Oct 18, 2025
Defender of his view of Southern rights, Vice President John
Calhoun was the only VP to serve under Two Presidents. Both of
those Presidents would come to dislike him strongly, as would (we
think it's fair to say) most people today.
That's because he undermined both Presidents he served under, and
because Calhoun's defense of slavery went beyond what a majority of
Southern Congressmen and Senators in his time would support. And
even in context, it deserves the anger it generates
today.
If there's any silver linings for (some) modern ears, we discuss
his position on tariffs (against them) and his position against
federal power in local areas which could get a nod from those that
hate him otherwise.
He also opposed the Mexican War for the same reasons as Lincoln. It
was in his view a war started by a President. And in his mind at
least he was always pro-Union - though contemporary political
opponents contested this.
We won't do much celebrating of this Vice President, but to know
history we have to talk about him.