When Senator Hubert Humphrey , a former Vice President of the United States , was seriously ill the Senate showed its respect for him by creating the office of Deputy President Pro tem for any former President or Vice President who is elected to the Senate . The ceremonial post of Deputy President pro tempore was created for Hubert Humphrey , a former Vice President of the United States , in 1977 following his losing bid to become the Senate majority leader . The Senate resolution creating the position stated that any former President or former Vice President serving in the United States Senate would be entitled to this position , though none has served since Humphrey 's death in 1978 , and Walter Mondale , who sought a Minnesota seat in 2002 , is the only one to have tried .