The Martyr: Thomas A. Hendricks

Vice Presidents of The United States Podcast

Grover Cleveland's first vice president barely spoke with him, did not agree on politics and was in office for political reasons. Hendricks was the bottom half of a ticket that lost the disputed election of 1876. His position on the martyred ticket that lost after a congressional commission decided for Rutherford B. Hayes would earn him a spot in the hearts of partisan Democrats. It would also earn him a second shot at the vice presidency, after an attempt to reach the the first office. Then VP Hendricks would become a martyr again, dying in office. In this episode we look at Hendricks, the fighter, the partisan, the martyr, his place on the currency and his limited relationship with the younger President he served under.

Music by Lee Rosevere and Chris Novembrino (theme song)

Research conducted by Brian Stolk