Evening star., 1948-03-28
The Story Of Vice Presidents
By John Cloqett Proctor

the United States, seven
have succeeded to the
presidency, upon the death
Of the Chief Executive, so
It does seem to behoove the various
political conventions to select this
candidate with the same care and
Judgment as Is exercised in the
choosing Of the President himself.
The first Vice President to become
Chief Executive upon the death Of a
President was John Tyler, who fol-
lowed William Henry Harrison in
Office after Gen. Harrison's death on
April 4, 1841, just one month to the
day after his Inauguration. Tyler
had been chosen In 184o, on the
Wing ticket with Gen. Harrison, who
was SO years old when tnaugurated.
He died after an illness Of eight
days, brought on, 1t was supposed,
by fatigue and excitement incident
to his Inauguration and by Office
seekers. His last words were, as If
addressing his successor, "Sir, wish
you to understand the principles of
the Government. I want them car
ried out. I ask nothing more"
Had q Cabinet Men
John Tyler was born in Charles
City County, Va, on March %, 1890
He was not without legislative ex-
perience, having served in both
branches of Congress. As President,
he Immediately proceeded to kick
over the traces and to do things his
own way. BY the end OF the nearly
four years of his administration
none Of the original members of his
cabinet were in his official family.
AS a matter of fact, he had four
Secretaries Of State, four Secre-
taries Of the Treasury, three Attor-
neys General, four Secretaries of
War, five Secretaries of the Navy
and two Postmasters General. In
all he had the record number of
"a cabinet officers
Within three months after Pres
ident Tyler was sworn in, he vetoed
two fiscal measures Of his party in
Congress looking to a destruction of
the Van Buren subtreasury system
and to the establishment of
national bank. BY the 11th of
September, all members of his cab
met except Webster had resigned,
and soon afterward Webster fol-
lowed their example. All the con-
gressional Wings except Henry A.
Wise and Caleb Cushing deserted
Tyler after the Whig Congressman
had issued a manifesto drawn up by
John P. Kennedy Of Maryland.
From then on, Tyler received his
main support from the Democrats.
The next Vice President to sue
ceed to the presidency was Millard
Fillmore, who became President on
the passing away Of Gen. Zachary
Taylor. President Fillmore was born
at Summer Hill, N. Y, January 7,
1900; was self instructed under ad-
verse conditions and served as a
Representative in Congress from
1887 to 1843. On the 10th day of
July, 1850, the day following the
death of President Taylor, Mr.. Fill
more took the oath of Office at a
Joint session Of Congress. He was
then so years of age. He died in
Buffalo, N. Y, March 8, 1874.
Death Was Expected
Some say that Gen. Taylor's death
was due to eating cherries and
drinking ice water on very warm
day, but bilious fever Is set down
as the direct cause. The end was
expected some hours before the
crisis came, after which the cabinet
addressed an official letter to Vice
President Fillmore, giving him OFF,
cial notification of the Presidents
death.
Mr.. Fillmore notified Congress,
which was then in session, that he
would take the oath of Office as
President at noon of the same day,
and this was administered to him
by Chief Justice Cranch of the Dis
trict Courts.
THE body of the deceased Presi-
dent" according to Perley's reni-
niscences, clay in state for several
days in the east room at the White
House and then was inferred with
great pomp."
1t was during President Fillmore's
administration that the cornerstone
Of the extension of the Capitol
Building was laid by him on July 4.
1851, Daniel Webster delivering the
Grafton.
Mrs. Fillmore did not come to
Washington until after her husband
became President, and then did not
mingle in society because Of her
delicate health. She is said to have
been remarkably well informed,
having taught school before her
marriage. She had auburn hair,
light blue eyes and a fair COM
plexion.
Johnson After Lincoln
Andrew johnson was the next
Vice President to become President,
following the death of Abraham
Lincoln, who was shot at Ford's
Theater, now 511 Tenth street NV,
April IA, 1865, and died the follow
ing morning at the Petersen house