Barkley, Alben W.

Barkley, Alben W. (William)

(1877–1956) vice-president, U.S. representative/senator; born in Lowes, Ky. As a U.S. representative and senator, he backed the wartime administrations of Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. In 1949, under Harry Truman, he became the oldest vice-president to take office, and as "the Veep," became something of a humorous figure.