National Veep Day
National Veep Day is a holiday that officially acknowledges the succession of the U.S. Vice President to President if the President either resigns or dies while in office. It’s sort of a strange holiday because it’s observed on August 9th—the day that U.S. President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 and Vice President Gerald Ford was sworn in as President. Since it was the first time that a Vice President became President after a resignation, it was decided that this would be a holiday observed annually all around the U.S.
The History of National Veep Day
We’re not sure if people started celebrating this holiday immediately after Richard Nixon resigned, or if it’s somewhat of a newer holiday. All that we really know is that August 9th was the date when it happened. It’s a great day for people interested in presidential history to observe.
Some Interesting Facts About U.S. Vice Presidents
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t know a lot about the Vice Presidents of the United States. That’s okay; you’re in good company. A lot of us aren’t as familiar with the role of Vice Presidents in our government—not unless something happens to the President. That’s why we’ve decided to list some fun facts about Vice Presidents below.
The Vice President Lives at the U.S. Naval Observatory
The official residence of the U.S. Vice President is Number One Observatory Circle. This home is located on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. The house was originally built in 1893 for use by the observatory superintendent. It was then taken over by the Chief of Naval Operations in 1923 because he liked it so much. Finally, in 1974, Congress authorized its transformation into a temporary home for the Vice President. It’s still classified as the temporary home of the Vice President, even though Vice Presidents continue to reside in the home.
The Senate President Is Next in Line After the Vice President
Another thing that some people might not know is that if something happens to both the President and the Vice President, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives is next in line to be President. After that, the line of succession goes to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and then the Secretary of Defense. At the bottom of the list is the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and then finally, the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Observing National Veep Day
If you want to observe National Veep Day, then you’re going to want to take some time and learn a little bit about Vice Presidential history. You can check out our above Vice President facts as a start, but we encourage you to expand your historical search a little broader. There’s plenty of Vice Presidential history that you can brush up on, and all of it is fascinating. While you’re learning about the Vice Presidents of the U.S., don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalVeepDay on your social media posts for the day.
