THE VICE PRESIDENCY: A Home for the Veep

The office of Vice President carries with it such handy advantages as a comfortable salary ($35,000 a year), comfortable expense account ($10,000), comfortable limousine (Cadillac), comfortable protection (Secret Service), as well as a certain stature. What it does not carry is the advantage of an official residence—not even an uncomfortable one. Vice President Richard Nixon, for example, lives in his own home ($41,000) in Washington’s suburban Spring Valley. In his budget message last week, President Eisenhower suggested that Congress’ “attention should be directed to the acquisition and maintenance of an official residence for the Vice President,” but asked for no money to buy one. This brought on unofficial suggestions that some well-to-do fellow who owns an extra house around Washington might want to endear himself to Vice Presidents by making such a tax-deductible gift to the U.S. and posterity.