Observation of Republican (non-incumbent) Vice-Presidential Nominees Since 1952

[ClassicElectionEnthusiast]

This covers something interesting that I've noticed with Republican non-incumbent tickets since 1952, and that is that only 4 times since 1952 has the Vice-Presidential nominee been a current or former Senator (seems odd considering that one would expect a Senator to be the Vice-Presidential pick given that one of the few explicitly stated tasks for a VP is to be the presiding officer of the Senate, though that basically only comes into effect on breaking ties).

The GOP Vice-Presidential nominees by most recent position since 1952:

• 1952: Richard Nixon (Senator)
• 1960: Henry Cabot Lodge (UN Ambassador; was unseated in Senate by JFK)
• 1964: William Miller (Representative)
• 1968: Spiro Agnew (Governor)
• 1976: Bob Dole (Senator)
• 1980: George H.W. Bush (CIA director; twice unsuccessful candidate for Senate)
• 1988: Dan Quayle (Senator)
• 1996: Jack Kemp (HUD Secretary)
• 2000: Dick Cheney (Defense Secretary)
• 2008: Sarah Palin (Governor)
• 2012: Paul Ryan (Representative)
• 2016: Mike Pence (Governor)

By comparison, since 1952 the Democrats have given the #2 slot to a non-Senator only twice (former Peace Corps director Sargent Shriver in 1972 after Thomas Eagleton was dumped from the ticket, Representative Geraldine Ferraro in 1984)

[Benjamin Frank]

This covers something interesting that I've noticed with Republican non-incumbent tickets since 1952, and that is that only 4 times since 1952 has the Vice-Presidential nominee been a current or former Senator (seems odd considering that one would expect a Senator to be the Vice-Presidential pick given that one of the few explicitly stated tasks for a VP is to be the presiding officer of the Senate, though that basically only comes into effect on breaking ties).

The GOP Vice-Presidential nominees by most recent position since 1952:

• 1952: Richard Nixon (Senator)
• 1960: Henry Cabot Lodge (UN Ambassador; was unseated in Senate by JFK)
• 1964: William Miller (Representative)
• 1968: Spiro Agnew (Governor)
• 1976: Bob Dole (Senator)
• 1980: George H.W. Bush (CIA director; twice unsuccessful candidate for Senate)
• 1988: Dan Quayle (Senator)
• 1996: Jack Kemp (HUD Secretary)
• 2000: Dick Cheney (Defense Secretary)
• 2008: Sarah Palin (Governor)
• 2012: Paul Ryan (Representative)
• 2016: Mike Pence (Governor)

By comparison, since 1952 the Democrats have given the #2 slot to a non-Senator only twice (former Peace Corps director Sargent Shriver in 1972 after Thomas Eagleton was dumped from the ticket, Representative Geraldine Ferraro in 1984)

Going back to 1944 actually with Missouri Senator Harry Truman chosen in 1944 and Kentucky Senator Alben Barkley chosen in 1948.

If you broaden this out rather than just Senators but all members of Congress, then the only non Congress  person chosen since 1928 on the Democratic side was Henry Wallace in 1940 as Speaker of the House John Nance Garner was Roosevelt's vice President from 1932-1940 and Arkansas Senator Joseph Robinson was the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee  in 1928

Of course, Thomas Eagleton was also a Missouri Senator and Sargent Shriver was something like McGovern's 8th choice after Eagleton was dropped.

[Mr. Smith]

On the other hand, all the GOP tickets from 1952-2008 (except for 1964) had either Richard Nixon, Bob Dole, or a Bush on the ticket...since Ford didn't keep Rockefeller.

[Del Tachi]

On the other hand, all the GOP tickets from 1952-2008 (except for 1964) had either Richard Nixon, Bob Dole, or a Bush on the ticket...since Ford didn't keep Rockefeller.

Between Hoover and Trump, there was no winning Republican ticket that didn't have either Nixon or a Bush on it.