Vice President Mike Pence is the “diamond” to President Trump’s “rough.” //

For such a position, it would seem that such a self effacing guy like Mike Pence would be perfect for the job. He is. He understands that he is there to advance the President’s agenda and make sure that the glory for successes accrue to him, while he, the VP, stays in the background. The role of the Vice Presidency has rarely if ever deviated from that, despite the occasional vows of a “co-Presidency” during the first Clinton-Gore campaign. //

More recently, President Trump has appointed Vice President Pence to quarterback the United States “whole of government” response to Wuhan virus threat. Of course there were some who decried the appointment of a politician to the post instead of a medical “expert.” As I explained in a previous article, that line of reasoning is foolish. Most of this effort will entail a huge logistics exercise, a government-private sector supply chains endeavor. for that, you need somebody close to the apex of the Executive Branch who can access all the appropriate levers of National Power. Absent the President, who has other things going on alongside this crisis, the Vice President is the next best thing. //

This is where Vice President Pence shines. When we don’t see him, he’s busily honchoing the Task Force and making things happen. However, when we do see him at the various and sundry public briefings, he is always invoking, “The President,” or “The President’s.” He knows it’s not about him. He stays on message and provides a steady and consistent presence. Above all, he lets Americans know that their President has a plan and he (Pence) and a host of others, are diligently working on the President’s plan. In over 34 years of commissioned service, I’ve had a number of Deputies, Seconds in Command, Executive Officers and the like, some better than others. I can say based on experience, President Trump has chosen wisely in Vice President Mike Pence, a humble, yet effective man.