To enable critical wartime legislation to be passed during WWI, Marshall had the body adopt its first procedural rule allowing filibusters to be ended by a two-thirds majority vote--a variation of this rule remains in effect.

Johnson's proposal was soundly defeated, receiving only twenty-five votes in the House and Senate combined.

William King, unlucky vice president No. 13, missed his March 4, 1853, inauguration in Washington because he was in Cuba trying to recover from tuberculosis. He died after just 45 days in office.

The office of VP has been vacant for years at a time on several occasions, including the period following Harry S. Truman's ascension to the presidency following FDR's death.

FDR had three veeps: John Garner (1933-41), Henry A. Wallace (1941-45), and Harry S. Truman (1945).

In 1973, Spiro Agnew, Richard Nixon's vice president, stepped down after being charged with tax evasion and taking bribes.

The Secret Service gave Biden the codename "Celtic", referencing his Irish roots.

Seventy-one years old at the time of his inauguration, Alben W. Barkley was the oldest man ever elected Vice President, breaking Charles Curtis' record at 69.

In 1864, Johnson was a logical choice as running mate for Lincoln, who wished to send a message of national unity in his re-election campaign; their ticket easily won. Johnson was sworn in as vice president in March 1865 and gave a rambling speech, after which he secluded himself to avoid public ridicule. Six weeks later, the assassination of Lincoln made him president.

While in office, the 71-year-old Barkley married Jane Hadley, a St. Louis widow approximately half his age.