Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Life
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The “Veep”

Alben Barkley served in Congress for close to 40 years and was Harry Truman’s vice president from 1948-1952. Though he wanted to be President himself, Barkley never made it to the pinnacle of power. Only 14 VP’s have gone on to the presidency; the majority have, for the most part, lapsed into relative obscurity once their term was over. Barkley, too, might have been forgotten except for two things: His nickname and the remarkable circumstance of his death.

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Victoria Woodhull: The First Woman to Run for President

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Gracie Allen: The Joke That Became a Campaign

In 1940 the United States was just emerging from the shadow of the Great Depression and war loomed in Europe. Into these serious times stepped Gracie Allen.

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