House Chief of Staff, Congressman, Secretary of Defence (under Bush Senior) and House Minority Whip. With this experience, he seemed a perfect fit for Bush, who didn’t know Washington.
Did He Help?: Well, the election win was razor thin and hinged on things outside of Cheney’s control, but he probably added some legitimacy to the Republican ticket.
Joe Lieberman (Al Gore): Al Gore easily won the Democratic nomination. He chose Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. Lieberman was more conservative than Gore but still a moderate, and was from the stronghold of New England. Gore liked his strong views on foreign policy. Lieberman had criticised Clinton over the Lewinsky scandal, further cementing proof that Gore wanted to distance himself from his boss. Finally, Lieberman was the first Jewish-American on a major party ticket.
Did He Help?: Truthfully, it was probably Al Gore’s choice not to involve the popular Clinton until the last moment that sealed his face. Choosing a Clinton critic didn’t help either.
2004
John Edwards (John Kerry): Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts managed to overtake Howard Dean and win the Democratic nomination. He chose John Edwards of North Carolina as his running mate. Edwards had been runner-up in the primaries, was seen as charismatic, especially compared to Kerry and was from a traditionally Republican state. He was also a Senator.
Did He Help?: Edwards was relatively inexperienced and his charisma only helped to a point. It’s said that Kerry regretted picking him, though they would have had to work harder to beat George Bush in the middle of a war. The ticket also lost North Carolina.
2008
Joe Biden (Barack Obama): Barack Obama shocked many by beating seasoned politician Hillary Clinton to the Democratic nomination. As the first African-American to lead a major party ticket, all eyes were on him. He narrowed his choices down to Tim Kaine, Evan Bayh and Joe Biden, eventually choosing the latter. Kaine would get his chance eight years later.
Biden was nearly two decades older than Obama, and was much more experienced, having served over thirty-five years in the Senate. Having a white male running mate was also potentially less risky than having a minority or a woman, something that Hillary Clinton would copy. Biden also had the foreign policy experience that the less experienced Obama did.
Did He Help?: Biden’s foreign and domestic policy experience was a boon to the relatively inexperienced Obama, though he might not have picked up votes.
Sarah Palin (John McCain): When John McCain ran for President in 2008, he would have been the oldest ever president at 72. McCain wanted to pick his close friend Joe Lieberman but was told that he was far too liberal. With concerns about his age evident, McCain chose Sarah Palin of Alaska. She was twenty-eight years younger and energetic and feisty. Whilst McCain came from the South, Palin was from the very northern Alaska. She was close to the oil and gas sector, an essential part of energy, and was much more conservative. The fact that she was a woman was less stressed by the campaign, but was still a notable factor.
Did She Help? Whilst Palin initially energised the campaign, her lack of experience soon became evident. Along with her gaffes, some believed that Palin was a liability. She couldn’t save the ticket, who lost to their ‘hope and change’ opponents
2012
Paul Ryan (Mitt Romney): Tea Party, conservative, younger and Congress
Mitt Romney fended off competition from Rick Santorum to become the 2012 Republican candidate. Romney had a variety of candidates on his shortlist, but eventually chose Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. He personally liked Ryan but there were other factors- Ryan was Catholic, from a swing state and could appeal to working class voters in a way that Romney could not. Ryan was in Congress, younger than Romney by twenty-three years and generally more conservative.
Did He Help?: Whilst Obama did win reelection with a smaller margin of victory than in 2008, he nevertheless won. Romney’s campaign was filled with gaffes and scandal, and he never really got the energy back.
2016
Mike Pence (Donald Trump): Donald Trump unexpectedly beat the establishment candidates to become the Republican nominee in 2016. As a political outsider, it seemed essential that Trump choose someone who knew the terrain. His shortlist included several different candidates, but he eventually decided on Indiana’s Mike Pence.
Pence was a conservative evangelical who would appeal to the religious right, especially those concerned about Trump’s personal life. As a former Congressman and Governor, Pence knew the legislature and DC in a way that Trump didn’t. He was younger than Trump by thirteen years and came from a swing state.
Did He Help?: He probably alleviated the concerns of conservative voters who weren’t sure about Trump, and may have helped get Indiana.
Tim Kaine (Hillary Clinton): Hillary Clinton finally got her shot in 2016. Her list was varied, including businessmen and legislators alike. She eventually chose Tim Kaine. Kaine was a moderate from Virginia, a state that wasn’t always reliably Democratic. He was also a man, alleviating fears some might have of a female ticket. Kaine’s fluency in Spanish may be an asset when speaking to the Hispanic community- and he’d never lost a race.
Did He Help? Kaine was a successful politician but probably didn’t add much spark. Whilst the ticket won the election in terms of the popular vote, they lost the electoral college.
2020
Kamala Harris (Joe Biden): The Democrats saw a wide field this year, but former VP Joe Biden won. He said that he would have a female running mate and he got that with Kamala Harris. Harris had been an ardent critic of Biden during the primaries, but put that aside. Harris was both a woman and a minority, two categories that Biden may have hoped would help those demographics. Harris was also from California, a valuable electoral state, though that was always going to go blue. She had experience as Attorney General of California and as Senator from the state.
Did She Help?: Harris probably brought some Biden critics back into the fold, though she could have alienated more progressive and left-wing voters.
2024:
J.D. Vance (Donald Trump): With former Trump VP Mike Pence not in the running again, it was time for a new candidate. Several were in contention, but Ohio Senator J. D. Vance won out. Vance is a younger man, having only just turned forty, and is thirty-eight years younger than Trump. He’s from an important swing state in Ohio and is a midwesterner. Vance also has military credentials, whereas Trump does not, having served a Marine in Iraq. It’s hoped that his selection will energise the populist conservative base.
Tim Walz (Kamala Harris): When Joe Biden dropped out of the election, Kamala Harris got a promotion, and was in charge of choosing a VP. She went for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Walz has experience in Congress and as a Governor, and is a midwesterner to Harris’ West Coast. Under Walz, Minnesota has seen a number of highly progressive laws passed, helpful considering many progressives are wary of Harris. On top of this, Walz is a white male, helping those who would have been wary of a ticket with two women or two minorities.
Bonus
A couple of vice presidents were chosen midway through terms due to resignations.
Gerald Ford (Richard Nixon): Spiro Agnew’s resignation following financial allegations did not help Richard Nixon during the Watergate years. Congressional leaders advised that Gerald Ford would be the easiest confirmation, as he was well-liked and respected in the Senate. Pragmatically, he had a spotless reputation and had served well in Congress, especially as House Minority Leader.
Nelson Rockefeller (Gerald Ford): When Gerald Ford ascended to the presidency, his spot as vice president was made vacant. Nelson Rockefeller was Governor of New York, and it was thought that he could appeal to a wider audience than the conservatives had previously. Ford also liked Rockefeller personally.