Season 22, Day 8 - "Veep"

It's John week, and today's quiz is inspired by John C. Breckinridge.

John C. Breckinridge

John C. Breckinridge was a Kentucky politician who served as U.S. Vice President under James Buchanan. Taking the office at the age of 36, he was the youngest-ever vice president. He was nominated by the Southern Democrats to run for president against Abraham Lincoln in 1860, with the northern faction of the party selecting Lincoln’s previous Senate campaign debate opponent Stephen Douglas. Breckinridge and Douglas had to share the Southern vote with Constitution Union Party candidate John Bell, allowing Lincoln to win with only 39.8% of the popular vote (Breckinridge carried most of the Southern states, finishing second). He joined the Confederate Army after the outbreak of the Civil War and was soon promoted to major general and appointed as Secretary of War under Confederate president Jefferson Davis. After the war, Breckinridge fled to Cuba to avoid treason charges, later living in England and Canada. He came back to the U.S. after Andrew Johnson extended amnesty to all former Confederates in 1868, but did not return to political life. Breckenridge, Colorado, a popular ski destination, was named after Breckinridge (the town changed the spelling of its name when Breckinridge joined the Confederacy).