Steve Honest
President Grover Cleveland was the primary Democrat president elected after the Civil Warfare. He served two non-consecutive terms- the one president to take action in American historical past. Cleveland was elected in 1884 because the twenty second president. He was defeated in 1888 by Republican Benjamin Harrison, after shedding his house state of New York.
In 1888, they met once more, with Cleveland successful what historians say was the ‘cleanest, quietest and most creditable within the reminiscence of the post-civil warfare.’ President Harrison’s spouse was dying of tuberculosis and he didn’t personally marketing campaign in any respect. His spouse died two weeks earlier than the election and by that point each candidates had stopped campaigning.
4 different occasions in our nation’s historical past, former presidents have sought to win again the White Home.
In 1840, Martin Van Buren misplaced his bid for reelection after which ran once more for the Democratic nomination in 1844 and 1848, shedding each occasions.
In 1850, Millard Fillmore turned president when Zachary Taylor died in workplace. He didn’t get the Whig social gathering nomination in 1852, however did in 1856 and bought simply eight electoral votes.
Ulysses S. Grant wished to run for a 3rd time period in 1876, however was persuaded not to run by Republican Social gathering leaders. Grant sought the GOP nomination in 1880, however was defeated by James Garfield.
Teddy Roosevelt turned president in 1901, when William McKinley was assassinated. He received in 1904 after which declined to run in 1908, as a substitute endorsing William Howard Taft. He turned upset with Taft and challenged him for the GOP nomination in 1912. After shedding to Taft, Teddy ran as an Impartial underneath the Bull Moose Social gathering banner. Teddy spilt the vote and Taft completed third and Democrat Woodrow Wilson received.
Though nothing within the unique U.S. Structure restricted presidents to 2 phrases, George Washington declined to hunt a 3rd time period and recommended two phrases of 4 years have been sufficient for any president.
That turned the unwritten rule for presidents till 1940, when Franklin Roosevelt received his third time period after which received a fourth time period in 1944. He died simply months into his fourth time period. In 1947, Congress handed the twenty second modification, which limits the POTUS to 2 phrases. It was ratified by the states on February 27, 1951.
Former President Donald Trump seems to be a 2024 presidential candidate. His speech on the current CPAC conference in Dallas was classic Trump.
It resulted in Trump successful the ‘straw ballot’ for 2024 potential GOP candidates by a large margin.
Three observations:
First, Trump is a recognized commodity. Meaning he has a robust base of assist, however he additionally faces robust opposition in his personal Social gathering. One of many keys to successful a basic election is to get those that supported one other candidate within the main to assist you within the basic election. Trump’s polarizing persona might make that difficult. Most anti-Trumpers within the GOP wouldn’t vote for a Democrat, however they will keep house.
Second, the swing vote is the important thing. Trump received in 2016 as a result of he appealed to organized labor along with his ‘America First’ theme. In 2023, he didn’t do as effectively with that group. They didn’t end up within the numbers essential to push him excessive. A part of that was because of the decelerate of the financial system because of the pandemic, however many felt just like the return of producing to the U.S. Trump had promised was too gradual.
Third, if Trump loses the nomination after which runs on a third-Social gathering ticket, the Democrat will probably be elected. President Teddy Roosevelt is a wonderful instance. H. Ross Perot ran as a third-Social gathering candidate and bought Invoice Clinton elected by siphoning votes away from President George H.W. Bush.
It appears too quickly to be speaking in regards to the 2024 presidential election, however count on Trump to clear the sphere on the GOP aspect if he decides to do one thing no president in fashionable historical past has performed; search a non-consecutive second time period.
NOTE: Steve Honest is a conservative commentator whose essays usually in print or on-line in The Metropolis Sentinel, an impartial, non-partisan newspaper based mostly in Oklahoma Metropolis. Honest is Chairman for the Oklahoma Republican Social gathering within the state’s Fourth Congressional District. Steve might be reached by e-mail at okgop@aol.com. His weblog is stevefair.blogspot.com. The Metropolis Sentinel’s Pat McGuigan wrote the ‘cutlines’ for the images which illustrate this commentary.
