Electoral College - Constituting America

2012, Barack Obama Defeats Mitt Romney

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Michael Barone 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, 2012 Barack Obama Defeats Mitt Romney, Electoral College, Michael Barone

Guest Essayist: Michael Barone

Only once before the twenty-first century has America had three consecutive eight-year presidencies: the years 1801-25 in which three members of “the House of Virginia,” Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe each won two general elections and served for eight years. Historians have called the end of this period “the Era of Good Feelings,” in part because Monroe won his second term without opposition with a single electoral vote cast for his secretary of state, John Quincy Adams.

1924, Calvin Coolidge Defeats Robert M. LaFollette, Burton K. Wheeler (Progressive Party), And John W. Davis: The Direct Election Of Presidents

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Joseph Postell, Ph.D. 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, 1924 Calvin Coolidge Defeats Robert M. LaFollette Burton K. Wheeler (Progressive Party) And John W. Davis The Direct Election Of Presidents, Electoral College, Joseph Postell PhD, New Deal, Progressive, Supreme Court

Guest Essayist: Professor Joe Postell

From today’s standpoint, the presidential election of 1924 might appear to be an oddity or an outlier. In 1924 the nominees of both parties ran on a conservative domestic agenda of limited government and tax cuts. For this reason author Garland Tucker calls 1924 “The High Tide of American Conservatism.”

1916, Woodrow Wilson Defeats Charles Evans Hughes

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Daniel Cotter 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, 1916 Woodrow Wilson Defeats Charles Evans Hughes, Daniel Cotter, Electoral College, Progressive, Socialism, Supreme Court

Guest Essayist: Daniel A. Cotter

The 1916 Presidential election pitted incumbent Democratic President Woodrow Wilson against Republican Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes. The election was a very close one and had significant ramifications for the “progressive” movement.

1908, William Howard Taft Defeats William Jennings Bryan

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Daniel Cotter 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, 1908 William Howard Taft Defeats William Jennings Bryan, Daniel Cotter, Electoral College, Supreme Court

Guest Essayist: Daniel A. Cotter

The 1908 Presidential election featured the incumbent Republican President Theodore Roosevelt following through on his promise to not seek a third term and encouraging the Republicans to nominate Secretary of War William Howard Taft. While a number of third party candidates ran against Taft, the only non-Republican candidate who garnered any significant votes was the Democratic nominee, William Jennings Bryan. Bryan had been the Democratic nominee for President in 1896 and 1900, but the 1908 election was the most lopsided of his three defeats in the race for President.

1904 And 1908 Elections: Theodore Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” vs. William Jennings Bryan’s Populism

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Daniel Cotter 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, 1904 And 1908 Elections Theodore Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” vs. William Jennings Bryan’s Populism, Civil War, Daniel Cotter, Electoral College, Supreme Court

Guest Essayist: Daniel A. Cotter

The United States Constitution is silent on the subject of corporations. After the Civil War, as American society began to quickly evolve from agrarian to industrial, politicians from both major parties raised concerns about the rise of corporations, banks, and businesses, and the need for protection of the individual. Against this backdrop, two important political figures emerged on the national scene. William Jennings Bryan was a leader of the Populist Party (which would merge with the Democratic Party in 1896) who unsuccessfully ran for President in 1896, 1900 and 1908. Republican President Theodore Roosevelt proposed a number of “progressive” initiatives through his “Square Deal” program and other policies and positions. Other essays in this series cover the various Presidential elections in which Bryan and Roosevelt were their parties’ nominees. This essay compares the progressive and populist views of Roosevelt and Bryan, respectively.

April 29, 2016/1 Comment/by Janine Turner and Cathy Gillespie

1888, Benjamin Harrison Defeats Grover Cleveland: The Constitutional Issues Raised By Cleveland’s Veto Of Pension Legislation For Veterans

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Brion McClanahan, Ph.D. 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, 1888 Benjamin Harrison Defeats Grover Cleveland The Constitutional Issues Raised By Cleveland’s Veto Of Pension Legislation For Veterans, Brion McClanahan PhD, Electoral College

Guest Essayist: Brion McClanahan

Portions of this essay are from the chapter “Grover Cleveland” in Brion McClanahan, 9 Presidents Who Screwed Up America and Four Who Tried to Save Her (Regnery History, 2016).

Grover Cleveland lost the 1888 election to Benjamin Harrison through voter fraud, and it involved what may be considered the first major lobby group in American history, the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veteran’s organization that had deep pockets and the ability to swing elections in favor of the Republican Party, the real brawn behind the organization.

April 22, 2016/0 Comments/by Janine Turner and Cathy Gillespie

1884, Grover Cleveland Defeats James G. Blaine: The Issues Surrounding The Furor Stirred By The “Rum, Romanism, And Rebellion” Slogan, Regarding Religious Freedom And Anti-Catholic Prejudice

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Peter Roff 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, 1884 Grover Cleveland Defeats James G. Blaine The Issues Surrounding The Furor Stirred By The Rum Romanism And Rebellion Slogan Regarding Religious Freedom And Anti-Catholic Prejudice, Civil War, Electoral College, Peter Roff

Guest Essayist: Peter Roff

The election of 1884 was the first to put a Democrat in the White House since the Civil War. That it did, albeit narrowly was a testament to the way even the earliest stages of industrialization had transformed the country, setting it on the road to something far removed from its, rural, agricultural, protestant roots.

April 21, 2016/1 Comment/by Janine Turner and Cathy Gillespie

1880, James Garfield Defeats Winfield Scott Hancock: The Tariff Controversy, Post-Civil War

6. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 90 in 90 2016, Blog, Kirk Higgins 6. Presidential Elections and Their Constitutional Impact, 13. Guest Constitutional Scholar Essayists, 17. Topics, 1880 James Garfield Defeats Winfield Scott Hancock The Tariff Controversy Post-Civil War, Civil War, Electoral College, Kirk Higgins, Reconstruction

Guest Essayist: Kirk Higgins

When one reflects on the history of the United States, the politics of the Gilded Age are often overlooked. Many find little value in understanding the intricacies of the political wheeling and dealing, often engineered by political machinery in both major parties. Nevertheless, these elections are as a part of the collective American consciousness as any before or since. They are central to understanding the American political character as it dealt with the aftereffects of the great national tragedy that was the American Civil War.

April 20, 2016/1 Comment/by Janine Turner and Cathy Gillespie

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