Mike Pence - And The Other 5 Vice Presidents From Indiana

Indiana has been nicknamed the "Mother of Vice Presidents". The November election added the 6th. Let's take a look at them.

Schuyler Colfax served in the U.S. House of Representatives 1855-69 (including 1863-69 as Speaker of the House) and then as VP during Ulysses S. Grant's first term, 1869-73. Here is his signed House free frank, a cover from the 1868 campaign, and a signed VP free frank.







Thomas A. Hendricks served in the U.S. House of Representatives 1851-55, in the U.S. Senate 1863-69, as Indiana Governor 1873-77, and finally as VP during Grover Cleveland's first term beginning in 1885 and died in office on November 25, 1885. Here is a check signed by him.



Charles W. Fairbanks served as U.S. Senator 1897-1905 and as VP during Theodore Roosevelt's second term, 1905-09. Here is a printed free frank while he was in the Senate.



Thomas Marshall served as Indiana Governor 1909-13 and as VP under Woodrow Wilson 1913-21. He is known for the quote "What this country needs is a good 5 cent cigar." Here is a 1913 cover touting a 5 cent cigar.



Dan Quayle served in the U.S. House of Representatives 1977-81, in the U.S. Senate 1981-89, and as VP under George W. Bush, 1989-93. Here is his printed Senate free frank.



Mike Pence served in the US House of Representatives 2001-13, as Indiana Governor 2013-17, and will be Donald Trump's VP in January 2017. Here is his printed Congressional free frank and the 2016 Indiana bicentennial stamp first day of issue program with Pence's large signature at the bottom center of the insert card. (He did not sign programs with the other ceremony dignitaries as he had another appearance to make, but was cornered by a few collectors and signed perhaps a dozen cards.)

Very nice presentation, John. Thanks for sharing!

I read one of those big fat boat-anchor biographies of Theodore Roosevelt a few years ago, but I never would have come up with Charles Fairbanks as his vice-president. I feel kind of stupid now. My consolation is that being vice-president under an outsize personality like TR would have been a thankless job, even by the meager standards of that office.

Grant and Colfax look like they could have been in an all-star Americana band with Levon Helm and an Avett Brother or two.

Great post, John!

Super post! Thanks for sharing.

As a new member here, I'm slowly exploring some of the material that has been shared over the years. As a life-long Hoosier, I appreciate John's putting this material together and sharing it here! Good job!

Tom

Morning John and all,

Nice display of material. Looks like our hoosier state also holds the record, so far, for most vp's that never became president. Time will tell if that record will be broken.

Best regards, Russ

Thanks for sharing.

Here are Wilson and Marshall on a souvenir card from the 1915 PPIE.