The Wacky History Of VP Picks

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.