The Wacky History Of VP Picks

CBS Evening News: Breaks Down The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Of The Week In Campaigns

(CBS)  On the night of the vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin, CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield gives a historical primer on how VP picks of the past have played out in successful, humorous, and sometimes tragic ways.

The Good: "That's the Ticket!"

John Kennedy's choice of Sen. Lyndon Johnson in 1960 was a shocker, but it may well have put Kennedy into the White House. It likely made the difference in Texas - and helped him in South Carolina as well.

When Ronald Reagan picked George H.W. Bush in 1980, it was a signal that he was willing to reach beyond his conservative base.

Bill Clinton's choice of Al Gore in 1992-same age, same part of the country-helped underscore the message of youth and change, while George W. Bush added the "experienced insider" Dick Cheney in 2000.

The Bad: "On Second Thought..."

Some choices don't work out that well. Richard Nixon reached for a new face when he chose Maryland Gov. Spiro Agnew in 1968. But by campaign's end, he'd become a Democratic target.

Walter Mondale looked to shake up the race in 1984 by picking a woman - Rep. Geraldine Ferraro. But her husband's questionable real-estate connections forced her - and the ticket - on the defensive for days.

Sen. Dan Quayle, George Bush's 1988 choice, never really recovered from his "deer-in-the-headlights" appearance at his first press conference. Bush and Quayle won handily anyway.

The Ugly: "Man Overboard!"

As for the costliest vice-presidential pick of all, when George McGovern's pick, Sen. Tom Eagleton, acknowledged he'd been hospitalized for depression, it forced him off the ticket. He was replaced by Kennedy in-law Sargeant Shriver, and helped sink the McGovern campaign.

What about this year's nominees? Well, we'll likely know a lot more after their debate Thursday evening.