You know, sometimes it's so hard to figure out if a poster is a democrat or not, like in the case of oscargamblesfro. Agnew was an adequate VP whose speeches were much better received than were his predecessor's. He resigned because of allegations of corruption related to his Maryland governorship, a standard conveniently forgotten by democrats once Bill Clinton became president.

His most famous speech included a reference to "Sunshine Patriots" of which there are none anymore, thankfully. When he resigned, Gerald Ford replaced him, later ascending to the Oval Office when President Nixon (also) resigned. Lucky Gerry.

UPDATE: Just two points to add. Dorrgunner reminds me of my favorite Agnew quote, not "negative nabobs" but the "nattering nabobs of negativity" which seemed to be in front of every available microphone during the Nixon Administration. At the time I disliked that phrase but as time has passed, it hits the nail on the head (then, and today. )

The other point, responding a bit to Abi's post, implying that the accusations against Agnew included "irregularities" committed during his tenure as Vice-President. Everything I've read specifically excludes Vice-Presidential misconducrt of any kind, even Wikipedia, which can be a reliable bastion of left-wing ideological regurgitation. The case was nearly identical to that of President Clinton, unproven accusations of kickbacks and sweet deals while governor. Not only could nobody investigate them, once "Slick Willie" became president, you dared not even mention such inconsequential crimes. As long as the economy was good, all was forgiven (unless you were a republican) .

A great Vice-President, Spiro T. Agnew would have made a great president. He took on the college pukes of his day in a televised debate and thoroughly demolished them. Agnew pulled no punches, and this is one reason that liberals hate him. He was a good orator and is noted from some pretty funny lines, e.g., "effete snobs" and "negative nabobs." The left brought him down on charges similar to what Bill and Hillary would be charged with but would blame on the "vast right-wing conspiracy." Unlike those two, Spiro took it like a man and stepped down.

Foul, coarse, crude, boorish, and ignorant. A hero in those days to Archie Bunker ripoffs, or Northern rednecks, or, in other words, the type of reactionary dumbasses who start every other sentence with inanities like "I'm not a racist but..." or "these damn kids today" and other trite sayings of that ilk from the type of people who fear non- conformity or being different in any and every sense...Agnew was a prototype for Cheney in some ways, but even Agnew can't hold a candle to Cheney in terms of being sinister.

The very embodiment of corruption.

Definitely, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew WAS one of the worst to ever hold the second highest office. Largely a forgotten figure in American history, Agnew was never seriously considered a possible Presidential contender. And as the Veep, he did nothing of note to distinguish himself. Supposedly, Agnew was chosen less for any positives he might have bought to his office, but more for being considered a potentially 'safe' candidate on the 1968 Republican Presidential ticket. Perhaps, if anything, Agnew's Vice Presidency will be largely remembered for two things: (1) his resignation and entering a plea of no contest to charges of evading income tax, and (2) his fiery rhetoric against the press and the Nixon Administration's critics.

Just one of the many small-time thugs and petty crooks that Nixon liked to surround himself with.

He was an entertaining crook.

Nixon didn't do a good job of picking out a running mate. The common refrain during the 1968 campaign was Spiro who. The guy was completely undistinguished and corrupt. Nixon was never good in coming up with running mates despite having served as Vice President himself. He served as Governor of Maryland in the 1960's, where he managed to pass various anti-poverty programs. Nixon considered him for VP primarily because he appealed to the liberal Republican wing of the party and the conservative wing as well. Agnew dismissed anti-war opponents and intellectuals as traitors and criticized the media for their supposed leftward slant in reporting. He was an integral part of Nixon's silent majority strategy. Agnew spoke abrasively about liberals in both parties, he even campaigned against anti-war Republicans. Ironically enough, he was fairly liberal earlier in his career. As VP, he didn't take part significantly in the policy making process. In 1973, Agnew was forced to resign over corruption charges, he accepted bribes during his time as Governor of Maryland and even as Vice President. This couldn't have happened at a worse time for Nixon, being that he was under a cloud himself over Watergate.

He served President Nixon loyally during his term as Vice President. He publically defended Nixon's policies in Vietnam. His resignation was just another stepping stone towards the Watergate disaster.