The daily record., 1952-01-07
Walter
Wi1lchen
In
New
York
WATER
wRcHen

PRESIDENTS 1 NEVER MET
The Presidential Sweepstakes
have more factors of chance and
luck than the Kentucky Derby.
Thus the happenStance of history
almost as much as the greatness
of their occupants-is responsible
for two magnificent memorials in
Washington, D. C. The good and
simple reason is that both Jeffer-
son and Lincoln became President
by the skin of their teeth. The halo
of time has highlighted their ac-
complishments as Presidents, but
the shadows of the heartbreaking
road to the White House are sculp-
tured in their faces The record
further proves that they may be
alone in their Presidential great
ness, but not in its troubles.
The campaign of 1900 was prob
ably the most vicious in American
history. The private lives of the
chief contenders. Jefferson and
Adams, were vivisected. But the
election did not conclude the or
deal. jefferson received a majority
of the popular vote, but the bril-
liant dark horse of American his
tory. Aaron Burr, surprisingly
equalled Jefferson's 70 electoral
votes. Adams received Ga The
nation was stunned. Under the
then law, the election was thrown
into the House of Representatives,
where each State voted as a unit,
and nine States were needed for
election. For three days and "a
ballots the Congress was deadlock
ed. jefferson was short one vote
but he refused to compromise
The balance of power was with
Alexander Hamilton of N. Y. Ham,
ilton finally cast his strength for
jefferson, with the remark that he
preferred a hypocrite (Jeffersom
to a man without scruples BURR" !"
The bitterness did not abate
with the decision. Adams, the out
going President, left at dawn RAJ
ther than see jefferson inaugu-
rated. Aaron Burr killed Alexander
Hamilton three years later in a
duel. But Thomas Jefferson was
President of the United States, and
the Virginian giants ruled the ma
ton for the next 20 years.
Andrew Jackson, a great PreSi-
dent by any count, was really The
Man Who Came Back. He, like
jefferson, had the popular msjori-
ty in 1924, but was defeated by
John, Quincy Adams, the second
F'resiJent's son, when the cleo
tom was again thrown into the
House of Representatives Henry
Clay held the balance of power
and his cards-to himself, Andrew
Jackson himself declared that he
could have bought" Clays sup
port by making him Sec'y of State.
but refused to do So. In any
event, Clay cast his support to
Adams, and Old Hickory had to
cool his heels for four long years.
The argument still RACES as to
whether the Sec'y of State deal
was made between Adams and
Clay, but there is no doubt that
Adams first act was to appoint
Clay to that office.
Abraham Lincoln entered the
Republican Convention of 1860 as
a rank outsider. Ex-Gov. VIM
Seward of N. Y. was the top-heavy
favorite But Lincolns managers
made a deal with the Pennsylvania
bosses that Simon Cameron would
become Lincoln's Sec'y of the Trea-
sury. The gallery was packed with
Lincoln supporters and some skull
duggery al the door prevented the
early seating of the N. Y delega-
ton. On the 1st ballot Seward led
Lincoln 173l4 to 102. On the 2nd
Lincoln picked up "a New England
votes. The secret deal. according
to historians, between the Illinois
and Pennsylvania leaders was that
the Keystone State was to stam-
pede to Lincoln on the third bal
lot. But as Lincoln's vote rose. it
was the Ohio delegation which
broke for the Rail-Splitter, and
the Convention stampeded to the
road of the gallery-packed with
Linceln's followers.
Honest Abe won the election, but
onDrnYimatelv mt Of every &