Bodington
Virgin
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2009
- Posts
- 216
There have been to date only three election cycles wherein the incumbent President was seeking election for a second term but was thwarted by failing to become the standard bearer for his Party. The first time it occurred was in the election of 1884. Chester Arthur was elevated to the Presidency in 1881 upon the assassination of President Garfield. Arthur sought election for a second term in 1884 but did not win his Party’s nomination and his successor lost in the general election to Grover Cleveland. The second time it occurred was in the 1968 election. Lyndon Johnson had become President in 1963 upon Kennedy’s assassination and was elected in 1964 for a full term. Since the remaining balance of Kennedy’s term was less than two years, Johnson was able to contest for a second full term in 1968, and he displayed every intention to do so. However, he performed so poorly in the New Hampshire primary that it looked like he could not win the Party’s nomination. As a result, he announced he would not seek re-election especially since he knew Robert Kennedy would contest the nomination. The latter was assassinated prior to the Party convention, and thus Humphrey became the candidate who went on to lose to Nixon in the general election.
And of course, the third time for this phenomenon has occurred in this current election cycle. Unlike Arthur and Johnson, Biden had snared enough delegate votes to secure the Party nomination, but it was not to be for Joe. Now if Harris does win, she will have succeeded whereas in the previous two occasions the Party that eschewed their incumbent Presidential candidate went on to lose the general election. If on the other hand, Trump wins, he will have replicated the outcomes of the 1884, 1888 and 1892 elections. Grover Cleveland won the 1884 election but was defeated for re-election in 1888. Undaunted he contested the 1892 election and thereby won a second term.
And of course, the third time for this phenomenon has occurred in this current election cycle. Unlike Arthur and Johnson, Biden had snared enough delegate votes to secure the Party nomination, but it was not to be for Joe. Now if Harris does win, she will have succeeded whereas in the previous two occasions the Party that eschewed their incumbent Presidential candidate went on to lose the general election. If on the other hand, Trump wins, he will have replicated the outcomes of the 1884, 1888 and 1892 elections. Grover Cleveland won the 1884 election but was defeated for re-election in 1888. Undaunted he contested the 1892 election and thereby won a second term.
