Bland Ambition: From Adams to Quayle--The Cranks, Criminals, Tax Cheats, and Golfers Who Made It to Vice President
Yes, it's true, very often in our nation's history, the second-highest official has been nothing more than an outright crook. That is, when he's not been an adulterer, booze hound, or, more usually, a party hack from way back. In Tally's genuinely entertaining and informative history of all 44 (so far) vice presidents, we learn how each of these men has seen his "bland ambition" fulfilled. Given the number of times a vice president has been elevated to the Oval Office upon the death or resignation of a president, it's amazing how little thought has been given to a veep's qualifications for that responsibility. The nation survives--again, so far. This book is a good value for libraries, both for its content and its price. See also Jules Witcover's Crapshoot: Rolling the Dice on the Vice Presidency , LJ 12/91.--Ed.- Pamela R. Daubenspeck, Warren-Trumbull Cty. P.L., Warren, OhioCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.