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Spiro Theodore Agnew, (1918- ), ag'noo, 39th VICE PRESIDENT of the United States (1969-1973). Agnew resigned that office when he was fined for income tax evasion.

Spiro Agnew was born in Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 9, 1918, the son of a Greek immigrant whose name originally was Anagnostopoulos. During World War II Agnew was an army officer. He received a law degree from the University of Baltimore in 1947.

In 1962, as a Republican reformer, he was elected chief executive of preponderantly Democratic Baltimore county. Democrats also helped elect him governor of Maryland in 1966. As governor, he backed tax and judicial reforms. Republican presidential candidate Richard M. NIXON chose him as his running mate in 1968.

Vice President

As vice president, Agnew soon gained wider attention with a number of controversial speeches. He charged that opponents of the Vietnam War were encouraged by "an effete corps of impudent snobs." While opposing violent dissent, he supported peaceful protest. He said that some newspapers and magazines critical of the administration were often unfair and inaccurate and contended that "a small and unelected elite," unrepresentative of the American people and often biased, controlled television news programs. It was assumed that in general Agnew reflected President Nixon's views. Though many persons deplored Agnew's attacks as vague and inflammatory, he became popular among political conservatives and at Republican fund-raising dinners.

During the 1970 congressional campaign, Agnew was his party's major speaker. His severe criticism of Democrats, many of whom he called "radical liberals," was not very effective. When running successfully for reelection with Nixon in 1972, Agnew was more restrained.

Resignation

Agnew came under investigation by the U.S. attorney in Baltimore for allegedly receiving payoffs from engineers seeking contracts when Agnew was Baltimore county executive and governor of Maryland. Agnew asserted his innocence, but he then resigned on Oct. 10, 1973, and pleaded nolo contendere, or no contest, to a single charge that he had failed to report $29,500 of income received in 1967. He was fined $10,000 and placed on three years' probation.