Tyler's Vice Presidency

Tyler’s Vice Presidency in the United States

Vice President of the United States History of the Vice Presidency Tyler’s Fight to Control the Presidency

Introduction to Tyler’s Vice Presidency

Tyler’s vice presidency became a landmark in the history of the vice presidency when Harrison died after just a month in office. Harrison was the first president to die in office, and his death thrust Vice President Tyler into the center of a political debate over the rules of presidential succession. The Constitution does not specify if a vice president who replaces a president assumes the full responsibilities of the office for the remainder of the term, or if the vice president merely becomes an acting president until a special election can be held to fill the presidency. Tyler claimed the right to serve out all of the nearly four years left in Harrison’s term, but Whigs and Democrats in Congress and the Cabinet united in opposition. Many of Tyler’s opponents insisted on calling him the acting president, and newspapers referred to him as His Accidency. Tyler resisted the attempts to deny him full presidential powers and successfully completed Harrison’s term as president. Since Tyler, no one has seriously challenged the right of a vice president to the full powers of the presidency on a president’s death.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

Guide to Tyler’s Vice Presidency


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