hiliary was a bit ahead of the times...and perhaps a misstep or two.  also, putting it into perspective-Eleanor had almost 4 terms to do her works and in a political time when people were hungry and united...she met with much resistance at first. 
  technically the VP is a stand in...kind of like the spare to the heir mentality.  occasionally it has been a real working relationship between the pres and the veep.   with dubya it was the "man behind the screen" as in wizard of OZ