# Mike Pence - have any losing vice-presidents gone on to win the presidency later? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 8, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031 "2020-11-08T03:11:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/22 "2020-11-08T06:48:14Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > One other data point, although a bit of a tangent - I believe Richard Nixon is the only person to have served as VP, lost a run for POTUS, and then later run again and won. Or am I forgetting somebody…? I was trying to think today of other people who have lost a bid to be President and then come back and won it. The only other one I can think of is Cleveland, who won it, lost it, then won it again; he didn’t lose first. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/23 "2020-11-08T10:28:29Z")
I am inherently skeptical of “rules” of the kind no one with X has gone on to become President. Most of them are spurious correlations which hold until they don’t and I imagine most Presidents have broken some significant “rule” or the other. I think Pence 24 is very much a possibility. He has name recognition and some Trumpist cred while at the same time being a normal politician who is acceptable to the establishment. I can’t think of anyone else with this combination. As to whether he can win the general, I think the events of the last five years should dispose us towards humility. Nobody knows anything about who is or isn’t electable four years from now. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/24 "2020-11-08T12:39:00Z")
See also for more on the history of Veeps in general and the prospects for Pence in particular: > [@Mike Pence in 2024-- please tell me it's not happening](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-in-2024-please-tell-me-its-not-happening/924826): > > Now the it is looking like Biden is going to win (happy dance), this means that Mike Pence will not be the outgoing VP in 2024, and therefore is not likely to be nominated for president. As someone who has lived under him as governor, in Indiana, this is a very nice side effect of Trump losing (assuming he does, but I’m leaning hard toward assuming right now). Am I right in thinking this? There isn’t any real possibility that the Republican party could try to resurrect Pence’s career in 2024, … ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/25 "2020-11-08T15:31:34Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I was trying to think today of other people who have lost a bid to be President and then come back and won it Adam’s and Jefferson. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/26 "2020-11-08T15:55:11Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Adam’s and Jefferson. Okay, but that was under the old “second place gets VP” system, which isn’t really the same thing. Since the adoption of the current rules? I can only think of Cleveland and Nixon. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/27 "2020-11-08T15:56:23Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > > [@RickJay](#): > > > > I was trying to think today of other people who have lost a bid to be President and then come back and won it > > Adam’s and Jefferson. Andrew Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/28 "2020-11-08T15:56:25Z")
> [@Mike Pence in 2024-- please tell me it's not happening](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-in-2024-please-tell-me-its-not-happening/924826/1): > > As someone who has lived under him as governor, in Indiana, this is a very nice side effect of Trump losing (assuming he does, but I’m leaning hard toward assuming right now). Am I right in thinking this? There isn’t any real possibility that the Republican party could try to resurrect Pence’s career in 2024, Well, there’s a POSSIBILITY, but it’s remote. Pence is popular among religious extremists but that’s not an uncommon skill in the GOP. Many, many people will be vying for the nomination; Pence is an extreme longshot. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/29 "2020-11-08T15:59:52Z")
Oh, I agree with you. As was discussed in this earlier thread on the same topic. I’m just pointing people here to the earlier thread. I’m not trying to assert Pence has a snowball’s chance after 1/21/21. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/30 "2020-11-08T16:21:22Z")
Unlike Trump I expect Pence to show up at the inauguration. Of course he could be president then if Trump tantrums include quitting. I think he runs in 24 but probably won’t be the nominee. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/31 "2020-11-08T16:26:03Z")
Acting president. I don’t think anybody will bother formally installing him, even if Trump disappears. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/32 "2020-11-08T17:24:39Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Unlike Trump I expect Pence to show up at the inauguration. Of course he could be president then if Trump tantrums include quitting. I think he runs in 24 but probably won’t be the nominee. Besides Pence, I wonder who else might show up January 20. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/33 "2020-11-08T17:50:38Z")
Biden, Harris, their families and lots of jubilant (and hopefully socially-distanced) Dems would be my guess. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/34 "2020-11-08T18:01:45Z")
I predict that Trump will be there. After a few weeks he will give up on the tantrums and act in a semi-reasonable while still claiming that he was robbed. He will portray this as act of amazing magnanimity since he is of course the most gracious and conciliatory of all Presidents, maybe with the exception of Lincoln. Contrary to what some people here seem to think, Trump is quite capable of changing tack when something isn’t working, e.g. the change in tactics in the second debate. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/35 "2020-11-08T18:09:28Z")
Trump was able to see that changing tactics in the debates might benefit him. There’s no real benefit to him to show up for the inauguration, so he won’t. Trump is purely transactional. He doesn’t do anything out of courtesy or tradition unless he feels he might benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/36 "2020-11-08T18:10:53Z")
Bob Dole lost in a presidential election as the vice presidential candidate and lost in a presidential election as the presidential candidate ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/37 "2020-11-08T18:14:44Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > I predict that Trump will be there. After a few weeks he will give up on the tantrums and act in a semi-reasonable while still claiming that he was robbed. He will portray this as act of amazing magnanimity since he is of course the most gracious and conciliatory of all Presidents, maybe with the exception of Lincoln. We need a betting thread. I bet he won’t attend. He doesn’t have it in him. Will Joe Biden begin his inauguration speech with, “I want to thank Donald Trump and Mike Pence for their service to the country…” like so many do? I think he will. > [@Boycott](#): > > Bob Dole lost in a presidential election as the vice presidential candidate and lost in a presidential election as the presidential candidate Ah, good one. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/38 "2020-11-08T18:42:14Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > …Will Joe Biden begin his inauguration speech with, “I want to thank Donald Trump and Mike Pence for their service to the country…” like so many do? I think he will… I hope he doesn’t. Having his pants actually burst into flames in his first moments as President would not be the best way to start. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/39 "2020-11-08T18:45:25Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Trump was able to see that changing tactics in the debates might benefit him. There’s no real benefit to him to show up for the inauguration, so he won’t. Trump is purely transactional. He doesn’t do anything out of courtesy or tradition unless he feels he might benefit. The payoff to attending will be exposure and spectacle. It will be his last opportunity to strut around as President on a big stage. I can’t see him giving that up. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/40 "2020-11-08T18:45:38Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > I predict that Trump will be there. After a few weeks he will give up on the tantrums and act in a semi-reasonable while still claiming that he was robbed. He will portray this as act of amazing magnanimity since he is of course the most gracious and conciliatory of all Presidents, maybe with the exception of Lincoln. > > Contrary to what some people here seem to think, Trump is quite capable of changing tack when something isn’t working, e.g. the change in tactics in the second debate. IMHO he was only able to change tactics in the second debate because he was no longer actively suffering from COVID-19. The infection explains why he couldn’t hold it together in the first debate. As far as I know Trump always doubles down, almost like the Martingale strategy. It just so happens that this is the first time in his whole life that he’s reached the limit of his (or his creditors) bankroll. It won’t end well, certainly not in any kind of dignified way on Trump’s part. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031/41 "2020-11-08T18:58:27Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > I am inherently skeptical of “rules” of the kind no one with X has gone on to become President. Most of them are spurious correlations which hold until they don’t and I imagine most Presidents have broken some significant “rule” or the other. [XKCD](https://xkcd.com/1122/) A lot of them are whimsical, of course, because XKCD. But then again, some of the “rules” that you hear bandied about in all seriousness are pretty silly, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-pence-have-any-losing-vice-presidents-gone-on-to-win-the-presidency-later/925031.md?page=3)