Answer: Richard M. Johnson. His personal life was controversial. For example, he left the capital one summer to manage an inn. Worse, historians say that Johnson, a bachelor, had three mistresses. Worse yet, for those times, was that all of them were black or partially black. One bore him two daughters. Johnson was also the only veep elected by the Senate (in 1837) after failing to win a majority of electoral votes (also because of his controversial lifestyle).

5. Which former vice president within months of leaving office became a Confederate general during the Civil War — battling the government he recently helped lead?

Answer: John C. Breckinridge, veep to James Buchanan. More trivia: he was also the youngest vice president ever when inaugurated at age 36.

6. Which vice president said that office is "not worth a bucket of warm spit?"

Alben Barkley, veep to Harry Truman. He was also the oldest vice president at inauguration at age 72

7. What vice president seeking re-election — who died just days before the 1912 election — carried Utah as a dead man (but lost the overall election along with President William Howard Taft)?

Answer: James S. Sherman. The Republican Party did designate Nicholas Murray Butler to receive Sherman's electoral votes. But it may be some proof that a dead Republican has more of a chance to carry Utah than a live Democrat.

And all of that may be proof that contests over the vice presidency are at best a colorful sideshow. Almost all voters — and all history — will pay most attention to the people at the top of the ballot.

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Deseret Morning News Washington correspondent Lee Davidson can be reached by e-mail at lee@desnews.com