Bland Ambition: From Adams to Quayle--The Cranks, Criminals, Tax Cheats, and Golfers Who Made It to Vice President

By Steve Tally

Book Overview

Everyone knows the requirements for President of the U.S.--leadership, vision, and airtight alibis dating back to junior high. But just what does it take to be vice-president? As Steve Tally tells it... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0156131404
• ISBN13: 9780156131407
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Harcourt
• Length: 404 Pages
• Weight: 1.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.3" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

History you don't usually get, and good entertainment too!

Steve Tally put together a fantastic collection on the men who have served as Vice-President. (The book covers all Vice-Presidents up to Dan Quayle, and even Alexander Stevens the lone Vice-President of the Confederacy). Its not a textbook, but is very entertaining reading. The profiles of the Vice-Presidents, each about 4-5 pages are humorous-- pulling no punches. Even those who occupy a prominent place in history (Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman & others) are not spared. If you want an entertaining read, with good historical value this is a good one.

An irreverent look at the vice presidency

Steve Tally looks at America's vice presidents - from John Adams through Dan Quayle and gives us the inside scoop on each of these men's foibles and character flaws. The chapters are short and sweet and hilarious! Tally introduces us to Vice Presidents who assumed that they were really assistant presidents, vice presidents who never really showed up to work, vice presidents who showed up to work but really shouldn't have bothered and vice presidents who never really grasped the idea that they were supposed to work with their presidents to get things passed through the Congress. For the researcher paper writers out there, Tally's work would be inappropriate to use as the main source of your information, but it would make a fantastic book to add that little bit of extra to make your paper more interesting to read! This was truly an enjoyable read. I borrowed mine from the library but I'm adding it to my wish list here because I want to have a copy of my own!

Funny and informative

No punches pulled - this is the story of the men behind the men, and how badly they all performed. A very enjoyable read, entertaining, and informative. Short chapters make it (and I say this reluctantly because it's such a good book) a great bathroom reader. HIGHLY recommended.

The Vice-Presidency as a magnet for the bland.

Bland Ambition is an uproariously funny, highly irreverent look at the Vice-Presidents of the United States. The author covers every man who has ever served as "Veep" (ending with Dan Quayle), exposing every foible and gaff. I would not recommend this work as a textbook, but it does make an interesting introduction to the men who are completely invisible in most history books.