So Americans had to wait for a president, and wait, and the simple majority who voted for Vice President Al Gore was tweaked about the Electoral College system. It's not the first time. Which only proves America is indeed becoming more efficient about delays as she ages. Mr. Garfield had 48.3 percent of the popular vote and the Super Fly Hancock had 48.2 percent. Unfortunately, the Republican president was later stalked and shot by a supporter who was disappointed because he didn't get a coveted diplomatic post.
History is strange like that.
The year 1888 brought Americans another close popular vote. But Mr. Harrison had 233 electoral votes to Mr. Cleveland's 168. That's in the Constitution. Mr. Adams had 32 percent of the popular vote to Andrew Jackson's 42 percent, and he had 84 electoral votes to Jackson's 99. Since there were two other candidates and no lawful electoral majority, the whole process ended up in the House of Representatives, where each state cast a vote based on the barest majority.