Book excerpt: Though just a heartbeat away from the presidency, it was years into the modern era before America's vice presidents began to gain the respect the office deserved. There was probably no more obvious reflection of their insignificance than their living accommodations, not to mention ill-fitted security protocols that were reinvented each time a new vice president was elected. That all changed in 1974 when Congress authorized an official, temporary residence for the vice president of the United States -- the stately, Queen Anne-style mansion built in 1893, and perched ever so slightly on a hilltop on the grounds of the US Naval Observatory. With its location still largely unknown to the general public, the home sits quietly in the Northwest section of our nation's capital, just minutes from the historic and world-renowned Georgetown neighborhood. Now commonly known as "Number One Observatory Circle," the 9,150 square-foot mansion, designed by architect Leon Dessez, has served as the official full-time residence for every vice president since Walter Mondale. It's a home filled with incredible history and charm, yet blanketed with modern-day security features rivaling those of the White House. Journey through the pages of history with Charles Denyer as he unlocks the doors to the residence of America's vice presidents, providing never-before-seen photos and intimate interviews with past residents and other notable figures.