Alben William Barkley (born Willie Alben Barkley, November 24, 1877 – April 30, 1956) was a lawyer and politician from Kentucky. Barkley served 14 years as a U.S. Representative, 23 years as a U.S. Senator, and from 1949-1953 as the 35th Vice President of the United States under PresidentHarry Truman. When Truman announced that he would not seek re-election in 1952, Barkley began organizing a presidential campaign, but labor leaders refused to endorse his candidacy because of his advanced age (74), and he withdrew from the race.
Barkley set a few records in the vice presidential office, including being the first to pass his 70th birthday before his election, the first to marry while in office, and the first to be referred to as "veep."
Alben Barkley (1877-1952) was Vice President of the United States during the first years of World War III. When PresidentHarry Truman announced that he would not be running again in 1952, Barkley joined the crowded Democratic race for the nomination. Between Barkley's age and his status as the vice president in an administration that took the country into an atomic war, few people believed he would receive the nomination, much less win.[1]
The issue was rendered a moot point when the Soviet Union successfully deployed two atomic bombs against Washington, DC in May 1952. Barkley and most of the Federal government were killed in the blast.[2]
1=denotes a character who was a POV for one volume or less
2=denotes a character who was a POV for two volumes
3=denotes a character who was a POV for three volumes
† Denotes a deceased POV.