1. Begin the lesson by asking students if they know how a Vice President of the United States becomes President. As background, acquaint them with the 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, and discuss what the Constitution had to say about the Vice Presidency prior to its passage. Students should also research the role of the Vice President, using the first web site listed below.
2. Then tell the students that fourteen Vice Presidents have become President, and that their task is to find out which ones and under what circumstances they became President. This lesson may be done individually if there are enough computers for all, or in groups if there are not.
3. Using the First Ladies Library Timeline, as well as the websites listed below, and searching for the term, Vice President, each person or group should find all fourteen Vice Presidents who became President, and note the circumstances.
4. When all students have completed the hunt for Vice Presidents, divide the class into seven groups, assigning each group the task of researching two of the fourteen Presidents in order to decide whether or not “experience counts.” Does having the experience of being Vice President lead to a successful Presidency?
5. Have each group report on their findings about their Presidents, keeping a running list of whether or not they think “their” presidents were successful and why.
6. Conclude the lesson with a discussion of the relative merits of experience in performing any job or occupation.