Who Was Nixon’s Vice President Before Ford? A Deep Dive Into Spiro Agnew’s Turbulent Tenure

Table of Contents#

• Who Was Spiro T. Agnew? Early Life and Political Beginnings
• Agnew’s Path to the Vice Presidency: Nixon’s 1968 Running Mate
• Agnew’s Tenure as Vice President: Rhetoric, Roles, and Relationship with Nixon
• The Scandal That Brought Agnew Down: Bribery, Tax Evasion, and Resignation
• From Agnew to Ford: The 25th Amendment in Action
• Agnew’s Later Life and Legacy
• Conclusion
• References

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Who Was Spiro T. Agnew? Early Life and Political Beginnings#

Spiro Theodore Agnew was born on November 9, 1918, in Baltimore, Maryland, to a Greek immigrant father (who owned a restaurant) and an American mother of German descent. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning a Bronze Star for his service in Europe. After the war, he studied law at the University of Baltimore and opened a small private practice.

Agnew’s political career began in local government:

1. 1962: He was elected County Executive of Baltimore County, where he gained a reputation as a moderate Republican focused on improving infrastructure and public safety.
2. 1967: He won the Maryland gubernatorial race, defeating a Democratic incumbent. His tenure as governor was marked by tough stances on civil unrest—he criticized anti-war protesters and urban rioters, which caught the attention of national Republican leaders.

Agnew’s ability to appeal to both moderate and conservative voters made him a rising star in the party, especially as the GOP sought to win back southern and working-class voters alienated by the Democratic Party’s support for civil rights and anti-war movements.

Agnew’s Path to the Vice Presidency: Nixon’s 1968 Running Mate#

In 1968, Richard Nixon was the Republican nominee for president, and he faced the challenge of balancing his ticket to appeal to a broad coalition of voters. Nixon wanted a running mate who:

• Had southern or border-state appeal (to counter the Democratic Party’s hold on the South)
• Could rally the “silent majority”—voters tired of anti-war protests, urban unrest, and liberal elite influence
• Was not tied to the eastern Republican establishment (which Nixon viewed as out of touch)

Agnew checked all these boxes. Nixon chose him over more prominent figures like Ronald Reagan or Nelson Rockefeller, seeing Agnew as a fresh face who could energize grassroots conservatives. The Nixon-Agnew ticket won the 1968 election with 301 electoral votes, defeating Democrat Hubert Humphrey and independent candidate George Wallace. They were re-elected in a landslide in 1972.

Agnew’s Tenure as Vice President: Rhetoric, Roles, and Relationship with Nixon#

As vice president from 1969 to 1973, Agnew became Nixon’s most vocal surrogate in attacking the administration’s critics. Key highlights of his tenure include:

• Fiery Rhetoric: He coined phrases like “nattering nabobs of negativism” to describe liberal journalists and “anarchists” to label anti-war protesters. His speeches resonated with the silent majority, solidifying his status as a conservative icon.
• Policy Focus: Agnew led initiatives on law enforcement and urban affairs, advocating for tougher crime laws and criticizing federal programs he viewed as ineffective at addressing poverty.
• Relationship with Nixon: Initially, the pair had a close working relationship. Nixon relied on Agnew to rally conservative voters and deflect criticism. But as Agnew’s scandal unfolded in 1973, Nixon distanced himself, seeing Agnew as a liability that could undermine his own presidency.

The Scandal That Brought Agnew Down: Bribery, Tax Evasion, and Resignation#

Agnew’s downfall stemmed from corruption dating back to his time as Maryland’s governor. Here’s the timeline of the scandal:

1. 1973: Federal investigators uncovered evidence that Agnew had accepted bribes totaling over $100,000 from Maryland contractors. The kickbacks continued even after he became vice president—contractors would deliver cash to Agnew’s White House office or his private home.
2. Denials and Defiance: Agnew initially claimed he was the victim of a “political witch hunt” orchestrated by liberals and the media. He refused to cooperate with investigators and even threatened to sue accusers.
3. Impeachment Threat: By mid-1973, the House Judiciary Committee began preparing impeachment proceedings against Agnew. Facing overwhelming evidence of guilt and the prospect of a public trial, Agnew negotiated a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
4. Resignation: On October 10, 1973, Agnew became the second U.S. vice president to resign (the first was John C. Calhoun in 1832). He pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) to a single charge of tax evasion, avoiding jail time in exchange for resigning and agreeing to pay back taxes and fines.

From Agnew to Ford: The 25th Amendment in Action#

Agnew’s resignation created a vacancy in the vice presidency—an unprecedented scenario at the time. To fill the role, Nixon turned to the 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967 after John F. Kennedy’s assassination to formalize presidential and vice presidential succession.

• Section 2 of the Amendment: Allows the president to nominate a vice president, who must be confirmed by a majority vote in both the House and Senate.
• Ford’s Appointment: Nixon nominated Gerald Ford, the House Minority Leader and a well-respected moderate Republican. Ford was confirmed by the Senate (92-3) and the House (387-35) on December 6, 1973. This marked the first time the 25th Amendment was used to fill a vice presidential vacancy.

Less than a year later, Nixon resigned due to Watergate, making Ford the first president never elected to either the presidency or vice presidency.

Agnew’s Later Life and Legacy#

After resigning, Agnew retreated from public life briefly but later attempted to rebuild his reputation:

• He wrote several books, including Go Quietly… Or Else (1980), in which he criticized Nixon for abandoning him during the scandal.
• He tried to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980 but failed to gain significant support.
• He worked as a business consultant and public speaker until his death from leukemia on September 17, 1996.

Agnew’s legacy is complex:

• Conservative Rhetoric: His attacks on liberals and the media laid the groundwork for modern conservative political messaging, influencing figures like Rush Limbaugh and later Republican politicians.
• Accountability: His resignation demonstrated that even high-ranking government officials are not above the law, setting a precedent for holding public servants accountable for corruption.
• 25th Amendment Precedent: His exit led to the first use of the 25th Amendment’s vice presidential nomination process, ensuring a clear path to fill future vacancies.

Conclusion#

Spiro Agnew’s tenure as Nixon’s vice president was a turbulent chapter in U.S. history. From his rise as a “law and order” politician to his dramatic resignation amid corruption charges, Agnew’s story is intertwined with the political upheaval of the 1970s. His exit paved the way for Gerald Ford’s appointment, which in turn set the stage for Nixon’s own resignation. While Agnew’s legacy is overshadowed by scandal, his impact on conservative rhetoric and presidential succession remains significant.

References#

• “Spiro Agnew.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Spiro-Agnew.
• “Spiro T. Agnew: Vice President, 1969-1973.” U.S. Senate, https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP_Spiro_Agnew.htm.
• “The 25th Amendment: Presidential Succession.” History.com, https://www.history.com/topics/us-government/25th-amendment.
• “Agnew Resigns, Pleads No Contest to Tax Evasion.” The New York Times, October 11, 1973.