# Has a Sitting Vice President Ever Died While in Office? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053 "2010-07-26T15:05:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/1 "2010-07-26T15:05:53Z")
This was a plot point in a movie I saw over the weekend- the sitting vice-president of the US dies. However, damned if I know if this has ever happened (or how to google it). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/2 "2010-07-26T15:09:09Z")
Seven times, according to wikipedia, all prior to the passage of the twenty-fifth amendment (and apparently, prior to the twenty-fifth amendment, the office was just left vacant till the next election if the VP died or moved up to the White House due to the death of the President. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/3 "2010-07-26T15:09:15Z")
George Clinton, Elbridge Gerry, William King, Henry Wilson, Thomas Hendricks, Garrett Hobart, and James S. Sherman all died in office. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/4 "2010-07-26T15:14:33Z")
Googling “vice president died in office” brought me [this link](http://hnn.us/articles/128.html). I’m not familiar with the site, but once you’ve got the names, it’d be easy to verify. They say seven died in office; two resigned. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/5 "2010-07-26T15:14:35Z")
BTW, the wiki article you probably want is this one: > **[List of vice presidents of the United States by time in office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Vice_Presidents_of_the_United_States_by_time_in_office)** > > This is a list of vice presidents of the United States by time in office. The basis of the list is the difference between dates. The length of a full four-year vice-presidential term of office amounts to 1,461 days (three common years of 365 days plus one leap year of 366 days). If counted by number of calendar days all the figures would be one greater. > Since 1789, there have been 49 people sworn into office as Vice President of the United States. Of these, nine succeeded to the presidency duri... ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/6 "2010-07-26T18:14:39Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > George Clinton I’m pretty sure he is a member of a Parliamentary government, although he’s still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/7 "2010-07-26T18:17:38Z")
William King is notable in that he was terminally ill when he was sworn in as Vice President. He had advanced tuberculosis and had traveled to Cuba for the improved climate. He was unable to attend the inauguration of President Pierce or take his own oath of office. Congress passed a act which allowed him to be sworn in as Vice President in Cuba. A few weeks later he was able to return to his home in Alabama where he died two days later. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/8 "2010-07-26T18:44:11Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > George Clinton > > I’m pretty sure he is a member of a Parliamentary government, although he’s still alive. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/9 "2010-07-26T18:55:35Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > George Clinton > > I’m pretty sure he is a member of a Parliamentary government, although he’s still alive. And it’s kind of a funky system from what I understand. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/10 "2010-07-26T19:15:47Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > George Clinton > > I’m pretty sure he is a member of a Parliamentary government, although he’s still alive. Parliamentary governments normally require MPs to be deceased prior to taking office? I never knew that. Ignorance fought, thanks! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/11 "2010-07-26T19:22:33Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > This was a plot point in a movie I saw over the weekend- the sitting vice-president of the US dies. However, damned if I know if this has ever happened (or how to google it). > > Thanks! I was wondering why the funeral was held at St. Bart’s in New York instead of at the National Cathedral in DC… fun movie though. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/12 "2010-07-26T20:48:40Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > > > George Clinton > > > > I’m pretty sure he is a member of a Parliamentary government, although he’s still alive. > > Parliamentary governments normally require MPs to be deceased prior to taking office? I never knew that. Ignorance fought, thanks! 😃 Clearly you’ve never heard of the little-known William Pitt the Undead. He helped Britain get over a serious BRAAAAIIIINNNNSSSS!!! shortage. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/13 "2010-07-26T20:55:55Z")
I bet Spiro Agnew wished he was dead. The Watergate investigation expanded and uncovered his dirty past. he was accused of accepting $29,500 in bribes during his tenure as governor of Maryland. Agnew resigned as VP. Agnew was fined $10,000 and put on three years’ probation. A total sleazeball. > **[Spiro Agnew](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiro_Agnew)** > > Spiro Theodore Agnew (November 9, 1918 – September 17, 1996) was the 39th vice president of the United States, serving from 1969 until his resignation in 1973. He is the second vice president to resign the position, the other being John C. Calhoun in 1832. > Agnew was born in Baltimore to a Greek immigrant father and an American mother. He attended Johns Hopkins University and graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law. He worked as an aide to U.S. Representative James Devereux b... ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/14 "2010-07-26T22:17:30Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > > > George Clinton > > > > I’m pretty sure he is a member of a Parliamentary government, although he’s still alive. > > And it’s kind of a funky system from what I understand. With one nation under a groove. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/15 "2010-07-26T22:30:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > William King is notable in that he was terminally ill when he was sworn in as Vice President. William Rufus DeVane King is also notable for being (privately) referred to as “Mrs. Buchanan”, due to his unusually close relationship with James Buchanan, America’s only bachelor and (rumored to be) homosexual President. It is truly one of history’s great tragedies that Mr. King died before he could serve as V.P. under Buchanan, thus denying future generations the plot for one hell of a sitcom! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/16 "2010-07-26T22:33:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Spiro Agnew … was accused of accepting $29,500 in bribes … was fined $10,000 and put on three years’ probation. So he still ended up with nearly a $20,000 profit! (Plus his Vice-Presidential pension.) And they say crime doesn’t pay. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/17 "2010-07-26T22:58:04Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > George Clinton > > I’m pretty sure he is a member of a Parliamentary government, although he’s still alive. Huh. I thought I’d heard he’d drowned in his own shit. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/18 "2010-07-27T01:54:28Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > …I was wondering why the funeral was held at St. Bart’s in New York instead of at the National Cathedral in DC… fun movie though. I just assumed that the VP was from NYC. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/19 "2010-07-27T03:58:43Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I bet Spiro Agnew wished he was dead. The Watergate investigation expanded and uncovered his dirty past. he was accused of accepting $29,500 in bribes during his tenure as governor of Maryland. Agnew resigned as VP. Agnew was fined $10,000 and put on three years’ probation. > > A total sleazeball. > [@Dr.Woo](#): > > > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > > > George Clinton > > > > I’m pretty sure he is a member of a Parliamentary government, although he’s still alive. > > Huh. I thought I’d heard he’d drowned in his own shit. [mod note] This is GQ, **aceplace57** and **Dr. Woo**. Political snark is not allowed here. If you don’t have anything to contribute to answering the question, feel free to start a Pit thread or a Great Debates thread about the politicians you don’t like. No warnings issued. [/mod note] ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053/20 "2010-07-27T07:49:36Z")
> [@Dr.Woo](#): > > > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > > > George Clinton > > > > I’m pretty sure he is a member of a Parliamentary government, although he’s still alive. > > Huh. I thought I’d heard he’d drowned in his own shit. [mod note] This is GQ, **aceplace57** and **Dr. Woo**. Political snark is not allowed here. If you don’t have anything to contribute to answering the question, feel free to start a Pit thread or a Great Debates thread about the politicians you don’t like. No warnings issued. [/mod note] [/QUOTE] [Political](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CEYQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FGeorge_Clinton_(musician)&ei=pI1OTLCDLpSmsQOT94DZBw&usg=AFQjCNECR99SPeFgIp4A-QjNAxyvGm2fuw) [snark](http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858559291/)? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-sitting-vice-president-ever-died-while-in-office/548053.md?page=2)