Skip to content

The Veep: A Heartbeat Away From a Tie-Breaking Vote

By Jason Dick and Niels Lesniewski and D.A. Banks

Loading the player...

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first vice president, Jack Garner, once described the office that’s a heartbeat away from the presidency as “not worth a warm bucket of spit.” But the role does have at least one specific job carved out — breaking ties in the Senate — and Vice President Mike Pence has already done so nine times.

Recent Stories

Flag fracas: Republicans ‘infuriated’ by show of support for Ukraine  

Justice Department settles claims on USA Gymnastics investigation

Senate looks to clear aid bill Tuesday night with no amendments

‘Cruelty and chaos’: Biden hits Trump in Florida over abortion bans

Unfinished bills, tax law preparation push lobbying spending up

Capitol Lens | Social media poster