Although not a high-powered administrator, he made a natural congressional committee chairman, and his genial personality eased the workings of the House, so that he was known as 'Sunny Jim'. He was the first vice president to fly in an airplane (1911),Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 12, 1911 and also the first to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game.
Although not a high-powered administrator, he made a natural congressional committee chairman, and his genial personality eased the workings of the House, so that he was known as 'Sunny Jim'. He was the first vice president to fly in an airplane (1911),Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 12, 1911 and also the first to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game.