Tag Archives: Rufus R. King

The Veep Who Didn’t Go to Washington

WHY HE NEVER SET FOOT IN THE CAPITOL AS VP

Holy Cow

Mr. SmithRemember the old Jimmy Stewart classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”? It’s about a political novice who is appointed U. S. Senator out of the blue and then, well, goes to Washington. (I’m not spoiling anything for you if you’ve never seen the movie; it’s in the title.)

More than 160 years ago, a man became Vice President of the United States without going to Washington. He never even set foot inside the Capitol the entire time he had the job. Here’s why. Continue reading