Vice President

PBS FRONTLINE investigates the lives and views of Sen. JD Vance and Gov. Tim Walz as they run for vice president. Where did they come from and who do they represent? In a historic election, those who know the candidates best reveal the influences and ideas each would bring to the White House.

Heading into the vice president debate we look at the job of being Veep. It has been called worthless by some of the people who were Vice Presidents. But now the job has grown – while still playing second banana. We look at the "Modern American Vice Presidency: The Transformation of a Political Institution."

Early U.S. vice presidents focused on their constitutional role as president of the Senate, but more modern officeholders have held more influence in the White House and beyond.