US vice-president, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, the son of a Greek immigrant. After service in World War 2 he studied law at Baltimore University (1947). In 1966 he was elected governor of Maryland on a liberal platform, introducing anti-racial-discrimination legislation that year. As a compromise figure acceptable to most shades of Republican opinion, he was Nixon's running mate in 1968 and 1972, and took office as vice-president in 1969. He resigned in 1973, following an investigation into bribery and other crimes.