NewYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Donald Trump is about to make a decision that recent history suggests may be the most important one of his term — walking partner,
Trump’s victory would make him the oldest president ever, but his selection is not significant because of his advancing age. Nor is it significant because it is likely to turn the tide of the election — as we have seen time and again in history, Selection of V.P. This has little or no impact on the election.
No, the difference is that the vice president has an incredible edge for any future presidential nomination.
Some of the contenders to become former President Trump’s vice presidential nominee include Ohio Senator JD Vance, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. (Getty Images)
Starting with Richard Nixon in 1960, eight of the past 13 vice presidents, with the exception of Kamala Harris, have won their party’s nomination for president.
America’s Worst Former Presidents: Would These 4 People Be on Your List?
only the disgraced Spiro Agnew; the unelected Nelson Rockefeller, who died before the next election; Dan Quayle has long been a laughingstockDick Cheney, who had health challenges, and Mike Pence, who himself lost to Trump, were unable to accomplish this feat. Five Democratic vice presidents – Johnson, Humphrey, Mondale, Gore and Biden – all managed to win their party’s nomination.
Compare that to all other government positions. In that 64-year period, only seven senators, six governors or former governors, one former cabinet member, and the unelected Trump have managed to secure the presidential nomination.
The rise of the vice presidency represents a major departure from most of American history. The vice presidency was long considered a political graveyard, described in a neat phrase by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the first vice president, as “not even worth a bucket of warm spit.”
The accidental president: Today’s politics isn’t as bad as you think
While three of the first eight presidents were vice presidents, this ended Martin Van BurenFor 124 years from 1836 to 1960, only seven vice presidents became accidental presidents — due to the death of a president. And four of those seven were bypassed by the party and did not even receive a nomination of their own after completing a term as president.
What is the reason for this change? How did the position of the vice president go from being an embarrassing position to an obvious heir?
President Franklin Roosevelt and his first vice president, John Nance Garner. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
It is no coincidence that the Vice President emerged at the same time when political parties adopted a more democratic method of electing the President.
When presidents were selected in secret at political conventions, the vice president served as a bargaining chip and consolation prize. VP was designed To unite the party, not to influence voters.
Why VPS matters, and why it’s time to change the way we choose and build it
Often, the selection was given not to the second-place finisher (who did not want to be sidelined), but to a lower-ranking member of that wing of the party.
Starting with Richard Nixon in 1960, several vice presidents have won their party’s nomination for president. (Reuters)
But the primary and caucus system freed the president from loyalty to party leaders. As a result, the nominee gained full loyalty to party leaders. Select a partnerOver time, they seek out more prominent political figures who could theoretically boost the ticket. This higher name recognition later leads to a better ability to build a political organization for the presidency.
Most importantly, the vice president chosen by the president is usually entrusted with the responsibilities of the presidency. Even if there are differences of opinion, if the vice president is considered a poor choice, the president will be viewed negatively.
For more Fox News opinion, click here
George H.W. Bush lost the election with just 37% of the vote, but both of his sons, George W. Bush and Jeb Bush, won their party’s nomination for governor two years later. (Gregory Reck/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
The presidency may seem unimportant, but as we saw in Trump’s success in winning the Republican Party’s nomination once again, it is crucial. Any president or former president maintains high popularity among the party’s base for many years. Consider this George H. W. Bush Despite losing the election with only 37% of the vote, two years later both of his sons won their party’s nomination for governor. The vice president replacing the last successful party leader is extremely important in the primaries.
Trump’s vice presidential pick will be analyzed for its impact on the 2024 race and its importance to the way Trump runs his campaign. But the vice president’s impact could be far greater. Even without the question of age, the next vice president in 2028 is the most important position for his party.
