Vice President
Recent times - VP overshadowed by President.
Post had led to virtual anonymity bar a few - Harry Truman, Franklin Roosevelt.
Dick Cheney 2001-09 - took a proactive role.
When Joe Biden would seek return to office to a less prominent position.
Role of VP changed since John Adams - previously runner up of presidential race - now a 'joint ticket' with
presidential nominee.
Powers of VP:
Presiding officer of Senate + power to announce results of Electoral College.
Cast deciding vote in tied Senate votes.
Replace president if he/she dies or incapacitated.
Little definitive power - circumstances elevate post holder to extreme importance.
President dies/resigns mid-term - happened 9 times - VP Gerald Ford replaced Nixon 1974.
Raised question over democracy - not elected.
25th amendment 1967 clarified - succession + nomination processes.
Case of presidential illness or inability to 'discharge the powers + duties of his office".
Woodrow Wilson - ill towards end of presidency - no legal provision, VP Thomas Marshall assume duties.
25th amendment invoked on this basis 3 times - once Ronald Reagan + twice George W.Bush - only a
matter of hours.
Formal power - deciding tied votes in Senate - depends on relative strength of parties.
John Adams - record 29 tied votes, Joe Biden 0 thus far.
Predecessor Cheney, 8 casting votes, including voting to protect Bush's tax cuts.
107th Congress 2001-03, Senate split 50/50 - VP = influential + effectively 51st Senator.
Increased partisanship + divided government - even more influential.
Joe Biden's Vice Presidency:
Joint ticket in 2008 + 2012 - 36 years in Senate + chairmanship of Senate Foreign Relations Committee -
counterweight Obama's relative inexperience in Congress + foreign affairs.
His Catholic faith, race + 'average Joe' personality provide balance.
Fulfilled number of roles as VP:
o Visit to Asia - met Japanese PM + South Korean president + PM.
Obama has faith in Biden as diplomat - normally preserved for president as 'chief
diplomat'.
o National security - constant presence. In situation room - assassination of Bin Laden.
o Congressional liaison - vitally important e.g. fiscal cliff 2013 + debt ceiling crisis 2011, Tax Relief
Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization + Job Creation Act 2010.
o Described as 'uber liaison' - Carol Lee + John Bresnahan - 'no one in the West Wing matches
Biden when it comes to his ties on the Hill, depth of knowledge on how Congress works + having
members trust on both sides of the aisle".
o Biden brokered deal with Mitch McConnell in the hours before fiscal cliff.
Leadership of now stalled gun task force following Sandy Hook 2012 + experience through 1994 bill
banning assault weapons + more police on streets.
Defender + cheerleader for Obama + Democrats - moved on from 2008 lose for Democrat primaries.
o Biden visited 90 districts across USA to rally support + fought presidents corner.
o Taking umbrage when Congressman Anthony Weiner called Obama - 'negotiator-in-chief' rather
than a 'leader'.
o Willingness to speak his mind + 'give it to him (Obama) straight.
o Biden for "forces people to think and defend their positions, to look at things from every angle
and that is very valuable to me".
Obama recently said - "Joe Biden will go down as one of the best VP's ever. And he has been at my side in
every tough decision that I have made, from going after Bin Laden to dealing with the healthcare issues".
Recent times - VP overshadowed by President.
Post had led to virtual anonymity bar a few - Harry Truman, Franklin Roosevelt.
Dick Cheney 2001-09 - took a proactive role.
When Joe Biden would seek return to office to a less prominent position.
Role of VP changed since John Adams - previously runner up of presidential race - now a 'joint ticket' with
presidential nominee.
Powers of VP:
Presiding officer of Senate + power to announce results of Electoral College.
Cast deciding vote in tied Senate votes.
Replace president if he/she dies or incapacitated.
Little definitive power - circumstances elevate post holder to extreme importance.
President dies/resigns mid-term - happened 9 times - VP Gerald Ford replaced Nixon 1974.
Raised question over democracy - not elected.
25th amendment 1967 clarified - succession + nomination processes.
Case of presidential illness or inability to 'discharge the powers + duties of his office".
Woodrow Wilson - ill towards end of presidency - no legal provision, VP Thomas Marshall assume duties.
25th amendment invoked on this basis 3 times - once Ronald Reagan + twice George W.Bush - only a
matter of hours.
Formal power - deciding tied votes in Senate - depends on relative strength of parties.
John Adams - record 29 tied votes, Joe Biden 0 thus far.
Predecessor Cheney, 8 casting votes, including voting to protect Bush's tax cuts.
107th Congress 2001-03, Senate split 50/50 - VP = influential + effectively 51st Senator.
Increased partisanship + divided government - even more influential.
Joe Biden's Vice Presidency:
Joint ticket in 2008 + 2012 - 36 years in Senate + chairmanship of Senate Foreign Relations Committee -
counterweight Obama's relative inexperience in Congress + foreign affairs.
His Catholic faith, race + 'average Joe' personality provide balance.
Fulfilled number of roles as VP:
o Visit to Asia - met Japanese PM + South Korean president + PM.
Obama has faith in Biden as diplomat - normally preserved for president as 'chief
diplomat'.
o National security - constant presence. In situation room - assassination of Bin Laden.
o Congressional liaison - vitally important e.g. fiscal cliff 2013 + debt ceiling crisis 2011, Tax Relief
Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization + Job Creation Act 2010.
o Described as 'uber liaison' - Carol Lee + John Bresnahan - 'no one in the West Wing matches
Biden when it comes to his ties on the Hill, depth of knowledge on how Congress works + having
members trust on both sides of the aisle".
o Biden brokered deal with Mitch McConnell in the hours before fiscal cliff.
Leadership of now stalled gun task force following Sandy Hook 2012 + experience through 1994 bill
banning assault weapons + more police on streets.
Defender + cheerleader for Obama + Democrats - moved on from 2008 lose for Democrat primaries.
o Biden visited 90 districts across USA to rally support + fought presidents corner.
o Taking umbrage when Congressman Anthony Weiner called Obama - 'negotiator-in-chief' rather
than a 'leader'.
o Willingness to speak his mind + 'give it to him (Obama) straight.
o Biden for "forces people to think and defend their positions, to look at things from every angle
and that is very valuable to me".
Obama recently said - "Joe Biden will go down as one of the best VP's ever. And he has been at my side in
every tough decision that I have made, from going after Bin Laden to dealing with the healthcare issues".
