RIP Walter Mondale

[HanSenSE]

Dammit, a like isn't enough for something like this.

 

[HanSenSE]

 

[X-Hack]

I was 24 and just a few months into my first job in the business. After Reagan clinched, I spent the rest of the night watching Super Bowl highlights on ESPN, flipping over to CBS at the top of each hour just to see what Rather would say.

Election was on a Tuesday in November. Reagan’s 2nd inaugural was SB Sunday (49ers vs Dolphins - Marino’s lone appearance)

 

[dixiehack]

Election was on a Tuesday in November. Reagan’s 2nd inaugural was SB Sunday (49ers vs Dolphins - Marino’s lone appearance)

I took it to mean there was a marathon of NFL Films recaps. Mid-80s ESPN didn’t yet own the rights to everything in the multiverse and suggesting something like MAC football on a Tuesday night would have gotten you a psych evaluation.

 

[X-Hack]

I remember in those days getting to see the occasional polo match (that’s how I learned that games were divided into “chukkers”) or ping pong maych...

 

[micropolitan guy]

Not to go off topic, but who do you guys believe was the best VP to never been POTUS?

Aaron Burr was #2, with a bullet, but never hit #1. He hit Alexander Hamilton instead.

 

[Monday Morning Sportswriter]

Not to go off topic, but who do you guys believe was the best VP to never been POTUS?

I will join Twirling Time in SJ.com Jail for this answer, but I think Cheney was the best vice president. He'd have never been president and that probably helped.

 

[garrow]

Mondale was good friends with George McGovern and they commiserated about getting stomped by disreputable/loathed by their base opponents. Sadly, both dealt with the tragedy of outliving a daughter. They outlived their wives too. RIP.

 

[User 150927]

It's hard to say because, before Spiro Agnew, you really had to strain to think who the VP was. Agnew was in your face constantly for better or worse (mostly for worse), it seems to me. Most VPs just blended into the woodwork until something happens like Oswald.

Gore seemed pretty competent. Quayle was a clown just like his fellow Hoosier Pence. This won't be popular, but Cheney was very effective behind the scenes.

Sure, if you don't mind all the evil.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

I was a kid at the time and remember that night vividly. I was amused that the race was over as California, where we lived, and other Western states were still open to cast ballots. I was too young for 1972, but 1984, yeah, was a complete beat down.

Same here. It’s the first presidential election that I remember. I went with my Mom for her to go vote, then watched some of the results. Finally she was “turn it off, I’m tired of seeing so much red.”

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Reagan-Bush were 93 and 94, so they get the silver medal, from what I can determine.

EDIT: Adams-Jefferson were 90 and 83, and not only died on the same day, they died on a July 4. That takes some serious planning.

“OK Tom, let’s do one last thing to get some headlines.”

“Sure John, what are you thinking?”

“Well, we’re both pretty old, and there’s not much we can do. How’s Sally doing anyways?”

“Um, er, she’s fine. I have an idea! Why don’t we both die on the same day? That’ll be sure to make some history.”

“Yeah, good idea Tom. When should we do it?”

“How about tomorrow? It’s the Fourth of July and the 50th anniversary of our country. We’ll really get to **** with people’s barbecued hardtack on that day.”

“Brilliant idea, Tom! You always were a pretty smart guy. After all, that Declaration of Independence thingy turned put OK, even if women and slaves are not created equal. All right, let’s do it.”

The Next Day:

“OK John, ready for both of us to die?”

“You betcha.”

“OK John, you die first.”

“Why me? You go first.”

“Nah, you can do it. You’re older than me and you came before me as president.”

“Yeah, good old 1796. That was a fun time.”

“Oh sure, really fun. Seen any aliens committing sedition lately?”

“Hey, at least my running mate didn’t try to steal the presidency away from me in 1800. Have you heard anything from Burr lately? I heard he was a crack shot with a pistol.”

“Oh, shut up, John. I know. Why don’t we die at the same moment?”

“Good idea Tom. We’ll do it on the count of 3. Ready?”

“Ready, John.”

“1 ..2 ... dammit ... gasp ... Tom ... gasp.”

“Ha-Ha John. I outlast ... aw ****.”

 

[Monday Morning Sportswriter]

That Jefferson-Adams exchange would have been the longest civilized conversation they had with each other.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

The coverage reminded me his daughter, Eleanor, has been dead for 10 years

 

[Songbird]

Seriously. I'd like to see the political #30for30 on this map.

In some ways I thought Trump would do the same thing in 2020.

Maybe not 525-13 but close, because.

 

[DanOregon]

I don't know how you judge a "good Vice President" - but several very capable people have served in the position and would have made good Presidents. I think Gore would have been like a Biden, Bob Dole would have been a good President, John Nance Garner would have been a good President and really - Nelson Rockefeller would have been a great President - really a Republican Roosevelt.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

I took it to mean there was a marathon of NFL Films recaps. Mid-80s ESPN didn’t yet own the rights to everything in the multiverse and suggesting something like MAC football on a Tuesday night would have gotten you a psych evaluation.

one of my fondest memories was the big family Christmas Eve party used to always have ESPN on in some family room and the guys all watching a marathon of NFL Football Follies.

 

[Spartan Squad]

I will join Twirling Time in SJ.com Jail for this answer, but I think Cheney was the best vice president. He'd have never been president and that probably helped.

He was the first place I went also. Someone who took such an active role in day-to-day decisions and was such a force in the administration.

Pence was the adult in the room but hamstrung by a president with access to Twitter while ****ting.

Biden was beloved but Obama was the clear cut guy in charge.

Gore had a great post VP career.

The less said about Quayle the better.

Bush Sr had a great preVP resume and backed up a strong president.

But Cheney may have changed how we see the VP spot. He was more than a figure head who saw the job as something other than the back up QB.

 

[DanOregon]

Been reading up on Mondale - apparently he did start several "traditions" in how to be a VP - he was a true partner of Carter's and they began the weekly lunch that has continued to this day between Presidents and veeps, but for such a long public service career there is very little in terms of groundbreaking legislation, major advances etc. or bold stands. He was a cautious centrist who only turned against Vietnam when LBJ was gone and Nixon was in the White House - not sure Reagan would have won over blue collar workers and unions without someone like Mondale so late on the draw.

 

[BTExpress]

Reading some lists of greatest VPs, among those who didn't get the big job, the Roosevelts had some good running mates (Teddy 1, FDR a couple).

 

[UPChip]

That "Ope, looks like I'm dying" email had a picture. The whole thing cracks me up as uniquely Minnesota. Docs probably told him he had until the weekend and he hung on two extra days to have an unusually long goodbye with everyone at the party.