"Hail Columbia" is most associated today as honors to the Vice President, but it didn’t officially become so until August 1, 1969. The tune was actually written in the late 18th century as a patriotic song during one of the most turbulent political times in our history. The words were written by Joseph Hopkinson for his friend, a well-known singer named Gilbert Fox. As was the tradition of the time, the new words were paired with an existing tune; in this case, a melody by German-American compos