iV ce Presidents
WHO they are, WHAT they do,& WHY should you care? We’re all familiar with POTUS and the responsibilities that come with the position — but what about their second-in-command?
Story by Ihsaan Fanusie Design by Isabel Solorzano Graphics by Cassandra Bradley
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ho will lead our country and wield the power of one of the most consequential positions in the world? This question is left to the American people to decide every four years.
The presidential election is widely considered to be one of the most important in our country. Yet when we go to vote, we see each ticket on the ballot bearing two names, not one. The major party candidates for the presidency are Donald Trump and Joe Biden; next to their names are vice presidential candidates Mike Pence (R) and Kamala Harris (D), respectively. While the vice presidential candidates do get their own televised debate every election year, and most Americans know who they are, the majority of the American public may not be as familiar with their policies, platforms, and role in office.
WHO’S RUNNING? Vice President Mike Pence, the incumbent, has been notable for largely staying out of the spotlight as vice president; Dick Poleman of The Atlantic published a piece in 2018 described and Pence as possessing a “talent for being absent.” Pence is generally described as a traditional conservative and served as the Governor of Indiana prior to being selected by President Donald Trump as a running mate. Notably, as vice president, Pence cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and led the presidential delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics.
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Kamala Harris, the Democratic VP nominee, ran for president initially but suspended her campaign in December of 2019. Joe Biden selected her as his running mate on Aug. 11. Having formerly served as the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017, she is currently a Senator representing California, and has been since 2017. She will, presumably, resign to accept the position of vice president should Biden win the election.
ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT The Vice President of the United States is first in line for the presidency should the president die or become unfit to serve. The 25th amendment lays out these provisions. Now, more than ever, the public seems to be taking this particular duty of the vice presidential officeholder into consideration when casting their ballots. President Trump is 74 years old, and former Vice President Joe Biden will turn 78 years old three weeks after the election. If either candidate was to win and subsequently serve a four-year term, they would leave office as the oldest president in American history, and this has become a point of conversation for American voters, because it also means that it is entirely possible that the president, whoever wins, could pass away while still in office. Even though they will have access to the best medical care that the country has to offer, the presidency is a stressful job, and the average life expectancy in the US is just over 78 years. If a death in office happens, the vice president would finish out the term as the president of the United States.
