Veepstakes

Teddy Roosevelt lamented, as he was consigned to the second spot on the ticket at the 1900 Republican Convention, that it was the end of his political career. But the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901 proved Roosevelt prodigiously wrong, propelling his political career to meteoric heights.

This year, without tragedy, George Bush has successfully exploited the Vice Presidency as a fulcrum for capturing his party’s nomination. The game has changed since Roosevelt’s time, when party leaders shared TR’s dim view of the Vice Presidency. Today, the Veepstakes offer high political drama; there will be no shortage of applicants for the job.

JM

About the Author

John McLaughlin

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Presidential Election

Republican Party

Teddy Roosevelt lamented, as he was consigned to the second spot on the ticket at the 1900 Republican Convention, that it was the end of his political career. But the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901 proved Roosevelt prodigiously wrong, propelling his political career to meteoric heights.

This year, without tragedy, George Bush has successfully exploited the Vice Presidency as a fulcrum for capturing his party’s nomination. The game has changed since Roosevelt’s time, when party leaders shared TR’s dim view of the Vice Presidency. Today, the Veepstakes offer high political drama; there will be no shortage of applicants for the job.