Alben William Barkley ( November 24 , 1877 â `` April 30 , 1956 ) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate from Paducah , Kentucky , majority leader of the Senate , and the thirty-fifth Vice President of the United States . Alben William Barkley ( November 24 , 1877 -- April 30 , 1956 ) was an American politician who served as the 35th Vice President of the United States ( 1949-1953 ) , under President Harry S. Truman .