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?
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. :)
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.
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.
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 :-).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
*Give Up*
One joined the Navy, the other became Vice-President.
Neither was heard from again.
One joined the navy, the other became Vice President and neither was heard from again.
Me: None.
Then he got replaced in office with a Southerner to balance the ticket 41 days before Lincoln was shot.
What a Rodney Dangerfield.