In today’s United States, it is often stated that men dominate positions of power. Yet, while it is true that an outsized portion of prominent political posts and the leadership ranks of large corporations skew male, the position that — until last year — may have been most in need of more diversity was one given little focus. Namely, the vice presidency.

Let’s take a step back. There is a conception that politicians are largely comprised of boring, old, white men. However, for the past 15 years, the people at the very highest levels of the U.S. government have actually proven that statement false — except as it pertains to the vice presidency.

Look at the recent presidents and major candidates:

  • Joe Biden (D, 2020): TRUE — Old, white, male and boring
  • Donald Trump (R, 2020): FALSE — Old, white, and male but not boring
  • Hillary Clinton (D, 2016): FALSE — Old, white and boring, but not a man
  • Donald Trump (R, 2016): FALSE — Old, white and male, but not boring
  • Barack Obama (D, 2012): FALSE — Male and boring, but not white or old (despite his hair as the presidency moved on)
  • Mitt Romney (R, 2012): TRUE — Old, white, male and boring
  • Barack Obama (D, 2008): FALSE — Male, but not old, white or boring
  • John McCain (R, 2008) MOSTLY TRUE — Old, white, male and pretty boring (he gets partial credit for his war record)

As shown above, the clear majority of presidential candidates buck this trend. Additionally, some of the significant candidates who didn’t get their party nods in recent years include Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio (2016, not old) Hillary Clinton (2008, not male) and Bernie Sanders (2016, not boring).

On the other hand, when it comes to the vice presidency (and major candidates), boring, old, white men essentially had the market cornered until Kamala Harris came along. Consider:

  • Kamala Harris (D, 2020): FALSE — Boring, but not old, white or male
  • Mike Pence (R, 2016): TRUE — Old, white, male and boring
  • Tim Kaine (D, 2016): TRUE — Old, white, male and boring
  • Mike Pence (R, 2016): TRUE — Old, white, male and boring
  • Joe Biden (D, 2012) TRUE — Old, white, male and boring
  • Paul Ryan (R, 2012) FALSE — White, male and boring, but not old
  • Joe Biden (D, 2008) TRUE — Old, white, male and boring
  • Sarah Palin (R, 2008) FALSE — White, but not old, male or boring

As we sit in 2022, the leadership of the executive branch is somewhat anomalous in recent history: The president is old, white, male and boring, while the vice president is not. 

Is this a blip in history or the beginning of a new trend? Well, I guess your guess is as good as mine, because if I knew the future, I’d probably be in Vegas right now instead of writing meandering articles about vice presidents and whatnot.