John McCain's choice of a running mate may prove to behis most important legacy to his party and his country.

Moynihan seemed to be in the middle of every major political controversy for 40 years. As a result, this new collection of his letters, memoranda, and diary entries, ably edited and annotated by former New York Times reporter Steven Weisman, illuminates not only Moynihan's thought and character, but the age he lived in.

The vice presidency has become a useful part of American government.

The vice presidency--an office that was long the vermiform appendix of American government--has become a useful organ.

What former vice president Dick Cheney is saying, primarily on foreign policy, defense, and anti-terrorism, makes sense to more and more American citizens growing increasingly worried by the Obama administration's insouciance when U.S. national interests are threatened.

Speculation is rampant as to who will be the next nominees for vice president; the process of selection will likely be as varied as in the past.

It is almost certain that so long as he holds office, the president cannot be reached by criminal law, although no Federal court has ever ruled on the question.

In the current atmosphere of public outrage over corporate malfeasance, vice president Cheney's business dealings pose the biggest political problem for the administration.