Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Don't laugh at the title. Someone's got to do it.
Recently, I've been giving some thought to the process by which Mitt Romney should make his vice presidential pick. And one thought keeps coming to mind: George W. Bush got it right.
Now, even if you weren't keen on Dick Cheney individually (I myself am an unabashed fan), I think you have to acknowledge that he possessed an ideal set of traits for a running mate: seasoned, discreet, ready to step into the job on day one, not self-promoting and -- most importantly in my judgment -- beyond the point in his career where he entertained presidential ambitions.
We often think about the choice of a running mate in narrowly political terms: what electoral real estate they can put on the table (I'm not convinced there's ever a lot to be gained); how their profile enhances, or contrasts with, the candidate's; or how they'll do in a vice presidential debate where it's virtually impossible to influence public opinion unless you have a grade-A meltdown that ends with you killing a protected species onstage.
What we don't focus on enough is this: among the powers of the presidency, few are more momentous than serving as an Electoral College of one when it comes to choosing a potential successor. Given that incredible responsibility, my own instinct would be to choose someone who borders on emeritus status -- someone whose service to their country could already be judged a worthwhile life's work, who would have made a worthy president had he ever thrown his hat into the ring, and who, if not chosen, would take his leave of Washington or whatever state capital he inhabits and pursue a relatively quiet life.
This militates against those (and I myself have entertained these thoughts before) who are touting the likes of Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, or Bobby Jindal for the number two spot. These are all formidable figures in the Republican Party -- and all people whose substantive contributions might be cut short if they, like most recent vice presidents, take the number two slot only to never hold another office again. It just doesn't make sense to bench your stars when they're hot.
So who do I propose as alternatives? Two names come immediately to mind. The first is Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, but he says (with a conviction unusual from those making such a claim) that he's not interested. The second is retiring Arizona Senator Jon Kyl.
Kyl may not be at the front of your mental rolodex, but that's because of one of the traits that make him fit my schema: despite being the number two Republican in the U.S. Senate, he's not a publicity hound. What he is, however, is hard working, whip-smart, conservative (his lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union puts him in Jim DeMint-Tom Coburn territory) but in a style that won't scare the horses, and deeply experienced (four terms in the House, three terms in the Senate).
Kyl's background also allows him to add some value to a potential Romney Administration. In recent years, he's been one of the leading Republicans in the Senate on foreign policy issues (an area where Romney is notably short on credentials -- and where he seems to be flailing at times). And a D.C. outsider like Romney might do well to choose the man who's currently in charge of counting heads in the upper chamber if he wants to establish a decent working relationship with Congress. Finally, Kyl's age (at 70 perhaps his biggest hurdle) and lack of further political ambitions would leave the race to become Romney's successor wide open, allowing a free-for-all amongst the many talented members of the GOP farm team instead of giving one candidate the institutional advantage of the vice presidency.
Jon Kyl for Vice President. I've just about convinced myself. How about you?
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Comments:
Apr '11
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
My thoughts on this topic here.
Apr '11
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Mr. Senick I couldn't agree with you more. To those who tout Rubio, Ryan, et.al. for VP, I can only ask: Why do you want to strip him of all political influence for the next 8 years?
May '10
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Troy, I like the way you think. Someone like Kyl would give the young stars time to develop, gain experience and put together records they can use in the future. I don't know a lot about him, but your recommendation will cause me to investigate him. Even if he is missing a letter in each name.
May '10
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
You just convinced me, Troy.
Jul '11
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Adding an experienced senator (like Kyl or Coburn) to the ticket would be great because it would add a boost of legislative fire-power. In order to set the country right, the administration will need leaders who can get bills vetted and passed effectively. They should not farm out bills to congress a la Obama/Pelosi/Reid, but should shepherd their initiatives.
Not 100% sure on the choice (I favor Coburn more), but I like the decision process. Leave our outstanding governors where they are; we need them in their states.
-E
Mar '11
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
You have me convinced. Further Kyl likely meets the more traditional models of picking a VP that you listed. He would be good enough in a debate with Biden. He adds foreign policy and conservative creditably that Romney lacks.
Further he may shore up light red AZ and may even help in neighboring states like New Mexico
Jan '11
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Very persuasive...
Dec '10
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Don't forget that it was exactly these characteristics (plus his personal character) that enabled Cheney to transform the roll of VP. Biden has attempted to continue on the path Cheney cleared, but he has failed miserably. Just imagine the hatred Bush would have received if not for Cheney as a breakwater for the left's fury. Cheney finally made the VP more than the official mourner. Biden has tried to eliminate even that function. Perhaps someone like Kyl can elevate the office again.
Mar '11
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Troy, you have expressed my thoughts on the VPship exactly, and much better than I ever could to boot.
To extend what CandE said above, one task that Cheney apparently excelled in was playing the Washington bureaucracy game: knowing how the convoluted system works, having contacts to help push through your agenda, and not being afraid to make enemies at times. I assume someone who's been around DC as long as Jon Kyl can play that game pretty well.
May '10
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Troy Senik, Ed.
This militates against those (and I myself have entertained these thoughts before) who are touting the likes of Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, or Bobby Jindal for the number two spot. These are all formidable figures in the Republican Party -- and all people whose substantive contributions might be cut short if they, like most recent vice presidents, take the number two slot only to never hold another office again.
Presidents never have pursued another office after their terms in the White House. But they could. I can imagine no better way to humble the office than for a President to seek a lower office.
I think we can all agree that the Presidency needs to be humbled.
Nov '10
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
You are not alone in thinking about the VP nomination, Troy. I posted a lunchtime diatribe on the matter on Monday The Dan Quayle Conundrum, in which I warned the likes of Rubio and Ryan from accepting the VP nod. In one of the comments, I also praised Cheney, implying that he was the kind of VP that was effective and not concerned with his electoral future. I wish I had taken your approach, because it makes my point so much better than I did. In terms of what's best all around, a senior statesman is the perfect choice for VP. It conveys a seriousness of intent, and a willingness to have on hand the best his party has to offer, even if they are not presidential hopefuls themselves.
And regards to your suggestion on Kyl, as someone who has met the man on a couple occasions, I could not applaud that selection with enough verve or vigor to do its wisdom justice.
Edited on June 6, 2012 at 9:37pmMay '12
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
@Aaron Miller
Presidents never have pursued another office after their terms in the White House. But they could. I can imagine no better way to humble the office than for a President to seek a lower office.
I think we can all agree that the Presidency needs to be humbled. · 5 minutes ago
Aren't you forgetting about William Howard Taft? Chief Justice is nothing to sneeze at.
Aug '11
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Haley Barbour would make a fine VP for similar reasons. If he was willing to toss his hat in the presidential ring, then I assume he is also open to the vice presidency.
Mar '12
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
I couldn't disagree more, particularly with your key criterion: "most importantly in my judgment -- beyond the point in his career where he entertained presidential ambitions." Whatever the merits of Dick Cheney as Bush's 2000 VP (and I agree they were many), leaving him on the ticket in 2004 was a political blunder and one principal cause of the Obama victory. The lack of an interested party at the table explains much of the drift of the Bush Presidency 2005-08. Creating an automatic non-incumbency race in 8 years is a gift to the Democrat Party.
The fiscal/economic mess the US faces is going to take much more than 8 years to fix. We will be fighting to free a weakened private sector from the regulatory and tax burdens imposed by a vast array of special interests constructed since 1933. As we are all witnessing, even a 4 year Democratic Presidency can set that cause back 10 years. We need young men, with the stomach for a long fight, not Beltway grey eminences whose whole careers have been shaped by 4% GNP growth that apparently redeemed spending splurges by both parties. Ryan, Walker or Christie.
Jul '10
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
That's a 25% savings in ink every time He signs His name. He's saving Us money already.
Jun '11
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Would rather Daniels but Jon Kyl isn't a stiff...not a bad idea.
I'll second Troy's praise for Cheney as VP. One of the most reliable ways to irritate my liberal friends and family is to claim that the issue with the Bush Presidency is that Cheney wasn't the power behind the throne.
May '10
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Criticize as much as you want, but a Romney-Kyl ticket would be a solid ticket of serious adults. That immediately separates them from their opponents, not to mention most presidential slates since 1984.
Jul '10
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Drusus: @Aaron Miller
Presidents never have pursued another office after their terms in the White House. But they could. I can imagine no better way to humble the office than for a President to seek a lower office.
I think we can all agree that the Presidency needs to be humbled. · 5 minutes ago
Aren't you forgetting about William Howard Taft? Chief Justice is nothing to sneeze at. · 14 minutes ago
John Quincy Adams also won a seat in the House of Reps. and held it for several terms.
May '12
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Palaeologus
Drusus: @Aaron Miller
Presidents never have pursued another office after their terms in the White House. But they could. I can imagine no better way to humble the office than for a President to seek a lower office.
I think we can all agree that the Presidency needs to be humbled. · 5 minutes ago
Aren't you forgetting about William Howard Taft? Chief Justice is nothing to sneeze at. · 14 minutes ago
John Quincy Adams also won a seat in the House of Reps. and held it for several terms. · 5 minutes ago
I like that - Cincinnatus returning to his plow. Sort of.
Dec '11
Re: Thinking About the Vice Presidency
Excellent point, billy.
I appreciate Troy's post because I, too, regard Dick Cheney as the gold standard. I fear that the depth of experience he brought to the vice presidency is truly irreplaceable.