National Veep Day
Overlooked yet influential, vice presidents shape policy, represent leadership, and balance executive duties effectively within government.
Gaining the name “Veep” as another way to say “V.P.”, this day is all about the Vice Presidents. National Veep Day is here to recognize the succession plan that was put into place where the Vice President of the United States takes over in case something happens to the POTUS.
History of National Veep Day
National Veep Day is celebrated on this day as a nod to the day that US Vice President Gerald R. Ford was made the President of the US when Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974. This day was particularly remarkable because it was the first time in history that a person was sworn into the presidency of the US without ever having been elected into office. This happened because Spiro Agnew, who was elected as the Vice President along with Nixon, had resigned a year prior.
While the structure behind the succession of the president has gone through some changes over the years, the concept that the V.P. is the second in command takes over for the president has been around since 1789 when the office was created. National Veep Day pays heed to this often quiet but very important role.
How to Celebrate National Veep Day
Get more involved with US history and politics by celebrating National Veep Day! Consider some of these ideas for getting on board with this important day:
Learn Facts About Vice Presidents
Get on board with National Veep Day by learning about and sharing some interesting facts that are related to vice presidents. Head over to the library, do some online research, and check out some of these to get started with:
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Until 2023, there have been 49 different Vice Presidents of the United States.
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In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first female Vice President of the United States.
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During a duel in 1801, Aaron Burr, the veep to Jefferson, shot and killed Alexander Hamilton.
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There are 15 vice presidents who have gone on to be POTUS, including 8 because the president died in office, 1 because the president resigned and the rest were later elected into office.
Host a National VEEP Day Party
History buffs, political fans and others can have fun celebrating National Veep Day with a party! Host a gathering where friends, coworkers and neighbors are invited to join in on the fun by wearing a costume to represent their favorite vice president. Decorations can include the Declaration of Independence, American flags, and famous Veeps. Snacks can be made in red, white and blue, like cupcakes decorated with flags or names of former vice presidents.
Watch Veep
This American political satire comedy stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and ran on network television from 2012 to 2019. The comedy follows Louis-Dreyfus’ character, Selina Meyer during her years doing the job of the second in command – putting out political fires, dealing with personal issues and also juggling her schedule for public appearances. Enjoy celebrating National Veep Day by catching a few of these episodes just for fun!
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