Abraham Lincoln - Constituting America

Our Constitution Works: President Ford’s Date With Destiny

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, Civil War, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Our Constitution Works President Ford’s Date With Destiny, Supreme Court, Watergate

Guest Essayist – Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, the Grand Rapids Economic Club and the National Constitutional Center hosted “Our Constitution Works: President Ford’s Date with Destiny” on October 20, 2014 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The following is a partial transcript of the videotaped panel discussion. Used with permission.

Doug DeVos, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Trustee, National Constitution Center Trustee and former Chair of the Grand Rapids Economic Club hosted the event. Steve Ford, son of Gerald & Betty Ford, illustrated his father’s belief in the pardon decision by retelling the story in which he personally asked his father about the pardon.

Civil War Amendments

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, James Legee 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, Civil War, Civil War Amendments, James Legee

Guest Essayist: James Legee

For nearly the first century of her existence, America had left a promise unfulfilled to both the souls that resided within her borders, as well as humanity at large. That promise, largely taken for granted today, cost the blood of nearly five thousand in the American Revolution and hundreds of thousands in the Civil War, is the revolutionary idea expressed in the Declaration of Independence that every person is born equal. The Civil War and Reconstruction fundamentally altered the Union, and most certainly for the better. The Civil War Amendments, the 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th, sought to fulfill the promise of equality for those enslaved.

April 11, 2016/4 Comments/by Janine Turner and Cathy Gillespie

1864, Holding A Presidential Election During A Civil War

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Joerg W. Knipprath 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 1864 Holding A Presidential Election During A Civil War, Joerg W. Knipprath

Guest Essayist: Professor Joerg Knipprath

When asked what might derail his agenda for his new Conservative Party government, former British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan is said to have responded, “Events, dear boy. Events.” That aptly describes how the political fortunes of war-time Presidents play out. It is surprisingly difficult for incumbent commanders-in-chief to win even if military campaigns are successful. True, Franklin Roosevelt won in 1944. But, even as the Allies were defeating the Axis powers, the popular Roosevelt won with the lowest percentage margin of victory of his campaigns. When elections occurred while the war effort appeared to be flagging, incumbents have fared badly. In 1952, as a result of the Korean War stalemate, President Harry Truman could not even win re-nomination by his own party, and the Democrats lost decisively. In a similar vein, in 1968, President Lyndon Johnson declined to pursue the Democratic Party nomination for re-election after the newscaster Walter Cronkite and other elements of the media turned the disastrous and strategic military defeat of the Viet Cong during the Tet offensive into a prevailing popular tale of American defeat.

1864, Abraham Lincoln Defeats George McClellan: Constitutional Issues Raised By Lincoln’s Conduct Of The War

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Daniel Cotter 2. The Constitution, 3. The Amendments, 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, 1864 Abraham Lincoln Defeats George McClellan Constitutional Issues Raised By Lincoln’s Conduct Of The War, Article I Section 09 Clause 2-3, Civil War, Constitutional Amendment XIV, Daniel Cotter, Gettysburg Address

Guest Essayist: Daniel A. Cotter

The Election of 1864: Constitutional Issues Raised by Lincoln’s Conduct of the War

The 1864 election pitted the incumbent, Republican President Abraham Lincoln, against George McClellan of the Democratic Party. It was the first election since 1840 in which an incumbent was renominated by his own party. A major focus of the election was the Civil War and the divided Union. Lincoln’s actions as President would also be considered by the electorate, which reelected him in a landslide.

1860, Abraham Lincoln’s Understanding of the Constitution, Part 2: The Importance Of The Union

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, David J. Shestokas, J.D. 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 1860 Abraham Lincoln’s Understanding of the Constitution Part 2 The Importance Of The Union, David J. Shestokas J.D.

Guest Essayist: David J. Shestokas

“… if constitutionally we elect a President, and therefore you undertake to destroy the Union, it will be our duty to deal with you as old John Brown has been dealt with.”
– Abraham Lincoln, December 3, 1859

John Brown had been hanged for treason on December 2, 1859. Brown had lead a raid on the federal arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia on October 16. Brown and his group had intended to secure weapons to arm slaves for a revolt against their masters. The United States Marines, commanded by Colonel Robert E. Lee captured the raiders, foiling the plan. On November 2, Brown received his death sentence.

1860, John Bell’s Understanding Of The Constitution

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Daniel Cotter 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 1860 John Bell’s Understanding Of The Constitution, Daniel Cotter

Guest Essayist: Daniel A. Cotter

The election of 1860 featured a number of candidates vying for the Presidency, with the tensions over slavery at the forefront. Abraham Lincoln would carry the North for the Republican Party and win the election over numerous candidates, including three contenders that garnered significant votes. Other essays in this series cover the 1860 Presidential election and certain of the candidates. This essay focuses on John Bell, the 1860 nominee for President from the newly formed Constitutional Union Party, and his understanding of the Constitution.

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