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U.S. Vice Presidents

There have been 49 different Vice Presidents in the history of the United States. How many can you name?
Parties: Democratic, Republican, Whig, Democratic-Republican, Federalist
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: January 20, 2021
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First submittedApril 1, 2009
Times taken94,658
Average score46.9%
Rating4.38
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Term
Vice-President
2021–
Kamala Harris
2017–2021
Mike Pence
2009–2017
Joe Biden
2001–2009
Dick Cheney
1993–2001
Al Gore
1989–1993
Dan Quayle
1981–1989
George H. W. Bush
1977–1981
Walter Mondale
1974–1977
Nelson Rockefeller
1973–1974
Gerald Ford
1969–1973
Spiro Agnew
1965–1969
Hubert Humphrey
1961–1963
Lyndon B. Johnson
1953–1961
Richard Nixon
1949–1953
Alben Barkley
1945
Harry Truman
1941–1945
Henry A. Wallace
Term
Vice-President
1933–1941
John Nance Garner
1929–1933
Charles Curtis
1925–1929
Charles Dawes
1921–1923
Calvin Coolidge
1913–1921
Thomas R. Marshall
1909–1912
James S. Sherman
1905–1909
Charles W. Fairbanks
1901
Theodore Roosevelt
1897–1899
Garret Hobart
1893–1897
Adlai E. Stevenson
1889–1893
Levi P. Morton
1885
Thomas A. Hendricks
1881
Chester A. Arthur
1877–1881
William A. Wheeler
1873–1875
Henry Wilson
1869–1873
Schuyler Colfax
Term
Vice-President
1865
Andrew Johnson
1861–1865
Hannibal Hamlin
1857–1861
John C. Breckinridge
1853
William R. King
1849–1850
Millard Fillmore
1845–1849
George M. Dallas
1841
John Tyler
1837–1841
Richard Johnson
1833–1837
Martin Van Buren
1825–1832
John C. Calhoun
1817–1825
Daniel D. Tompkins
1813–1814
Elbridge Gerry
1805–1812
George Clinton
1801–1805
Aaron Burr
1797–1801
Thomas Jefferson
1789–1797
John Adams
+15
Level 38
Apr 29, 2012
I imagine most people got Richard Johnson from typing in Johnson (for Andrew Johnson or Lyndon B. Johnson). I know I did.
+4
Level 59
May 29, 2020
The same with George Clinton probably.
+2
Level 67
Sep 29, 2020
There was no other Clinton VP was there?
+10
Level 76
Nov 26, 2020
My strategy was to write in all the presidents hoping that a bunch of them were also VP at some point. This is how I got Clinton, Wilson, etc.
+8
Level 82
Jun 1, 2013
Much tougher than the presidents quiz. I managed to come up with 21. As one former VP pointed out this job isn't worth a bucket of piss.
+4
Level 64
Apr 8, 2014
I thought it was JNGarner that said that 'wasn't worth a bucket of warm spit'?
+3
Level 45
Aug 22, 2014
I think it was LBJ.
+1
Level 66
Feb 26, 2023
I believe Garner said it to LBJ while the latter was VP.
+10
Level 82
Nov 8, 2014
I see Garner credited with both quotations. Maybe it was originally piss and then someone changed it to spit to be nicer and now both are in circulation? Or maybe he said no such thing and they just made it up.

In either case, I think the really important question is, what's worth more? Warm piss or warm spit? And does the warmth effect the value?

+5
Level 75
Jan 22, 2017
I'd have to say the former is worth more than the latter. It can be diluted and used as fertilizer (on non-edibles), and it can also be used full strength around a garden to deter animals. The temperature has no effect on its usefulness. :)
+5
Level 50
Oct 13, 2015
Other than the vice presidents who became president themselves most are not well known historically.
+6
Level 82
Jan 23, 2017
Cheney and Biden are both pretty well known for now, but in time they will likely be forgotten. Quayle is still a punchline, but fading from memory as well. Gore and some of the others are famous for failed presidential bids- and Gore also for his work on addressing climate change. I think Nelson Rockefeller has got to be by far the most famous in his own right, and for things not related to the presidency or vice presidency. Burr and Calhoun may be runners-up.
+4
Level 67
Jan 31, 2018
Burr, Calhoun, Stevenson, and Rockefeller are historically noteworthy. The others...
+4
Level 61
Mar 20, 2018
Agnew could probably also be on that list
+2
Level 70
Sep 8, 2019
Wait why is nelson rockefeller noteworthy?
+6
Level 82
May 4, 2020
Member of the Rockfeller family. One of the wealthiest and most influential families in US history.
+16
Level 84
Jan 20, 2021
Biden just became a lot more memorable! Personally, I was embarrassed to miss Quayle and Ford, both of whom served during my (adult) lifetime.
+3
Level 72
Jan 29, 2021
Rockefeller also died with a smile on his face. (Google if you don't remember.)
+3
Level 42
Mar 29, 2021
@kalbahamut Cheney will remain infamous for the Iraq War.
+2
Level 74
Apr 28, 2021
Gerry is notable for gerrymandering; Breckinridge is notable for his service as a Confederate general in the Civil War, and Hubert Humphrey had a very influential career, including authoring the Civil Rights Act of 1964 while in the Senate and taking part in the very significant 1968 election. Others made meaningful contributions in their time, like Charles Dawes who created the Dawes Plan (before becoming Vice President), Schuyler Colfax who was involved in corruption scandals revealed after he left office, and Henry Wallace who ran for President in 1948.
+3
Level 75
Jun 1, 2013
Wow, I came up with 20 and I'm English!
+3
Level 22
Apr 23, 2014
Hey jacky911! Don't sweat it! Most of the state of Maryland couldn't figure out Spiro Agnew until it was too late (and I'm a native Marylander, so I should know :-).
+5
Level 51
Aug 11, 2014
I like the picture of Cheney. Oh Dick, you old fox, you.
+3
Level 37
Aug 24, 2014
When a VP fills the spot of a President do they not then fill the VP spot?
+7
Level 82
Nov 8, 2014
The last time this mattered was when Kennedy was shot. Johnson, his VP, became president. At the time there was no provision for choosing a new VP and thus, the office remained vacant. In 1967 the 25th Amendment to the Constitution was adopted and the law changed. Now, if PotUS dies and the VP assumes his office, then the new president nominates a new VP to succeed him, and that VP must be confirmed by Congress.
+4
Level 75
Jan 22, 2017
Yes, Potus doesn't have to die. He/she can willingly resign or be forced to resign, for example by becoming physically incapacitated or impeached and convicted of a crime. Anytime the VP assumes the presidency for any reason, there is now a provision to appoint a new one.
+2
Level 67
Jun 26, 2020
Believe it or not, before the 25th amendment, if a vice president assumed the office of president, died, or resigned, there was no method for choosing a new one, the president just picked a new one for the next election. Because of this there are four presidents who were the vice president, the president died and they became president, but they were not re-elected, and therefore never had a vice president.
+5
Level 71
Aug 30, 2020
Actually, Kal, that first part isn't true. The last time this mattered was in 1974, when Gerald Ford became president, and because the 25th Amendment was already in place, he appointed Nelson Rockefeller to be VP.
+5
Level 82
Nov 7, 2020
And just before that, when Spiro Agnew resigned, that's how Ford became VP and in a position to become president.
+5
Level 62
Jun 1, 2015
*Joe Biden*

*Give Up*

+5
Level 75
Jun 1, 2015
When in doubt, try a president's name. That's how I got Fillmore, Roosevelt, Tyler, Arthur, and Van Buren.
+3
Level 42
Jun 3, 2015
I'm American and I got 13... that's sad...
+5
Level 65
Jul 3, 2015
And you like certain sandwiches at Wendy's?
+9
Level 67
Mar 24, 2018
It really isn't sad. Most of these men were inconsequential historically. Have you even heard the term "greatest vice president in history"? Probably not. The vice president's most important role is casting a tie-breaker vote in the Senate, which happens very rarely. The men on this list who are historically noteworthy are memorable for reasons other than being vice president (eg., Burr, Calhoun, Rockefeller). There is only so much time to learn history (and science and the arts, and whatever else interests you). Learning the US vice presidents really should not be a priority for anyone. Still a fun quiz though.
+5
Level 82
Jun 28, 2018
If you are over 18 you should be able to get at least 15 or 16 of these. But if you feel bad about it then just think you have room for improvement.
+7
Level 50
Dec 17, 2015
A woman had two sons.

One joined the Navy, the other became Vice-President.

Neither was heard from again.

+11
Level 41
Dec 23, 2015
Please accept Darth Cheney for Dick Cheney.
+6
Level 60
Nov 9, 2016
Can you accept Michael R. Pence? Since that was his name on the ballot.
+5
Level 89
Jan 22, 2017
Where? In my state, I remember seeing Mike Pence on the ballot.
+4
Level 67
Jan 22, 2017
Tricky for a brit of course. I did manage to get a few of the recent ones, but then just guessed people that were president.
+2
Level 57
Jan 22, 2017
I got 40
+3
Level 75
Jan 22, 2017
I aced the first row. All but three served during my lifetime and the others were still living when I was young.
+3
Level 50
Mar 1, 2018
A woman had two sons.

One joined the navy, the other became Vice President and neither was heard from again.

+4
Level 71
Mar 13, 2018
Question: How many US Vice Presidents can you Name?

Me: None.

+4
Level 37
Aug 9, 2019
I got 22. Knew more than I imagined. Can never remember Cheney's name for some reason; Just that he's a really bad shot.
+2
Level 4
Apr 7, 2018
Great Vice pres quiz I got them all right
+3
Level 4
Apr 11, 2018
Also I didn’t realize there were so many Johnson’s as Vice Presidents,,
+4
Level 4
Apr 13, 2018
Question what pres saud this about Gerald Ford. He can’t chew gum and walk at the same time, he spent too many years playing football without a helmet.
+3
Level 82
Apr 30, 2018
Selina Meyer didn't work...
+3
Level 88
Jun 28, 2018
So close to eternal fame.
+7
Level 74
Oct 29, 2018
Ah, the old times, when Vice Presidents were named Elbridge, Hannibal or Schuyler, and not Mike, Joe or Dick.
+3
Level 67
Sep 29, 2020
Hopefully Mike stays VP, he's been the best in a while
+6
Level 79
Mar 27, 2021
In what way?
+2
Level 53
Jul 2, 2020
I got Aaron Burr for obvious reasons. :)
+5
Level 53
Jul 2, 2020
Pardon me. Aaron Burr, sir.
+3
Level 51
Jul 10, 2020
I got Levi Morton.
+4
Level 52
Jan 20, 2021
Who?
+3
Level 89
Jan 20, 2021
Benjamin Harrison's VP.
+4
Level 88
Jan 21, 2021
Hannibal Hamlin got the most typical Vice President treatment. During the Civil War he went back home as a private in the army and pulled kitchen patrol at a fort 100s of miles north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Then he got replaced in office with a Southerner to balance the ticket 41 days before Lincoln was shot.

What a Rodney Dangerfield.

+2
Level 72
Jan 29, 2021
I got all the ones since the early 20th century, the very first batch, and the ones in between who became Pres. after their Pres. died ("Tippecanoe" etc.). But big gaps in the middle.
+5
Level 64
Mar 26, 2021
Fun fact: Kamala Harris is the first Vice President without any European ancestry, but she isn't the only one with acknowledged non-European ancestry. Charles Curtis was a member of the Kaw Nation.
+1
Level 82
May 12, 2021
Interesting fact. I never knew.
+4
Level 78
Mar 26, 2021
This quiz really shows how little many of the vice presidents are discussed. Apparently, I didn't know who the vice president was during the Civil War.
+3
Level 51
Apr 25, 2021
RIP Walter Mondale
+2
Level 82
May 12, 2021
Well, for an Australian who has never formally studied any American history, I'm happy with getting half. Apart from those who later became president or were famous for something else other than being VP, it's a pretty historically inconsequential office. I'm always reminded of the scene in the West Wing where WH CoS Leo McGarry gives VP John Hoynes a dressing down. Hoynes retorts by asking Leo where his job is mentioned in the Constitution, but its pretty clear where the power resides. Having worked in the slightly less high stakes world of state politics here in Australia, I'm confident the essence of the scene is on point. I've seen Ministers - Executive Councillors to Her Majesty according to the Constitution - have disagreements with the Premier's CoS, and again, it's clear where the real power resides.
+1
Level 64
Dec 21, 2023
Fun fact: This is the oldest quiz, sorting by date of last bump to the front page. It was last featured in April 2009.