Spiro Agnew

Spiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th vice president of the United States, serving from 1969 until he resigned in 1973 under President Richard Nixon. He was a member of the Republican Party and had previously served as the 3rd Executive of Baltimore County and the 55th Governor of Maryland. He is remembered as the second vice president to resign from office.

Agnew was born in Baltimore to a Greek immigrant father and an American mother. He studied at Johns Hopkins University and later graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law. He began his political career as a campaign aide and was later elected as Baltimore county executive and then governor of Maryland.

Agnew became Nixon's running mate in 1968 and helped in the election campaign. He was known for his strong speeches that appealed to many voters. In 1972, Nixon and Agnew were re-elected in a big victory. However, in 1973, Agnew faced serious accusations of wrongdoing during his time in Maryland. He eventually admitted to one charge and resigned from his position as vice president. Nixon chose Gerald Ford as his new vice president. After leaving office, Agnew lived quietly and wrote books defending his actions. He passed away at home in 1996 at the age of 77.

Early life

Spiro Agnew was born on November 9, 1918, in Baltimore, Maryland. His father, Theodore Agnew, was originally named Theophrastos Anagnostopoulos and came from Greece. He moved to the United States, changed his name, and worked in restaurants. Spiro's mother, Margaret Pollard, was from Virginia and worked in government offices before marrying Theodore.

Spiro grew up in Baltimore and went to Garrison Junior High School and later Forest Park High School. His family faced hard times during the Great Depression, but they managed to keep going. After high school, Spiro started studying chemistry at Johns Hopkins University but later switched to law at the University of Baltimore. He worked during the day to support himself. In 1942, he married Elinor Judefind, and they had four children together.

War and after

World War II (1941–1945)

Spiro Agnew joined the United States Army after he got married. Soon after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, he began training at Camp Croft in South Carolina. He later attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox in Kentucky and became a second lieutenant just before his wedding in 1942.

After a short honeymoon, Agnew returned to Fort Knox and served there for nearly two years. In 1944, he was sent to England and later to France, where he joined the 54th Armored Infantry Battalion. He took part in battles including the Battle of the Bulge and the Siege of Bastogne. The battalion moved through Germany, fighting in places like Mannheim, Heidelberg, and Crailsheim, until the war ended. Agnew came home in 1945 and was awarded for his service.

Postwar years (1945–1956)

After the war, Agnew went back to studying law and got a job with a law firm in Baltimore. He decided to become a Republican because there were fewer Republicans than Democrats in the area at the time. In 1947, he finished his law studies and passed the test to become a lawyer in Maryland. He tried running his own law practice but later worked as a store detective for a supermarket chain. He returned to law in 1952, focusing on labor law.

In 1955, Agnew moved his office to Towson, the main town of Baltimore County. He became active in his community, joining groups like the Parent-Teacher Association and Kiwanis. During this time, he enjoyed watching sports, listening to music, and reading magazines like Reader's Digest.

Beginnings in public life

In the 1950s, Spiro Agnew volunteered to help a candidate running for Congress. He tried to become a county council member in 1956 but was not chosen. Even so, he worked hard for the Republican party. Because of his efforts, he was appointed to a one-year position on the county Zoning Board of Appeals, which paid $3,600 a year. In 1958, he was asked to stay on the Board for three more years and became its chairman.

Agnew later tried to become a judge but was not successful. This brought him more attention, and his opponents saw him as a rising Republican. In 1962, he decided to run for county executive, the main leader of the county. He promised changes and won the election. As county executive, Agnew worked on building new schools, raising teachers’ salaries, and improving water and sewer systems. He also passed a law to make public places open to everyone, though its effect was small because the county had very few non-white people at the time.

Governor of Maryland (1967–1969)

Election 1966

Main article: 1966 Maryland gubernatorial election

Spiro Agnew decided to run for governor of Maryland in 1966 after finishing his time as a local leader. He won the Republican nomination easily. On the other side, the Democratic party had three candidates, and a man named George P. Mahoney won their nomination. Mahoney’s campaign caused problems in his party, leading some to support Agnew. In the election, Agnew won with help from many black voters.

After the election, it was said that Agnew had been offered money to change his promises about certain laws, but he said no real offer was made. He also faced questions about land he owned near a planned bridge, but he said there was no conflict.

In office

As governor, Agnew worked on many important issues. He supported new taxes, cleaner water, and better opportunities for people with less money. He also worked to end unfair treatment in schools. However, his ideas about housing laws were limited.

Agnew stayed close to business leaders and often kept his distance from state lawmakers. Some people thought he let business friends influence him too much.

Agnew said he supported equal rights but criticized some strong actions taken by leaders in the black community. During his time in office, there were many protests and troubles, especially after a famous leader was killed in 1968. Agnew called in the National Guard to help keep peace in Baltimore during these difficult times. His speeches about these events were very unpopular with many black leaders.

Vice presidential candidate (1968)

Background: Rockefeller and Nixon

Spiro Agnew started his political career as a liberal Republican. He supported Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York for president in 1968. When Rockefeller unexpectedly dropped out of the race in March, Agnew felt surprised and upset since he had no warning. Soon after, Agnew met with Richard Nixon, who was running for president. They got along well, and Agnew became interested in joining Nixon's team.

Republican National Convention

At the Republican National Convention in August 1968, Nixon needed to choose a running mate. He wanted someone who could unite different parts of the party. After considering several options, Nixon chose Agnew. Agnew was seen as a good balance because he could appeal to both Rockefeller supporters and Southern conservatives. When Nixon announced Agnew as his choice, many people were surprised because Agnew was not a well-known national figure.

Campaign

During the 1968 campaign, Agnew and Nixon faced opponents including Democrat Hubert Humphrey and third-party candidate George Wallace. Agnew took on an active role, often speaking strongly about law and order. His direct style sometimes caused controversy, but it also helped attract support in many areas. The Republican ticket won the election, and Agnew's efforts were seen as important in securing votes in several key states.

Vice presidency (1969–1973)

Transition and early days

After the 1968 election, Spiro Agnew was unsure what role President Richard Nixon would give him as vice president. They met in Florida, where Nixon promised Agnew new duties beyond usual ceremonial tasks. Nixon wanted Agnew to help with federal-state relations and urban affairs, using his experience as a county executive and governor.

Agnew settled in Washington, D.C., and hired a staff from his previous roles. He was sworn in as vice president on January 20, 1969. Nixon assigned him to head the Office of Intergovernmental Relations and work with state governors on crime issues. However, Agnew did not have much influence in Nixon’s inner circle.

"Nixon's Nixon": attacking the left

Agnew became known for criticizing protests and the media. He gave speeches attacking political opponents and the press, calling them biased and unfair. These speeches made him popular with conservatives and boosted his political standing.

1970: Protesters and midterm elections

Agnew continued to speak out against protests and liberal policies. He traveled widely to support Republican candidates and gave strong speeches at fundraising events. He supported Nixon’s decision to address issues in Cambodia and defended the administration’s policies during student protests.

Re-election in 1972

Agnew was nominated for a second term in 1972. He focused on the administration’s achievements and avoided personal attacks, though he did criticize his opponents. The Nixon-Agnew ticket won easily, but Agnew’s future was uncertain due to growing scandals.

Criminal investigation and resignation

In 1972, investigations began into corruption during Agnew’s time as governor. Evidence showed he had accepted money from contractors. Facing charges, Agnew negotiated a plea bargain. On October 10, 1973, he pleaded no contest to a tax evasion charge and resigned as vice president. He was fined $10,000 and placed on probation. Nixon accepted his resignation, stating it was in the nation’s best interest.

Post-vice presidency (1973–1996)

Subsequent career: 1973–1990

After leaving his position, Spiro Agnew moved to his summer home in Ocean City. He faced many financial problems and borrowed a large amount of money from his friend Frank Sinatra. Agnew wanted to become a lawyer again, but was not allowed to practice law. Instead, he started a business that helped other companies with their problems, and this business worked with clients all over the world.

Agnew tried other business ideas, like buying land in Kentucky and selling beer in Texas, but these did not succeed. In 1976, he wrote a novel called The Canfield Decision, which was popular but caused some disagreement because of the way it talked about certain groups.

In 1977, Agnew moved to a new home in Rancho Mirage, California and later repaid the money he borrowed from Sinatra. In 1980, he wrote a book where he said he had done nothing wrong when he left his job. However, others said differently. Later, he stopped appearing much in public.

Final years and death

For the rest of his life, Agnew stayed away from politics and the news. In 1994, he agreed to attend the funeral of Richard Nixon, which took place in Yorba Linda, California. In 1996, Agnew became ill and died the next day at a hospital in Berlin, Maryland. He had been active and healthy most of his life, playing sports regularly. A small funeral was held for him, and he was honored for his time as vice president and for his service in the military.

Legacy

Spiro Agnew left a complicated legacy. When he passed away, many people saw him in a negative light because of how he left his role as vice president. This made people feel less trust in politicians and more careful when choosing new leaders.

Some historians think Agnew helped shape modern politics, especially for conservative ideas. Even though he faced serious problems, his influence remained. He was one of the first politicians from a suburban area to reach such a high position, and he often spoke about media bias. Despite his downfall, his ideas continued to affect public opinion about government and politics.