Dear Friends:

History is an important part of everyday life at Centre College. In our history, Centre has produced two vice presidents, a Supreme Court chief justice, and a number of distinguished U.S. senators and representatives. October 5 marks another extraordinary day at the College. We have the opportunity to witness American history in the making. Live from the College's Norton Center for the Arts, the only vice presidential debate of the 2000 election will occur. This debate marks the beginning of a new administration for a new millennium, and we are honored to be the host site.

As a way to raise interest in and awareness of this intriguing office, we have created a Web site with the student in mind. In these next pages, you will find an abundance of resources on the vice presidency and its history. We invite you to spend some time digging into our country's vice presidency. Learn about the myriad faces of the office. Assess how the vice president's roles and responsibilities have shifted throughout the years. Uncover information on the selection process. We think you'll be amazed at the fascinating facts surrounding the office of the vice president.

Special note to teachers: This site contains a wide array of resources pertaining to the office of the vice presidency. So often in our history, the vice presidents are overlooked, yet their stories are an essential part of our rich heritage. Created just for you, this site allows students to navigate and learn on their own, while studying the dynamics of one of our country's most important positions. An interactive trivia quiz allows them to test their knowledge. In addition, there's a page designed particularly for teacher use. You'll find bibliographies, selected readings, discussion ideas, class activities, and writing prompts — all pertaining to the vice presidency. We also plan to update this site regularly with current events and news surrounding the government. We hope this site will be of service to you as you educate students on the history of our country.

It's been a pleasure to provide this site to you. We invite you to visit Centre and explore for yourselves the home of this year's vice presidential debate. We have a unique history and would love to share it with you. For more information, link back to our homepage, or call (800) 423-6236.

Best regards,

John Roush
President of Centre College