Inventing American Politics

By Stan Dyer

From the very beginning, this country has defined, refined, and adjusted. The "Great Experiment" in a modern Republic didn't come with an instruction sheet or a set of rules. As a result, one early Presidential election resulted in murder, and another set the stage for modern campaigning, but both played parts in inventing American politics.

In early Presidential elections, political parties as we know them didn't exist. There were affiliations, but people didn't promote themselves as we do now. In fact, it was rude and crass to be too ambitious about political appointment. Openly criticizing an opponent was just as rude and crass. We've apparently reinvented those aspects. In the election of 1800, the situation was different.

In the election of 1800, whoever received the most votes became President and whoever came in second was Vice President regardless of party affiliation. This election saw a tie for first between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The election went to the House of Representatives. There, Alexander Hamilton worked to influence the votes against Aaron Burr, calling him "the most unfit and dangerous man of the community". Still, 35 ballots failed to elect a president. Finally, James A. Bayard of Delaware changed his vote from Burr to Jefferson and Thomas Jefferson became the Third President of the United States, with Aaron Burr as his Vice President.

It may or may not have been Hamilton's persuasion that cost Burr the presidency, but there was no doubt the two were rivals, and this loss cemented the animosity between them. Hamilton continued his assault on Burr's political career, and Burr called him on it. Burr sent letters to Hamilton asking Hamilton to explain his negative comments or be prepared to meet on the field of honor. Hamilton needed only to apologize and retract his vitriol to evade a duel. He refused. Burr and Hamilton met at Weehawken, New Jersey on the morning of July 11, 1804. Burr killed Hamilton in a duel with pistols, and the careers of both were over.

In the election of 1840, a Democratic newspaper attempted to discount the Whig candidate, William Henry Harrison, saying he was better suited for "sipping cider in a frontier shack". Since many Americans at the time sipped cider in their frontier shacks, the Whigs jumped on this opportunity to make a campaign. They used the remarks to mold a candidate more easily identifiable and more closely associated with the populace. Actually, Harrison was the son of Virginia planters and knew little of the rugged, frontier life associated with frontier shacks and cider. The Whigs also came up with the slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler too". It was catchy and easy to remember. It referred to Harrison's meaningless massacre of defenseless Native Americans at the Battle of Tippecanoe Creek on November 7, 1811. Harrison won the election and proved that the truth is not as important as what people believe is the truth, a statement that is still true today. Then, in an ironic twist, Harrison's meteoric rise to the Presidency came crashing back to Earth. During a long, inaugural speech in the rain, Harrison caught pneumonia. Exactly one month later, he became the first President to die in office, and owner of the shortest Presidential term ever at one month.

This Great Experiment in rule by the people isn't perfect. It keeps defining, refining, and adjusting. Most importantly, it keeps going on. Every election has its twists and turns, and they don't always turn out as we wish. We have to take our wins with our losses and keep moving on. It is all a part of inventing American politics, and what helps make our system the model for the world.