The First VP to Succeed

Quick: Who was the first American vice president to succeed his passed-on boss? Answer: Think "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too." Then think controversial thoughts.

Before there were Republicans in America, there were Whigs, who borrowed their name from a British party dedicated to reducing the power of the monarchy. It seemed to fit. Initially, the American Whig party was a mix-and-match bunch held together by their opposition to President Andrew Jackson (1829-37), whom they called "King Andrew I."

By the election of 1840, the Whigs were ready for presidential primetime--not least because the country had been in an economic depression since Martin Van Buren (Jackson's former VP) became president in 1837. To unseat Van Buren, the Whigs nominated William Henry Harrison for president and John Tyler for vice president.

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