Second in command : reevaluating the role of Vice Presidents and running mates in modern American politics / Edited by Karine Prémont and Christopher J. Devine.
| Other author | Prémont, Karine, 1973- editor, contributor. |
| Other author | Devine, Christopher, 1984- editor, contributor. |
| Other author | Michigan Publishing (University of Michigan), publisher. |
| Format | Book |
| Publication | Ann Arbor [Michigan] : University of Michigan Press, [2026] |
| Copyright Date | ©2026 |
| Description | xvi, 331 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm |
| Subjects |
| Variant title | 2nd in command reevaluating the role of Vice Presidents and running mates in modern American politics |
| Portion of title | Reevaluating the role of Vice Presidents and running mates in modern American politics |
| Contents | Introduction: Situating the Vice Presidency in Presidency Studies / Meena Bose -- Part I -- The Vice Presidents / Karine Prémont -- 1. From Troubleshooters to Partners (and Back): The Importance of Partnerships Between Presidents and Vice Presidents, from Walter Mondale to Kamala Harris / Karine Prémont -- 2. Our (Wo)Man on Capitol Hill: The Vice President as the White House's Congressional Liaison / Christophe Cloutier-Roy -- 3. Last Person in the Room: Vice Presidential Influence on National Security Decision Making / Richard M. Yon, Jason Galui, Christian Dionisio, and Joseph G. Amoroso -- 4. The Vice Presidency and the Checks and Balances / Roy R. Brownell II -- 5. VPs "Don't Get No Respect": Political Humor and Vice-Presidential Caricatures / Jody C Baumgartner -- 6. Assessing VPOTUS: Elite Opinion and the Modern Vice Presidency / Brandon Rottinghaus and Justin Vaughn -- Part II -- The Candidates / Christopher J. Devine -- 7. The Modern Veepstakes: New Pressures to Vet More Seasoned Running Mates / Whitney L. Court -- 8. Balancing a "Hockey Mom" with "Broad-Shouldered Leadership": Campaign Communication and Gendered Ticket Dynamics / Lindsey Meeks -- 9. "Never Fear, the Vice-Presidential Attack Dog is Here": A Short History of the Running Mate Campaign Style, 1976-2008 / Charles J. Holden -- 10. The Spotlight Fades: The Declining Electoral Impact of Modern Vice-Presidential Candidates / Stacy G. Ulbig -- 11. The Most Important VP Choice Since... When? Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, and the 2020 (Vice) Presidential Election / Christopher J. Devine and Kyle C. Kopko -- 12. Vice Presidents-Elect during the Transfer of Power, 1976-2008 / Heath Brown -- Conclusion: From Second in Command to Commander in Chief / Karine Prémont and Christopher J. Devine. |
| Abstract | In recent years, the office of the vice president has become a focal point of presidential politics and governance. From the emergence of the modern vice presidency under Walter Mondale to Mike Pence's and Kamala Harris's dramatic influence on the outcome of the 2020 election, Second in Command explores how vice presidents and vice-presidential candidates have shaped the direction of the country and changed American politics. The frenzy of speculation surrounding the "veepstakes" every four years and extensive media coverage of the vice-presidential debate may seem odd, given the vice presidency's limited constitutional powers and dismal public reputation. Dispelling the myth that the vice presidency is a powerless or merely ceremonial role, Second in Command draws on the multidisciplinary expertise of more than a dozen leading vice-presidential scholars to reveal the complex, consequential, and often misunderstood nature of the office. With accessible language and vivid examples, it traces the transformation of vice-presidential power over the past half-century, the evolving electoral significance of vice-presidential running mates, and highlights the need for a deeper public understanding of these pivotal figures. Chapters employ a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including elite interviews, archival research, case studies, and advanced statistical modeling to cover topics such as gender and media effects in running mate selection and the representation of vice presidents in popular culture. This book offers a fresh, engaging, and essential perspective on a vital institution at the heart of American democracy. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Issued in other form | Online version http://id.loc.gov/entities/relationships/onlineversion Second in command Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, 2026 9780472905867 |
| Genre/form | Essays. |
| LCCN | 2025054621 |
| ISBN | 9780472058099 |
| ISBN | 9780472078097 hardcover |
| ISBN | 0472078097 hardcover |
| ISBN | 0472058096 paperback |
| ISBN | electronic book other |
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