The Vice Presidents Who Announced Their Own Defeat #Shorts
Pack: 46 - The Vice Presidents Who Announced Their Own Defeat
By law the vice president, as president of the Senate, presides over Congress's count of electoral votes, even after losing. Four times since 1961, a vice president has read out a defeat for themselves or their ticket. Told in official portraits and the Congressional Record.
- The law: "the President of the Senate shall be their presiding officer" (3 U.S.C. § 15); since the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 the role is "solely ministerial."
- January 6, 1961: Richard Nixon announced John F. Kennedy's 303 votes to his own 219, and said "those who lose accept the verdict, and support those who win" (Congressional Record).
- January 6, 2001: Al Gore announced George W. Bush's win, 271 to 266, closing "May God bless our new President and our new Vice President" (Congressional Record).
- January 7, 2021: Mike Pence read out Joe Biden's 306 votes to Donald Trump's 232, and his own 232 votes for vice president (Congressional Record).
- January 6, 2025: Kamala Harris announced Donald Trump's 312 votes to her own 226 (Congressional Record).
Could you read your own defeat out loud? Tell us in the comments. Full story in our documentary, The Full History of Voting in America.
Quick answers
What is “The Vice Presidents Who Announced Their Own Defeat” about?
By law the vice president, as president of the Senate, presides over Congress's count of electoral votes, even after losing. Four times since 1961, a vice president has read out a defeat for themselves or their ticket. Told in official portraits and the Congressional Record.
What are the key facts?
The law: "the President of the Senate shall be their presiding officer" (3 U.S.C. § 15); since the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 the role is "solely ministerial." January 6, 1961: Richard Nixon announced John F. Kennedy's 303 votes to his own 219, and said "those who lose accept the verdict, and support those who win" (Congressional Record).
What sources is this Short based on?
It cites Congressional Record, January 6, 1961, p. 291 (GPO); Congressional Record, January 6, 2001, joint session; Congressional Record, January 6, 2021, joint session; Congressional Record, January 6, 2025, joint session; and 1 more. Links are in the Sources list below.
Sources
- Congressional Record, January 6, 1961, p. 291 (GPO)
- Congressional Record, January 6, 2001, joint session
- Congressional Record, January 6, 2021, joint session
- Congressional Record, January 6, 2025, joint session
- 3 U.S. Code § 15 (Cornell Legal Information Institute)
Images
- United States Capitol, December 7, 2008, Library of Congress 2010630189 — Carol M. Highsmith — Public domain —
- Richard Nixon, official vice presidential portrait, NARA 16916176 — Office of the Vice President — Public domain —
- Al Gore, official vice presidential portrait, 1994 — U.S. government photographer — Public domain —
- Mike Pence, official vice presidential portrait — D. Myles Cullen — Public domain —
- Kamala Harris, official vice presidential portrait, 2021 — Lawrence Jackson — Public domain —
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