>>I've always thought of VEEP as not much more than someone to be groomed as a good sucessor and/or to bring along an important state.
I also wondered, though, why they can't be put in charge of more important stuff and allow them more input to important decisions.<<
Kate -
One scene in HBO's John Adams struck me. George Washington had just been selected as the first President of the United States. He was talking to John Adams, who had become VP on the strength of having gotten the second greatest number of votes. The members of Washington's Cabinet entered the room, and Washington said to Adams, "If you will excuse me, I must meet with my Cabinet now," or words to that effect. Adams was ushered out of the room. I assume this is at least a roughly accurate portrayal of the situation.
Thus the precedent was set, and VPs from that point on found truth in Adams' statement that the office of the Vice President was the most useless ever devised by man.
It seems like it should have been obvious that the VP should attend every Cabinet meeting, and probably most other important meetings. That way, if the President should die, he'd be up to speed. Keeping him in the dark, or always occupied with trivial matters, makes no sense at all.
- Allen |
