Thomas Eagleton withdrew as McGovern's running mate in 1972 after it was revealed that he had been hospitalized and received electroshock therapy, among other treatments, for depression. It was later revealed that Eagleton was the source of the quote that became the most damning critique of McGovern during that campaign, that he was the candidate for "amnesty, abortion, and acid."

Nixon's running mate during that election, Spiro Agnew, would eventually resign after the race as part of an investigation into bribery and other financial crimes. He was replaced as Vice President by Gerald Ford who would, of course, become president when Nixon resigned.