Historic Birth: First Baby of a Sitting US Vice President in 156 Years
A New Addition to the Vance Family
Earlier today, the official account of the Second Lady of the United States announced that Usha Vance has given birth to her fourth child with her husband, the Vice President of the United States. The newborn, named Alec Neel Vance, arrived at the Walter Reed Medical Center, supported by the White House Medical Unit. However, the most significant aspect of this news is that Alec is the first baby born to a sitting Vice President in 156 years.
While this milestone is noteworthy, it raises questions about why no Vice President has welcomed a child during their term for over a century and a half. The last Vice President to do so was Schuyler Colfax, who served under President Ulysses S. Grant and had a son with his second wife, Ellen Maria Colfax. Since then, every Vice President has either been too old, had completed their families, or chosen not to have children while in office.
Understanding the Gap in Births
Why Hasn't a Sitting Vice President Welcomed a Baby in Over a Century and a Half?
The age of Vice Presidents at the time of taking office plays a significant role. For instance, Kamala Harris was 56 when she became Vice President, while Mike Pence was 57 during his term. Joe Biden, who served as Vice President under Barack Obama, was 46 and already had four children. Dick Cheney, who held the position under George W. Bush, was 60 and had two daughters. This statistical anomaly regarding Alec Neel Vance is largely a matter of chance.
The President's Curse
The President's Curse
Known as 'the curse of Tippecanoe', this folk legend suggests that every US President elected in a year ending with '0' or divisible by 20 is destined to die in office. This belief traces back to the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, when a curse was placed on William Henry Harrison, who died shortly after his election. This pattern continued with several other presidents, leading to a heightened awareness of the curse as the next election approaches.