Vice Presidents of The United States Podcast

Bruce Carlson
  • 4.8 (59)
  • History
  • Series

A history of the United States, as told through its vices, the holders of the second-highest office in the land. Bruce Carlson delves into the lives of the individuals who have achieved the second office of American government. Learn history, and hear some great stories.

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  1. Episode 1

    Disinterested Friend - Elbridge Gerry

    Elbridge Gerry was never a speaker with "thunder in his voice," per one contemporary description, and he was hard to pin down in terms of his politics, yet that may have made him persuasive. A compromiser and a critic, a pro-government and pro-liberty who hated both mobs and dictatorship.  His experience may have been

    36 min
  2. Great Goliath - George Clinton

    Episode 2

    Great Goliath - George Clinton

    Large in his time, mostly passed over in history, George Clinton's ascention to the vice presidency would not have surprised contemporaries. If anything, he was a contender for the top office. He was a giant in New York State, and in the democratic-republican movement in the nation.  But his stand against The Constitution, his opposition to the new state of Vermont, and a parade of well-spoken competitors in ambition limited him. Thus he rose to VP, an office that he warned against creating.  Clinton's warnings about the system of American government, likely written under an alias (Cato) may have earned him few friends among historians or in his time, but we read some of them as they could contain wisdom.

    44 min
  3. Partisan-Statesman: Chester Arthur

    Episode 3

    Partisan-Statesman: Chester Arthur

    Those that know the full story of Chester Arthur know he became President and instituted controls on replacing workers in the civil service.  That's largely because a tragic shooting made him President and he, in a statesman-like way, implemented his sucessor's programs. But as Vice President, Arthur was all Stalwart. The Stalwarts, Half-Breeds and Independents fought each other as much as today's Republicans and Demcorats. He was opposed to Half-Breed Garfield's appointments and spent his vice-presidency fighting his own President and supporting his President's political enemy. But once Garfield was shot, VP Arthur signaled a change in his ways. By deliberately not coming to Washington. We tell the story.

    1 hr
  4. Liberal, with No Apologies - Walter Mondale

    Episode 4

    Liberal, with No Apologies - Walter Mondale

    A one-term Vice President known for being liberal on issues and associated with Hubert Humphrey, Carter's Vice President Walter Mondale changed the office more than anyone else. He moved it from the Senate to the White House, where it has been since. He also ran for President twice, and ended up with a 49-state blowout.  Yet, he never doubted what he did was right.

    1h 8m
  5. Make It Big: Nelson Rockefeller

    Episode 5

    Make It Big: Nelson Rockefeller

    Nelson Rockefeller was already a household name and a figure of some stature when Gerald Ford asked Congress to approve him as Vice President. True to form, he attempted to make the Vice Presidency a big office.

    45 min
  6. Theodore Roosevelt's Four Days

    Episode 6

    Theodore Roosevelt's Four Days

    That's all TR had as Vice President, technically.  His official duties were just four days in March.  From there he spoke, wrote letters and travelled and to at least one person, complained about the restrictions of the Vice Presidency. Until the change.  In this episode we'll actually get a bit into those four days in March 1901 and what happened. They did cover a bit of American history.  And we will look at his ride to become President.

    38 min
  7. We Cannot Surrender Our Institutions: Calhoun

    Episode 7

    We Cannot Surrender Our Institutions: Calhoun

    Defender of his view of Southern rights, Vice President John Calhoun was the only VP to serve under Two Presidents. Both of those Presidents would come to dislike him strongly, as would (we think it's fair to say) most people today. That's because he undermined both Presidents he served under, and because Calhoun's defense of slavery went beyond what a majority of Southern Congressmen and Senators in his time would support. And even in context, it deserves the anger it generates today.  If there's any silver linings for (some) modern ears, we discuss his position on tariffs (against them) and his position against federal power in local areas which could get a nod from those that hate him otherwise.  He also opposed the Mexican War for the same reasons as Lincoln. It was in his view a war started by a President. And in his mind at least he was always pro-Union - though contemporary political opponents contested this. We won't do much celebrating of this Vice President, but to know history we have to talk about him.

    37 min
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A history of the United States, as told through its vices, the holders of the second-highest office in the land. Bruce Carlson delves into the lives of the individuals who have achieved the second office of American government. Learn history, and hear some great stories.

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