Who are some of the most famous vice presidents?

Garret A Hobart, Richard Nixon and Dick Cheney.

Although the Vice President is still a fairly sinecure position, it was even more useless before World War II. Garret A Hobart was the first Vice President of William McKinley and an exception - he worked with the President a lot to decide on policy and became known as the "assistant President". Hobart died in office halfway through McKinley's first term.

Richard Nixon was VP under Eisenhower. Eisenhower was a general who ran for President and had limited experience in Washington. The young Senator became a powerful and important advisor to the President and increased the visibility and importance of the Vice Presidency. Nixon became the first Vice President to temporarily assume the President's powers after Eisenhower had an operation in 1956.

As the Governor of Texas, George W. Bush was used to the Lieutenant Governor having equal if not more political power in the state. This may be why Dick Cheney became an influential figure in the Bush administration. Cheney was experienced in foreign policy and had served under George H. W. Bush, so became an important source of advice.