Wreath Layer or Policy Player?: The Vice President’s Role in Foreign Affairs

Since World War II, American vice presidents have played an ever-increasing role in US foreign policy. This study of the activities of five key vice presidents - Richard Nixon, Walter Mondale, George Bush, Dan Quayle and Al Gore - provides the first comprehensive analysis of the role of the vice president in foreign-policy affairs. In order to bring readers to a better understanding of this role, Paul Kengor asks incisive questions: Did the vice presidents’ involvement in foreign policy actually benefit the administration? If so, what useful lessons can be drawn from their experiences? Is there good reason to approve or reject an enhanced role in foreign policy for future vice presidents? How, specifically, might the vice president be used in conducting US international affairs? The answer to these questions are crucial for the future of world peace and the reading of US overseas policy initiatives incoming years.