Spiro “Ted” Agnew  the 39th Vice President of the United States was born on this day in 1918. Agnew was from Baltimore, Maryland. He was Baltimore County Executive from 1962-66 before becoming the Governor of Maryland. He ran for Governor of Maryland in 1966, a Republican in a heavily Democratic state. He won the election by 82,000 votes. He was the Governor of Maryland for nearly two years. He was chosen to be Richard Nixon’s running mate in the 1968 election. He was part of Nixon’s “southern strategy” to win the election. Someone who would appeal to southern voters yet not be identified with the south. Nixon won and Agnew completed one of the fastest advancements in American political history from Baltimore County Executive to Vice President in six years. Agnew as Vice Daddy was the highest position ever for a Greek-American.

Agnew as Vice President was most remembered as Nixon’s hatchet man. His main targets were the press, political opponents and anti-war protesters. Agnew’s relationship; with Nixon deteriorated as time went on. Nixon liked and admired Ted Agnew but felt he lacked smarts and vision. Nixon thought about replacing Agnew on the ticket in 1972 but Agnew had strong suppport among conservatives and Nixon stuck with Agnew.

Agneew got into troubles with the law and that would lead to his resignation. He pleaded no contest to tax evasion and then resigned from the Vice Presidency on  October 10th 1973.  If Agnew had stayed out of trouble he would have become POTUS when Tricky Dicky resigned. I think we are lucky that Agnew had to resign. President Agnew would not have been a good thing. Jerry Ford was named by Nixon to replace Agnew and he took over when Nixon went back home to San Clemente. Ford may not have been a great president but he was an outstanding man. A calming person at a time when the country needed just that.

Ted Agnew died in 1995 at the age of 77.