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WALTER MONDALE

Vice presidents' policy projects come with political risks

That's likely to be the case for Vice President Kamala Harris, who this week was named the new point person on immigration. This is definitely not a ceremonial task,” said Nina Rees, a former deputy assistant for domestic policy to Vice President Dick Cheney. Harris' team has clarified that the vice president does not own all of immigration policy. Kamarck's argument bucks the traditional wisdom, which says if a vice president does well on thorny issues, more credit goes to the president and, if not, it gives the president some political cover. The matter of who gets praise, or blame, is even trickier when it's clear the vice president has White House aspirations.

Blair House guest quarters a temporary home for VP Harris

In this Jan. 25, 2021 photo, Secret Service vehicles parked outside of Blair House in Washington. Blair House, the official government guest house, is serving as a temporary home for Vice President Kamala Harris. AdSo Harris moved into Blair House, where President Harry Truman lived from 1948-1952 during major renovations to the White House. The original Blair House was built in 1824 by Joseph Lovell, the Army surgeon general, and later sold to journalist Francis Preston Blair. The Blair family sold the house to the U.S. government in the early 1940s, and it was turned into the president's official guest house.

Kamala Harris to move temporarily to Blair House

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, will temporarily move to Blair House, which is near the White House, before moving to the vice president's residence at the Naval Observatory, according to an aide for Harris. Seven vice presidents have called Number One Observatory Circle their home while in office, beginning with Vice President Walter Mondale. Naval Observatory is not open to the public and is just a few miles from the White House. Pablo Martinez Monsivais / APBlair House is located on Pennsylvania Avenue across the street from the White House. The vice president's office did not specify how long Harris and Emhoff would stay at their new temporary home.

cbsnews.com

Former Democratic power broker James A. Johnson dies at 76

MINNEAPOLIS – James A. Johnson, a former Democratic campaign operative who was CEO of housing lender Fannie Mae in the 1990s and served as chairman of Walter Mondale's presidential bid, died Sunday at his home in Washington. David O. Maxwell, former head of Fannie Mae, hired Johnson as vice chairman in 1990, after Johnson had helped the company hold off privatization efforts by the Reagan administration. Johnson immediately set his sights on maintaining Fannie Mae’s lucrative government privileges and ensuring that new regulations were not overly burdensome. Bush that aimed to reduce the chance of an expensive taxpayer bailout if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had bad loans on their books. After retiring from Fannie Mae at the end of 1998, Johnson served on the boards of several companies, including UnitedHealth Group, KB Home and Target, and was vice chairman of the Washington private-equity firm Perseus.

Supreme Court vacancy likely to inflame presidential debate

Moderated by Fox News’ Chris Wallace, the 90-minute debate will feature segments on the Supreme Court, the coronavirus, the economy, race and policing, election integrity and the candidates' records. "This time it may actually turn out to be.”Both candidates are likely to repeat their talking points about the Supreme Court. But during the debate, their comments are likely to reach vast swaths of the electorate that haven't been following the campaign closely. But this Supreme Court pick gives them the exact reason to hold their nose and vote for somebody they despise because it falls in line with their ideological values.”The court vacancy will have to compete with Trump's taxes coming to light. Rocha said Biden will likely use the Supreme Court vacancy and other issues to try to rattle Trump and get him to blurt out ill-advised remarks.

‘Why am I here?’ 5 especially memorable lines from election debates of the past

In the 1992 presidential election, independent candidate Ross Perot had what at the time was deemed an unusual selection for his running mate, retired Navy Admiral James Stockdale. Bush, who served as Reagan’s vice president, easily won the 1988 presidential election over Michael Dukakis. “I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy,” Bentsen said.

Reagan's age, Mitt's binders: Presidential debate highlights

FILE - In this Oct. 21, 1960 file photo taken a television in New York displays a debate between Republican presidential candidate Vice President Richard M. Nixon, left, and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John F. Kennedy, D-Mass. The 1960 presidential election offered the country's first televised debates. Here are some of the most memorable moments in presidential debate history:THE FIRST TELEVISED DEBATEThe 1960 presidential election offered the country's first televised debate. THE KIDS ARE OFF-LIMITSDemocrat John Kerry's response to a question about homosexuality during a 2004 presidential debate against Republican incumbent George W. Bush caused a fight between him and Vice President Dick Cheney. The women detailed their allegations against the former president as Trump watched, his hands folded in front of him.

US Rep. Craig asks supporters to vote despite snag in race

In a statement, Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig urged voters to mark their ballots in her race anyway, hinting that a legal challenge could be in the works. Craig is running for reelection against Republican challenger Tyler Kistner in a district that includes suburban and rural areas south of the Twin Cities. "You should continue to vote for the entire ballot, including for this congressional race. Simon said the special election would be Feb. 9. Someone could argue that the state law violates that federal law, he said.

Minnesota clergy, ICE critics want bishop name off building

The Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling houses the Minneapolis-area offices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security . Now the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, the Minnesota Council of Churches and others want Whipple's name taken off the building or the eviction of ICE and its immigration courts. "Bishop Whipple himself would never have endorsed his name going on a building where so much fear and terror is manifested." The current Episcopal bishop of Minnesota, the Rt. Whipple's name was added to the building, which opened in 1969, at the initiative of then-Sen. Walter Mondale, of Minnesota.

chicagotribune.com

'Why am I here?' 5 memorable lines from election debates

In the 1992 presidential election, independent candidate Ross Perot had what at the time was deemed an unusual selection for his running mate, retired Navy Admiral James Stockdale. Bush, who served as Reagans vice president, easily won the 1988 presidential election over Michael Dukakis. However, it was Dukakis running mate, Lloyd Bentsen, who is remembered from that election for offering one of the most legendary lines ever in a political debate. I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine.