Conference back40::soapbox

    Al Gore is made of wood.

I was born the year Truman was elected. I haven't a history text handy
and don't recall who Harry's veep was, much less how well he filled the 
office.

When Ike was elected, I don't recall ever hearing much negative about
Dick Nixon as his veep for the entire eight years of Ike's term.

When JFK took over in '60, I don't recall hearing much about LBJ until
he assumed the presidency in '63.

Then we got Hubert Horatio Humphrey. Maybe it was because I was a wild
impetuous teenager, but I seem to recall getting the impression even from
more mature and politically astute folks, that old HHH was pretty much a joke.
I recall the comedians of the day having a picnic with Hubert. "I get up
every morning and I say WHOOPIE!!!" "I just want to tell you that I'm
pleased as PUNCH to be here!!!" Did this man ever do anything worthy of
respect?

Once Nixon took over in '68, he brought along Spiro T Agnew, whom, even if
he hadn't been exposed as a crook, had already made his mark with the populace
by running neck-and-neck with Archie Bunker for sales of the "Wit and Wisdom"
books.

After Spiro took it on the lamb, we had Gerry Ford (thank goodness, as opposed
to Spiro) up until Tricky Dicky took it on the lamb. I don't recall Ford
engendering much disrespect prior to his assumption of the presidency.

Then, if I'm not mistaken, Gerry took on Nelson Rockefeller as his veep. Now,
having grown up in the Empire State with Nelson in Albany most of the years 
I lived there, I personally didn't find much fault with Nelson, although I 
always wondered about the conditions of his death.

To be perfectly honest, folks - I can't even remember who Carter's veep was!
But I guess he must have been pretty innocuous (like his boss, for the most 
part.)

Then we got GHWB along with Ronnie. I don't remember much about George's
vice presidency that should have had monumental influence one way or another. 
He apparently had a good enough record to get himself elected in '88.

George  brought us Dan Quayle. I don't think, in this particular forum,
that I'd need to even begin enumerating the areas of disrespect which
Danny Boy brought upon himself during their admin.

And now, we have Algore. Quite similar to his predecessor, Mr. Quayle, in
a lot of ways - most folks would just like to pretend he wasn't there.
(Although I guess I should give Algore some credit for being slightly
less visible.)


----------------


So, by my count, in my lifetime, we've had ten administrations with a
40% loser rate on the veep side.

Any history students out there that can authenticate whether or not this 
is typical for half a century over the nation's lifetime? (I expect General 
Bubba could.)

Or is this attitude simply an aspect of the communications which have been 
prevalent for the past 50 years? (I.E. it was a lot less common in the past to
know about, and thus have any opinion of, the veep.

 I watched a repeat of a PBS biography of Nixon Sunday (or was it 
 Monday) night.  He was not without scandal in the Eisenhower years,
 and was nearly dumped in Ike's 2nd term.

 Carter's veep was Mondale.



 Jim

> He was not without scandal in the Eisenhower years,

What were the scandals that were mentioned, Jim? I don't recall, having
been only 8 by the beginning of Ike's second term.

    
    Is the job open?  I'm at a loose end at the moment...
    

    
    "It ain't worth a bucket of warm piss."
    
    Spoken like a true Texan. Name the VP who uttered it.

    .6  LBJ
    
    Jack:
    
    For Tricky Dicky, there was the scandal with the dog, Checkers.  He
    also ingratiated on Ike's nerves so much there was talk of dumping him
    in '56.  During the '60 campaign, Ike helped get Nixon defeated when he
    paused and stammered when asked by a reporter what Nixon had done for
    the country the previous 8 yrs.
    
    Spito T. Agnew is a different character.  He said 'what' Nixon thought
    was unpresidential to say.  Alot of his pronouncements were very
    Bunkeresque, but the political enemies he made in first, the Baltimore
    County government, and secondly in the MD State government, finally did
    him in, not too soon.  {BTW, his successors in both the Balto. Co. govt
    and the MD govt both were convicted of fraud also and spent time in the
    slammer, one thing that Agnew never did.}
    
    The best thing one could say about Ford before he became Vice-President
    was that he played on the Michigan football team (he was in Congress 25
    yrs.)  I still hold his pardoning of Nixon against him and THE reason
    why he wasn't elected President himself in 1976.
    
    In the 20th Century, the only VP who was picked for his expertise in
    administration was Truman, since both FDR and the the political brokers
    knew that FDR was gonna last the 4th term.
    
    Some obvious oops as VP's, mainly because they ascended to the
    presidency by no effort of their own were notably Andrew John
    (Lincoln's) and LBJ (JKF's).
    
    NR

| <<< Note 628.1 by POLAR::RICHARDSON "Big Bag O' Passion" >>>

| Al Gore is made of wood.

	Al Gore is a witch?

LBJ perhaps?

    John Nance Garner springs to mind, FDR vp? -- usually quoted as "bucket
    of warm spit" in family publications.
    
    -Stephen

>After Spiro took it on the lamb...

Agnus took it on the lamb?

    the scandal that involved nixon in the ike years - word
    was somehow leaked that several well-heeled republicans had
    set up a "fund" for nixon to use privately...then came the
    "checkers" speech.  the charge was never proven.  

    Didn't he say, "I'M LEAVING....YOU WON'T HAVE DICK NIXON TO KICK AROUND
    ANYMORE!!!!"

>    Didn't he say, "I'M LEAVING....YOU WON'T HAVE DICK NIXON TO KICK AROUND
>    ANYMORE!!!!"


     that was in 1962 when he lost the race for governor..and is not an 
     exact quote. 



 Jim

    I thought the quote was "... a bucket of warm spit", or was that the
    G-rated version?
    
    
    Does Algore float? If so, he'll be safe in teddy's car...

    maybe billary will have algore punch bill safire's lights out for
    him.....
    

    VeePee is a "poorly-designed" office.  What we really need is an
    Assistant President or something similar, where the actual function
    of the job is to assist the president directly (as opposed to being
    some silly titular President of the Senate where he can sit there
    in Congress looking important).
    
    The people who currently perform this kind of important task are
    currently unelected presidential "staff".  They probably wield more
    power than the Vice President, and yet how many of us even know who
    they are, much less their qualifications, background, and so on?
    
    Actually, I'd replace the V.P. with two Assistant Presidents; one
    would assist with domestic matters, and the other with foreign affairs.
    
    Chris

    Kind of like The Dragon, The Beast and the False Prophet?!  

    Didn`t Ronald Reagan suggest this type of set up when he was running
    for his first term? I thought I heard him (Ronny that is) suggest that
    to Gerald Ford. One for foreign and one for local.

>    Didn`t Ronald Reagan suggest this type of set up when he was running
>    for his first term? I thought I heard him (Ronny that is) suggest that
>    to Gerald Ford. One for foreign and one for local.


  There were rumors flying that this is what he wanted to do, but they were
 denied by everybody.  A "co-presidency" is how they referred to it during
 the convention that year.



 Jim

    "Co-presidency"?  We've seen how well that works for the last three
    years... :-)
    
    I don't want a triumverate or anything like that.  There should still
    be the Head Cheese at the top.  But he already delegates lots of
    things, obviously, and no one can do everything.  So why not have a
    couple of underling middle-management types to carry out his directives
    and policies?
    
    Basically it would take the job currently done by the mostly
    unaccountable Chief of Staff and similar top aides, and make it
    into an electable position, not to mention get it into the official
    line of succession ("I'm in control here").
    
    Chris

    


> ("I'm in control here").


   I noticed in the movie "Nixon" that Haig made this remark at one point
   in the movie.



 Jim    
    

| <<< Note 628.18 by MKOTS3::JMARTIN "I press on toward the goal" >>>

| Kind of like The Dragon, The Beast and the False Prophet?!

	I wanna be the dragon!!!

   >> I noticed in the movie "Nixon" that Haig made this remark at one point
   >> in the movie.
    
    He must have been practicing for his Big Moment ten or so years
    later. :-)
    
    Chris

    what ever happened to haig?  i seem to vaguely recall that
    reagan cut him loose...

| <<< Note 628.25 by LANDO::OLIVER_B "looking for her hand in the snow" >>>

| what ever happened to haig?  i seem to vaguely recall that
| reagan cut him loose...


	He left DEC a while ago

    > When Ike was elected, I don't recall ever hearing much negative about
    > Dick Nixon as his veep for the entire eight years of Ike's term.
    
    Nixon took a tour in Latin America in the mid-50s and was confronted by
    mobs of protestors demonstrating against continued US support for local
    dictators.  Rocks were thrown against the VP motorcade in ... Caracas,
    I think it was.  The news coverage was shocking to Americans - they had
    little idea that the US was looked at as a friend to despots and that
    other peoples hated us for it.  Nixon reportedly weathered the
    incidents ok, but was tainted in the eyes of the establishment for 
    the unluck of being the flashpoint.  It was considered a black eye
    for the diplomatic corps, who should have prevented the trip if such
    unrest was known (and they should have known.)
    
    DougO

>    what ever happened to haig?  i seem to vaguely recall that
>    reagan cut him loose...


    He was running for pres in '92 I think, then dropped out and has
    kinda disappeared.




 Jim

    .27
    
    he remained amazingly collected throughout this ordeal.
    but he never forgot it.  years later, he vowed that he 
    would not go down in history as the president who "lost"
    Chile, and so Allende's fate was sealed.

    Truman's veep - Albin Barkley?
    

    
    Alexander Haig is working as board of director for America Online.

    get outta here!  really?  

    
    <----  yes, and I am not kidding. It is true.

 And when things get a little crazy at a board meeting he stands up and
 says "I'm in charge here".




 Jim

    how vonnegutesque.

    >> Alexander Haig is working as board of director for America Online.
    
    [set mode/johnny_carson]
    
    I... I did not know that.
    
    Now that's very interesting.  :-)
    
    Chris

    
    re: .33
    
    Mark....
    
    >yes, and I am not kidding. It is true.
    
    
    No... she really meant... "Get outta here!!!"

    
    <----- just like the Tostito's commercial????

    
    It's "warm piss".  It's usually quoted "warm spit".
    
    John Nance Garner said it.

    Ah yes, there is not censorship in America.

    Gawd this note get's lots of use.  Al's been busy busy busy this
    election year.  Maybe we otta open a new conference.
    
    I have been wondering, though, if Al has seen Jimmy Hoffa wherever it
    is he disappeared to...

    Al who?

    
    	Not Al Who, Al Gore.
    
    	I think he's some sort of a government employee, doing just as
    	much work as the typical government employee.
    

    
    
    re: .42  ALFSS1::CIAROCHI
    
    
    Aren't you gone yet??????????
    
    
    :)