The Vice President of the United States is a top political position, just under President of the United States.
Recent Vice Presidents include:
- John Hoynes : 1999 to 2003 (resigned)
- Robert Russell : 2003 to 2007
- Leo McGarry : 2006 (elected, but passed away before his inauguration)
- Eric Baker : 2007 (Santos's pick, but unconfirmed by the Republican controlled Senate)
Vacancies
During 2003, after Hoynes' resignation and before the appointment of Russell, the office was vacant. During this short period, Zoey Bartlet was kidnapped, causing President Josiah Bartlet to briefly step aside, and according to the rules of succession, Speaker of the House Glen Allen Walken briefly served as Acting President.
After Leo McGarry's untimely death on November 7, 2006, Santos was without a Vice President-Elect, and he waited until after his inauguration to appoint a successor. This caused a vacancy to occur shortly after January 20, 2007.