Spiro Agnew

Spiro Agnew c. 1972, Biographical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress

Birth Name: Spiro Theodore Agnew

Date of Birth: November 9, 1918

Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Date of Death: September 17, 1996

Place of Death: Berlin, Maryland, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*Greek (father)
*English (mother)

Spiro Agnew was an American politician. A member of the Republican party, he served as the 39th Vice President of the United States, from January 20, 1969 until October 10, 1973. He was elected to the position in 1968 and 1972. He resigned after he was charged with accepting bribes. He was previously the Baltimore County Executive, from 1962 to 1966, and the 55th Governor of Maryland, from January 25, 1967 to January 7, 1969.

Vice President Agnew was the son of Margaret Carter (Akers) and Theodore Spiros Agnew. His father was a Greek emigrant, from Gargalianoi, Messenia, whose name was originally Theophrastos Anagnostopoulos. His mother was of English descent, with roots in Colonial America. Vice President Agnew was raised Greek Orthodox, but later joined the Episcopalian church.

Vice President Agnew was married to Judy (Judefind) Agnew, with whom he had four children.

Vice President Agnew’s maternal grandfather was William Ferdinand Akers (the son of James H. Akers and Lucy Ann Brown). William was born in Virginia. James was the son of Samuel I. Akers and Sarah Highly. Lucy was the daughter of Levi Brown and Thankful Axtell.

Vice President Agnew’s maternal grandmother was Susan Miranda/H. Jesse (the daughter of John Jesse and Lucy/Lucinda Akers). Susan was born in Virginia. John was the son of Phillip Jesse and Rachael Minnix. Lucy was the daughter of Daniel Akers and Rebecca J. Webster.

Two people of Greek descent have run plausible or semi-plausible campaigns for a major party’s nomination for President of the United States. The first, Michael Dukakis, was the Democratic Party’s 1988 nominee for President. The other, Paul Tsongas, ran for the 1992 nomination of the Democratic Party, and won 7 caucuses and/or primaries.

Sources: Genealogy of Vice President Agnew (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Vice President Agnew on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Vice President Agnew’s maternal grandparents, William Ferdinand Akers and Susan Miranda/H. Jesse – https://www.familysearch.org