Date of Birth: November 9, 1918
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Date of Death: September 17, 1996
Biography
Spiro Theodore Agnew was an American politician who served as the 39th Vice President of the United States from January 20, 1969, to October 10, 1973, under President Richard Nixon. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Agnew was the son of a Greek immigrant and a native of Virginia. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1947 and earned a law degree from the University of Baltimore in 1947. Agnew served in World War II and again during the Korean War. He began his political career as the Baltimore County Executive from 1962 to 1966, where he gained a reputation as a moderate reformer. His rise on the national stage was rapid; he was elected Governor of Maryland in 1966 and gained national attention for his tough stance on law and order during the civil unrest of the 1960s. In 1968, Richard Nixon selected him as his running mate, and they won the election. Agnew’s tenure as Vice President was marked by his outspoken criticism of the media and anti-war protesters, earning him both supporters and detractors. However, his political career came to a sudden end when he resigned in 1973 following charges of tax evasion and money laundering related to his time as Governor of Maryland. Agnew pleaded no contest to the charges and was fined and placed on probation. After leaving office, Agnew largely withdrew from public life, focusing on private business and writing. He passed away on September 17, 1996.
5 Interesting Facts about Spiro T. Agnew
1. Spiro Agnew was the first Greek-American to become Vice President of the United States.
2. He was a vocal critic of the media, famously calling them “nattering nabobs of negativism.”
3. Agnew’s resignation marked the first time a U.S. Vice President resigned due to criminal charges.
4. He was an accomplished golfer and even wrote a novel, “The Canfield Decision.”
5. Agnew’s middle name, “Theodore,” was after Theodore Roosevelt, his father’s hero.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Spiro T. Agnew
1. “In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism.”
2. “Some newspapers are fit only to line the bottom of bird cages.”
3. “I apologize for lying to you. I promise I won’t deceive you except in matters of this sort.”
4. “Yippies, hippies, and the like had better understand that we’re going to enforce the law.”
5. “Confronted with a choice, the American people would choose the policeman’s truncheon over the anarchist’s bomb.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the height of his career, Agnew’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 million.
Children
Spiro T. Agnew had four children: Pamela Lee Agnew, James Rand Agnew, Susan Scott Agnew, and Kimberly Ann Agnew.
Relevant Links
1. [Biography on History.com](https://www.history.com/topics/us-politics/spiro-agnew
2. [Spiro Agnew on Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Spiro-Agnew
4. [Agnew’s quotes on BrainyQuote](https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/spiro-t-agnew-quotes
