I didn't mean to be a spoiler for you, Mike, as you said you were watching the Kevin Spacey/American "House of Cards" and it seemed like those of you who commented on the BBC series were referring to that one, instead, and had seen all of it (But again, you know what they say about "assuming", right?) so I humbly apologize for my bad form in doing that.
I was about to contest King of Swords, that Ford was Speaker, not minority leader. But I'm wrong, he was the House Minority Leader; thus, being the leader of the largest republican (moderate) faction in Congress, he would have been the obvious choice for VP for Nixon. Although I understand Nixon was considering several others, including Sen. Nelson Rockefeller of NY (who ended up Vice-President anyway, once the vice-presidency became vacant for a 2nd time within the same year, if I am not mistaken.)
It was not until 1967 that a constitutional provision actually existed for filling a vacant vice-presidency when a vice-president became president following the latter's death, resignation or removal from office; from November 23, 1963 to January 20, 1965 there was no Vice-President of the United States. You had to wait until after the next presidential election to have a vice-president again.
And yes, usually the term "congressman" or "congresswoman" refers to a member of the House of Representatives, not both houses (unless you deliberately use the term collectively) although a congressman is sometimes shown on TV or something as "Rep. Charles Wilson (D-TX)" for example. It's like the term "MP" if I am not mistaken: it might mean "member of Parliament", but is only used to refer to a member of the Commons, not both chambers. The proper verbal mode of address for a member of the House of Representatives is "Congressman Smith" or "Congresswoman Jones".
Also true, as I said, it is practically unheard of for a Representative/congress[wo]man to be elected President of the United States. I *think* the last time it happened was the nomination and election of Abraham Lincoln, and he was actually an EX-congressman, not an incumbent, but that was a special case. All things being equal, presidents are either Senators, or state Governors, or even [very occasionally] incumbent vice-presidents.
Anywho, my principal beef with parliamentary democracy was that, in most countries whose systems I was familiar with (ex political science major), the public usually has no influence directly from the ballot box over who gets to be Party Leader; which is such a critical thing considering that (s)he is (usually) the very one who becomes the head of government (Prime Minister/Chancellor/Premier/President of the Council of Ministers/etc.) should his/her party take control of parliament. I was told that in Australia, a senator was Prime Minister once, but only an "accidental" one (PM Harold Holt was presumed dead after swimming in some very rough waters, I am told, and this senator happened to be No. 2 in the Party).
Sorry; I meant to post this last night but had to save it as a draft and all that.
I was about to contest King of Swords, that Ford was Speaker, not minority leader. But I'm wrong, he was the House Minority Leader; thus, being the leader of the largest republican (moderate) faction in Congress, he would have been the obvious choice for VP for Nixon. Although I understand Nixon was considering several others, including Sen. Nelson Rockefeller of NY (who ended up Vice-President anyway, once the vice-presidency became vacant for a 2nd time within the same year, if I am not mistaken.)
It was not until 1967 that a constitutional provision actually existed for filling a vacant vice-presidency when a vice-president became president following the latter's death, resignation or removal from office; from November 23, 1963 to January 20, 1965 there was no Vice-President of the United States. You had to wait until after the next presidential election to have a vice-president again.
And yes, usually the term "congressman" or "congresswoman" refers to a member of the House of Representatives, not both houses (unless you deliberately use the term collectively) although a congressman is sometimes shown on TV or something as "Rep. Charles Wilson (D-TX)" for example. It's like the term "MP" if I am not mistaken: it might mean "member of Parliament", but is only used to refer to a member of the Commons, not both chambers. The proper verbal mode of address for a member of the House of Representatives is "Congressman Smith" or "Congresswoman Jones".
Also true, as I said, it is practically unheard of for a Representative/congress[wo]man to be elected President of the United States. I *think* the last time it happened was the nomination and election of Abraham Lincoln, and he was actually an EX-congressman, not an incumbent, but that was a special case. All things being equal, presidents are either Senators, or state Governors, or even [very occasionally] incumbent vice-presidents.
Anywho, my principal beef with parliamentary democracy was that, in most countries whose systems I was familiar with (ex political science major), the public usually has no influence directly from the ballot box over who gets to be Party Leader; which is such a critical thing considering that (s)he is (usually) the very one who becomes the head of government (Prime Minister/Chancellor/Premier/President of the Council of Ministers/etc.) should his/her party take control of parliament. I was told that in Australia, a senator was Prime Minister once, but only an "accidental" one (PM Harold Holt was presumed dead after swimming in some very rough waters, I am told, and this senator happened to be No. 2 in the Party).
Sorry; I meant to post this last night but had to save it as a draft and all that.