Why did Vice-President Alvin Barkley only serve one term as VP?

Towards the end of his second term as President, Harry Truman declined to run for a third term. Truman could have run for the third term, since he was exempt from the new legislation limiting the President to two terms. Truman's Vice-President, Alben Barkley, wanted to put his hat in the ring for consideration of the Demoncratic party nomination for President, but was defeated, mosstly it was thought because of his age and failing eye sight. Also, organized labor opposed Barkley, on the premise he was too old to be President.

Mr. Barkley returned to KY but did not fully retire. In 1956 he died of a massive heart attack, while delivering a keynote address at Washington & Lee University.

His age was a factor .He was 71 when he started his term as VEEP . When Truman decided not to run in 1952 Barkley attempted to garner support for a Presidential run . He was not able to do so.


Trivia :

He returned to the Senate and served until his death in 1955 . He dies giving a speech shortly after he declared : "I would rather be a servant in the House of the Lord than to sit in the seats of the mighty." .

Presumably he got his wish

Died of a heart attack while speaking at the Washington and Lee University Mock Democratic Convention, Lexington, Va. April 30, 1956. Interment at Mt. Kenton Cemetery, Near Paducah, McCracken County, Ky.

BARKLEY, Alben William - Biographical Information (http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000145)