| Spiro Agnew is a US Vice President Join: US Presidents Project Discuss: Presidents |
Congressional Bust |
Preceded by 38th Vice President Hubert Humphrey Preceded by 54th Governor J. Millard Tawes |
Spiro Agnew 39th Vice President of the United States1969—1973 55th Governor of Maryland1967—1969 |
Succeeded by 40th Vice President Gerald Ford Succeeded by 56th Governor Marvin Mandel |
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Spiro Theodore Agnew was born on 9 Nov 1918,[1][2][3][4] the son of Theodore Agnew, a Greek-immigrant restaurateur who had shortened his name from Anagnostopoulos, and Margaret Akers, from Virginia. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Baltimore School of Law, and began a law practice in a Baltimore suburb in 1947. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1941, serving as an officer during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in France and Germany. He was recalled to service with the Army in 1950 during the Korean War.
Agnew was elected Baltimore county executive in 1962 and then governor of Maryland in 1967. His rise from County Executive to Vice President in six years was one of the fastest rises in U.S. political history. He had served less than two years as governor when he was selected as Richard Nixon’s running mate. As Vice President, he soon found his role as the voice of the so-called "silent majority," and by late 1969 he was ranking high on national "Most Admired Men" polls. He was known for his scathing criticisms of political opponents, especially journalists and anti-war activists. His relationship with the President quickly deteriorated, and Nixon reluctantly kept Agnew on the ticket in the 1972 election. Agnew was the second Vice President in United States history to resign, and the only one to do so because of criminal charges. He resigned the vice presidency on October 10, 1973, and appeared in United States District Court in Baltimore on the same day to plead nolo contendere (no contest) to a single federal charge of failing to report on his income-tax return $29,500 in income that he had received in 1967. After the state of Maryland disbarred him in 1974, he became a consultant to foreign business concerns.
Spiro died on 17 Sep 1996.[5][6]
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Featured National Park champion connections: Spiro is 17 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 23 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 16 degrees from George Catlin, 18 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 23 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 15 degrees from George Grinnell, 26 degrees from Anton Kröller, 16 degrees from Stephen Mather, 24 degrees from Kara McKean, 18 degrees from John Muir, 19 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 26 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
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