US Presidential Elections: Few Interesting Facts
Worst campaign slogan
The worst campaign slogan in history belongs to Al Smith, who was against prohibition. To show his support for the creation, distribution, and sale of alcohol, he advertised: "Vote for Al Smith and he'll make your wet dreams come true."
Fatal victory speech
George Washington gave the shortest inauguration speech at 135 words. William Henry Harrison's was the longest, at 8,445 words. He spoke for over two hours in a heavy snowstorm, which made him catch a cold and ultimately die from pneumonia one month later.
Dead opponent
During the 1872 election, presidential incumbent Ulysses S Grant ran against a corpse. His opponent, Horace Greeley, died before the election was finalized. Grant won the election.
Voting day controversy
The US Constitution does not state when Election Day should be, which meant that in the early 1800s, people could vote from April to December. In 1845, Congress decided that voting day would be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Donkey as Democrat's mascot
Democrats use a donkey as their mascot thanks to Andrew Jackson. When his critics called him a "jackass" because of his populist views, he embraced the image, even using it alongside his slogan, "Let the people rule."
Wild Celebration
Andrew Jackson's inauguration party was so wild that Jackson snuck out of the White House and spent the night at a hotel. Finally, servants dragged tubs of punch out on the lawn to lure out the crowds.
Most resilient candidate
Norman Thomas of the Socialist Party ran for president more times than anyone in history. He ran for 6 times but was never elected.
Voting rights of Native Americans
Congress gave Native Americans the right to vote in presidential elections in 1924; however, some states banned them from voting until the 1940s.
First women and Black candidate
The first woman to run for US President was Victoria Woodhull in 1872, nearly 50 years before the 19th Amendment allowed women to vote in presidential elections. Her running mate, Frederick Douglass, was the first African-American ever nominated for Vice President.
The ultimate "whoops" moment
The ultimate "whoops" moment in a US presidential election happened when the Chicago Daily Tribune mistakenly declared that Dewey beat Truman in 1946.
4 times as president
Franklin D Roosevelt was elected president an astonishing four terms before the 22nd Amendment set term limits. Barack Obama was the 17th president to be elected to at least two terms.
Absurd property law
The first US presidential election was in 1789. Only white men who owned property could vote, a stipulation that prohibited 94% of the population from casting a ballot.
Dirtiest campaign!
During the John Quincy and Andrew Jackson election year, American politics sounds more like bathroom graffiti than political commentary. For example, Jackson called John Quincy a pimp, and Quincy called Jackson's wife a slut and his mother a prostitute. Now Donald Trump has a rival!
Voting rights for blacks
In 1870, Congress passed the 15th Amendment, which granted the right to vote to African Americans and other nonwhite men. However, an African American's right to vote was often denied in the South and parts of the North until the 1960s.
Winning 100% of Electoral College vote
George Washington is the only US president in history to win 100% of the Electoral College vote. This is mainly because organized parties weren't yet formed, and he ran unopposed. George Washington blew his entire campaign budget on 160 gallons of liquor to serve to potential voters.
Yes, election can kill
The 1800 election year was so heated that vice president Aaron Burr ended up killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel.
- US is ranked 139th out of 172 countries in voter participation.
- A candidate is required to be at least 35 years old, a permanent US resident for at least 14 years and considered a natural US born citizen.
- Before the 1804, the presidential candidate who received the second highest electoral votes became vice-president.
Voting rights for women
American women of all races won the right to vote in 1920. In 1872, Susan B Anthony, a white social reformer and feminist activist, was arrested for attempting to vote in the presidential election.
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