I love this photo...

[Drunken Irishman]

I don't know if Biden and Obama were real chummy prior to his selection as Obama's running mate in '08, but you just know the two have really bonded and have a great relationship. I can't remember the last time the Prez and Veep got along this well. Cheney and Bush's relationship was always formal and professional (because Cheney was the boss, of course), Clinton and Gore's strained toward the end, Bush had to have rolled his eyes every time Quayle opened his mouth and we all know Reagan didn't think highly of Bush and I'm guessing Bush didn't think too highly of Reagan.

BTW, the girl is Arnie Duncan's daughter.

[Rhiannon12866]

1. K&R! That really is a great photo...

Whatever their prior relationship, it's obvious that they have both respect and affection for each other. And I agree with your analysis. The same can be said of Roosevelt and Truman, not much communication there, while Eisenhower didn't trust Nixon at all. Thanks for posting this, made me smile.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. Yup.

To further expand: Nixon came to detest Agnew and thought him an intellectual lightweight, so, their relationship quickly deteriorated once they got to Washington. We knew JFK and Johnson had their problems, since it really was a forced marriage. As you said, Eisenhower didn't like, or trust, Nixon at all. I'm not sure whether Truman had any feelings toward Alben Barkley, good or bad. Roosevelt certainly came to dislike John Nance Garner after he became a vocal critic of the New Deal, as well as expanding the Supreme Court.

So, really, I don't know if there has ever been a better relationship between the President & Vice President. I think, originally, Clinton & Gore had such a relationship, but that was extremely strained after Monica Lewinsky and the fundraising scandal in 1996. I doubt that relationship has been repaired.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Thanks for the additional information.

I find these relationships fascinating, since they have a definite impact on history. Clinton and Gore probably had the first close working relationship and it was regrettable that this fell apart, as you said.

I posted this thread awhile back, learned about Eisenhower and Nixon from this article. But the big surprise came when I learned of the close relationship that developed between Johnson and Eisenhower. Politics really do make unlikely bedfellows...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101722314

[Drunken Irishman]

6. Ford and Carter became pretty good friends too after the '76 election...

Which I always liked because, in the end, I thought Ford was a decent, honorable man.

[pacalo]

2. I'm right there with you, DI. That's a cool picture.

[Scurrilous]

4. K & R

[marlakay]

7. I wonder if Obama sees him as a father figure

in a way since his is gone. Maybe as much as he could get miffed by Joe's outbursts he really respects him for being able to speak how he really feels. I bet Obama if not constantly trying to please everyone would love to say some of the things Joe does.

And in many of the pics I have seen Joe is talking and Obama is listening.

[jberryhill]

8. "Obama and Biden Refuse to Share Bench, Kick Girl to the Ground"

[Mira]

9. Love it so much!

Thank you for the photo and the words. Very fun and informative read.