"The interval between the decay of the old and the formation and establishment of the new constitutes a period of transition which must always necessarily be one of uncertainty, confusion, error, and wild and fierce fanaticism."
John C. Calhoun
(1782-1850)
Most people seem to be under the mistaken impression that, 35 years ago, Spiro Agnew was the first vice president in American history to resign.But that's not true.
On this date in 1832, John C. Calhoun (pictured at right) became the first vice president to resign.
But the difference between Calhoun and Agnew was simple.
Agnew resigned while under investigation for extortion, tax fraud, bribery and conspiracy — he entered a plea of nolo contendre or "no contest" to those charges in court after resigning.
To use modern jargon, the case against Agnew was a "slam dunk."
Calhoun gave up the vice presidency to take a seat in the Senate.
Both men occupy unique roles in history — aside from resigning as vice president.Agnew (pictured at left) was the first Greek-American — and still the only one — to be vice president.
Calhoun was the first vice president who was born a U.S. citizen. The six men who served as vice president before Calhoun were all born before the Revolutionary War.
He wasn't the first vice president to serve under two different presidents (John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson), but he is still the last one to do so, nearly 180 years after his resignation.
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