Season 4 of The Diplomat depicts a President making catastrophic, unlawful, warmongering decisions, then refusing to listen to and punishing dissenting voices. The group pushing back includes the VP, Ambassador to England, senior leadership within the U.S. Mission, W.H. Chief of Staff, and the Secretary of State. Hovering over it all is the power in having a seat at the table and the threat of the President firing or removing someone from their position. For the moment no spoilers as to how it plays out at the end of the season.
One small nitpick. Characters discuss the VP as being as vulnerable as the rest to the President’s petty vengeance and running the same risks in standing up to her or pushing back on her decision. Unlike with the rest of the group, however, the President cannot fire the VP, who enjoys status as a constitutional officer. She can ice him out–the show depicts an extraordinarily (and probably unrealistically) close working relationship between the President and VP, which obviously would end. Anything he does within the Executive Branch is entirely at the President’s discretion. But he retains his office and the official constitutional duty to serve as President of the Senate and break tie. And perhaps this VP–a high-level, experienced diplomat with political experience and connections–has the political juice to wield his own influence. Maybe this can be Season 5’s theme.
There is a nice question of what happens if the VP were to break politically from the President. Especially with the modern vice-presidency (originating with Mondale), in which the VP functions as a top presidential aide and adviser. Were such a break to occur, would the VP attempt to hang on despite being sidelined? Or would he join everyone in a noisy resignation?
The show adds another layer to this. The President (played by Allison Janney) was VP; she assumed office when the President (played by Michael McKean)–who had been looking to push the Janney character out1–died of a heart attack upon learning about her illegal actions. The current VP (Rufus Sewell) was selected by Congress. So neither the President nor Vice President has a real popular electoral mandate in their current positions.
- The show’s original premise was that the lead character (Keri Russell) was made Ambassador to England as an audition to replace Janney as VP. ↩︎