Coalition Government?

The Associated Press reports skeptically on the notion that Sen. Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, is a potential running mate for Democrat Barack Obama.

There has been similar talk about Joe Lieberman, the "Independent Democrat" senator from Connecticut, joining John McCain's Republican ticket.

And there was speculation four years ago that McCain himself might run for vice president with the Democratic presidential nominee that year, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Is this a trend in candidates' thoughts, that might produce such a result some day soon? I doubt it. It seems like media hype to me. Before newspapers became an endangered species, this is the sort of thing that was called "just something to sell papers". Now, I suppose one could label it just something to bring eyeballs to websites.

The only two instances that come to mind that were at all similar to this, go way back in American history.

In 1840, John Tyler was elected vice president as the running mate of the Whig candidate William H. Harrison. Tyler had previously been elected to lower offices as a candidate of parties that by 1840 had come to be known as the Democratic Party. Tyler became president the following year, when Harrison died one month after his inauguration.

Andrew Johnson was Abraham Lincoln's running mate, when Lincoln was reelected president in 1864. Johnson had represented Tennessee in the Senate as a Democrat, but he continued to support the Union after Tennessee seceded. The Republican Lincoln included Johnson on what they called the National Union ticket in 1864. Like Tyler, Johnson became president after a very brief time as vice president, when Lincoln died of gunshot wounds on April 15, 1865.

Tyler and Johnson both had stormy relationships with members of Congress from their new parties. A resolution to impeach Tyler reached the House floor, where it was voted down. The House did impeach Johnson, but he was acquitted in a Senate trial.

Ancient history, to be sure. But I wouldn't be surprised to see similar intraparty squabbling, if either side tried to put together such a coalition ticket this year.