The Worst US Presidential V-Pairs in History

The combination of a US President and Vice President (V-P) is far more significant than it may appear at first glance. While many VPs have played a relatively minor role, others unfortunately exacerbated the situations they found themselves in, leading to some of the most tumultuous and controversial presidencies. Here are some of the worst US presidential-vice presidential (VP) pairs in history:

James Buchanan and Breckinridge - 1857-1861

James Buchanan was one of the most incompetent presidents, and his VP, Breckinridge, certainly didn't help matters. Breckinridge spent most of his time defending slavery as a moral right during the 1860 presidential campaign. Buchanan and Breckinridge's inaction in the lead-up to the Civil War is one of the primary reasons for their poor reputation. Their efforts to prevent the Civil War by doing nothing only served to exacerbate the pre-war tensions that led to the conflict.

Nixon and Agnew - 1969-1974

Nixon’s VP, Spiro Agnew, resigned in disgrace due to bribery charges, and his fall from grace created further political turmoil during the Watergate scandal. Both men had to resign amid scandal, leading to a particularly dark period in American political history.

Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson - 1801-1805

Thomas Jefferson's VP, Aaron Burr, was a controversial figure, and together they couldn't get much worse. However, some argue that Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) and John F. Kennedy (JFK) had an even more toxic relationship. It is said their competition was a photo finish – one wins by a nose hair. Aaron Burr was often a "burr under Jefferson's saddle," constantly undermining him, while LBJ was a thorn in the side, and vice versa.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson - 1800-1801

The relationship between Adams and Jefferson was so strained that they both worried if the other was still alive. Thomas Jefferson did not get along well with those around him and had 650 slaves, which may have contributed to his disapproval of those he considered "uppity."

Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson - 1861-1865

Perhaps the most dramatic V-P pair in American history was that of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. Lincoln, an old school Republican, was dedicated to ending slavery and preserving the Union. In stark contrast, Johnson was a post-Civil War Southern Democrat who was staunchly in favor of maintaining slavery and reestablishing it in the South. Johnson succeeded Lincoln after his assassination and worked to dismantle many of the policies Lincoln had put in place.

Lincoln would likely be on any list of top US presidents, but Andrew Johnson’s presidency was a disaster. Johnson removed virtually every policy that Lincoln had implemented and was pro-slavery, even opposing the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery. If Lincoln had survived, he would have made the list of top US presidents without question.

The combination of a US President and Vice President shapes the course of history, and in these instances, these pairs played crucial roles in either bringing about positive change or exacerbating national disasters. Understanding these relationships provides a more comprehensive view of the political landscape during each era.