The Role of Vice President
Excerpt from “Why Knot?” Buy the book at Amazon
If the president dies or is removed from office or is incapacitated, the vice president becomes president. Otherwise, the vice president has very little to do. He/she can preside over the Senate and cast the deciding vote in case of a tie but has no other official duty.
Frequently, former vice presidents run for president. But, typically, while serving as vice president, they do not get the kind of experience that would make them good candidates for president. And former vice presidents have rarely won presidential elections.
The post of vice president often seems like forced retirement. A capable and well-known politician is chosen as a running mate to help win some state or block of voters. Then he or she is in limbo until the next election.
In recent history there was one interesting exception. Because of the personal relationship between Dick Cheney and George Bush, Cheney played a major role in decision-making. While I did not agree with many of the decisions that duo made, I found their division of labor intriguing and promising.
Because of his age, Cheney was not aiming to run for president himself. And because of his previous experience, he had greater understanding of the workings of government and the complexities of foreign affairs than did Bush. The fact that they shared power had nothing to do with the Constitution. It happened solely at the will of Bush.
In today’s world, the job of president is enormous, far too complex for any individual. The best presidents choose excellent advisers and cabinet members and delegate authority rather than depending on their own knowledge and judgment. Bush seems to have elevated this style to a new level, sharing the power and the burdens of the office with his vice president, apparently without the rivalry that often arises from the sharing of power. And if anything had happened to Bush, Cheney would have been ready to govern on his own, immediately, without an extended learning period, which could be dangerous in time of crisis.
I hope that future candidates for president will be wise enough, confident enough, and humble enough to choose more experienced running mates who can serve as mentors, and whom they can rely on to share the presidency with them from day one, rather than simply waiting in the wings.
