# Vice President Bill Clinton **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2000, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458 "2000-08-07T20:01:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/1 "2000-08-07T20:01:17Z")
I was wondering if hypothetically, Bill Clinton could run as Vice Presidential candidate under Al Gore. Never mind the political issues, would it be constitutional to re-elect Clinton as a Vice President? He would be in line to possibly serve a third term if Gore was incapacititated, so he could serve more than the constitutional limit of 2 terms. But if you look at the amendment, it says nobody may be ELECTED more than twice, but doesn’t say anything about succeeding to the position. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/2 "2000-08-07T20:07:16Z")
Actually it does say that, you can’t serve more than 10 years so he couldn’t be the VP now. sorry I don’t know the exact law or wording but I do remember this from those stupid Civics classes they made us take. how come I always remember the stupid stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/3 "2000-08-07T20:15:57Z")
That is something that isn’t really dealt with in the Constitution. That would be a good one for them to figure out. Like you said, it says “elected”, not appointed. There are no provisions for VP appointment other than age, residency, etc. I would say he would be eligible. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/4 "2000-08-07T20:32:08Z")
This has been discussed several times in the past. Did you search past threads? Like [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=32574) one? ---
**Author:** ![TampaFlyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@TampaFlyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TampaFlyer)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/5 "2000-08-07T20:33:10Z")
I believe Oblong is right. I heard some talking heads commenting on this a week or two ago- could Gore pick Clinton if he wanted, & their conclusion was yes, since the Constitution only limits a President to being elected twice. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/6 "2000-08-07T20:36:28Z")
Nope. The Veep is elected, and after you’ve been President, you can’t be elected to any office in the US gubmint. I think. Don’t quote me on this, though. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/7 "2000-08-07T20:40:47Z")
I read an editorial last week (sorry, can’t remember where)on precisely this issue. The writer claimed that is **was** constitutionally OK for Clinton to run for election as Vice President. The 22nd Amendment, enacted in response to FDR’s election to a fourth term, basically says that a person cannot be _elected_ to the office of President more than twice. Serving two or more years as a result of, say, succeeding a president who dies in office, counts the same as one election. The point: it says that such a person (e.g., Bill Clinton) can no longer _be elected_ President. That’s distinct from being ineligible _to serve_. Qualifications for who is eligible to serve as President are set forth in Article II, Section 1. Must be a natural-born citizen, must be at least 35, and must have lived in the US for at least 14 years. That’s it. If Bill Clinton were, say, appointed Secretary of State, he would be eligible to become President if deaths, resignations, or other things took out the Pres, VP, House Speaker, and President Pro Tem of the Senate. Interestingly, the current SecState, Madeline Albright, would be skipped over. She’s not a natural born citizen of the U.S., and is thus ineligible to serve as President. The guys point was really this: Don’t let the fact that the Vice President’s main function is as “back-up President” cloud the issue. Anybody who meets the II(1) requirements is eligible to become President if the succession path works its way down to him/her. Clinton (or any other 2-term President) is still eligible to serve, even if he cannot be elected again. Of course, this was this guy’s interpretation of the Constitution, but I think I agree with him. It would be OK. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/8 "2000-08-07T21:49:35Z")
To paraphrase King Henry II “Who will rid us of this cursed thread?” As **sailor** this subject has been discussed here before ad nauseum. Perhaps since Gore tabbed Joseph Lieberman as his running mate, we can all stop worrying about such matters. ---
**Author:** ![jcgmoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jcgmoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jcgmoi)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/9 "2000-08-07T22:17:30Z")
After looking at the 22nd amendment, everyone should peruse the 12th: “But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/10 "2000-08-07T23:16:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jcgmoi \* > \*\*After looking at the 22nd amendment, everyone should peruse the 12th: > “But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of > President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” \*\* The contention being made here is that Bill Clinton is **not** “constitutionally ineligible to the office of President.” He cannot _be elected_ to the office, but he is not ineligible to _hold_ it. The difference matters since the Constitution provides means other than election for someone to take office as President. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/11 "2000-08-08T00:02:56Z")
Using the logic that he can’t serve as Vice President because he is ineligible to be President would also mean he couldn’t serve in Congress as he would be in the succession line (a very long one) as a congressman as well. The Vice President’s job is to Preside over the Senate and assume the Presidency if needed. He would just be skipped over. As stated, Madeline Albright is right behind Gore and Hastert, but that didn’t stop her appointment as Secretary of State. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/12 "2000-09-02T10:00:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Nope. The Veep is elected, and after you’ve been President, you can’t be elected to any office in the US gubmint. John Quincy Adams was elected to the House of Representatives after serving as President. Andrew Johnson was appointed a Senator (this was before Amendment XVII) after serving as President, but died before he took his seat. William Taft was appointed Chief Justice of the United States after serving as President. ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/13 "2000-09-02T12:37:17Z")
Of course, there’s a strong possibility that Bill Clinton will be the first **First Man** of this country. Now, wouldn’t _that_ be neat? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2000, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/14 "2000-09-02T12:45:03Z")
That’s the first time that I’ve seen .0001% described as strong. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2000, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/15 "2000-09-03T06:21:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Oblong \* > \*\*Using the logic that he can’t serve as Vice President because he is ineligible to be President would also mean he couldn’t serve in Congress as he would be in the succession line (a very long one) as a congressman as well. The Vice President’s job is to Preside over the Senate and assume the Presidency if needed. He would just be skipped over. As stated, Madeline Albright is right behind Gore and Hastert, but that didn’t stop her appointment as Secretary of State. \*\* Actually Strom Thurmond, as Senate President Pro Tempore, would come after Hastert. Then it would go to the cabinet. Since Albright is ineligible, Treasury Secretary Rubin would get the call. In the 19th Century, the President Pro Tem was the designated successor to the Vice President. The Speaker didn’t get put in the line of succession until after World War II. I don’t believe Congress has spelled out the line of succession if all the Cabinet members are wiped out in one fell swoop. Personally, that would be the least of my worries in such a situation. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2000, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/16 "2000-09-03T17:45:11Z")
That’s Treasury Secretary Summers. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/17 "2000-09-03T18:22:15Z")
I should have looked at the new $20 bills in my wallet instead of the old ones. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2000, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/18 "2000-09-04T06:43:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobT \* > Personally, that would be the least of my worries in such a situation. \*\* I disagree. Continuity of the government would be very important in such a national emergency. If the entire cabinet were wiped out with the prez and VP, a state of emergency would exist. The government must have a viable method of continuing in order for it to retain the right to be a government. After all, as the Declaration says, government exists only with the consent of the governed. The people must believe that their government is legitimate. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2000, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/19 "2000-09-10T17:03:27Z")
> [@](#): > > To paraphrase King Henry II “Who will rid us of this cursed thread?” As sailor this subject has been discussed here before ad nauseum. Perhaps since Gore tabbed Joseph Lieberman as his running mate, we can all stop worrying about such matters. Alternatively, we could just put an eight year moratorium on it, and revive it when Vice-President Lieberman names Al Gore as his running mate. :: ducking and running :: ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_the\_drum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@Drum\_the\_drum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_the_drum)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458/20 "2000-11-23T16:19:38Z")
If Chaney dies now, though, Gore could become VP under Bush. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-president-bill-clinton/28458.md?page=2)