Article: A short history of the vice presidency: with election season looming, how important is the running mate? Check out our VP power scale!(MC BULLETIN: CELEBS, TRENDS, THE STATE OF THE UNION ... BEHOLD, YOUR WATERCOOLER CHEAT SHEET)

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JOHN TYLER (WHIG), 1841 BOSS: William Henry Harrison POWER INDEX: A 19th-century James Bond villain ACHIEVEMENTS: Successfully argued that he should become president after his boss died--not just" acting president" as many interpreted the Constitution. VP WISDOM: "I can never consent to being dictated to as to what I shall do or not do"

DAN QUAYLE (R), 1989-1993

BOSS: George H.W. Bush

POWER INDEX: Somewhere between meter maid and lawn boy ACHIEVEMENTS: Four years of busywork. Bush once told him, "Our relations with the Pacific countries are very important to the United States. But we're going to let you go ...

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