1876 Republican National Convention

Overview

The convention was called to order by Republican National Committee chairman Edwin D. Morgan. Theodore M. Pomeroy served as the convention's temporary chairman and Edward McPherson served as permanent president.

The principal candidates at the convention included Senator James G. Blaine of Maine, the former Speaker of the House; Senator Oliver P. Morton of Indiana; Secretary of the Treasury Benjamin H. Bristow of Kentucky; Senator Roscoe Conkling of New York; Governor Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio; and Governor John F. Hartranft of Pennsylvania. James Russell Lowell, well-known poet and a professor at Harvard College, spoke on behalf of Hayes.

Two candidates, Benjamin Bristow and Marshall Jewell of Connecticut, were serving as Cabinet members in the Grant administration.

Presidential nomination

Presidential candidates

Image:President Rutherford Hayes 1870 - 1880 Restored (cropped).jpg|Governor Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio Image:Unsuccessful 1884.jpg|Former Speaker James G. Blaine of Maine Image:Benjamin-Bristow.jpg|Treasury Secretary Benjamin Bristow of Kentucky Image:OHPTMorton.jpg|Senator Oliver P. Morton of Indiana Image:Roscoe Conkling c. 1868 (cropped).jpg|Senator Roscoe Conkling of New York Image:JohnFHartranft.jpg|Governor John F. Hartranft of Pennsylvania Image:Marshall Jewell - NARA - 530329 (3x4a).jpg|Postmaster General Marshall Jewell of Connecticut

Blaine led after the first ballot, but had only 285 of the 378 delegates required to secure the nomination. Morton, Bristow, and Conkling each had around 100 delegates, while Hayes and Hartranft each had around 60. The second, third, and fourth ballots saw similar results, but Hayes began to surge on the fifth ballot, passing Morton and Conkling to secure third place after Blaine and Bristow. The sixth ballot saw Blaine rise to 308, but, with the other candidates fading, Hayes continued his surge, moving into second place. After the sixth ballot, the Bristow, Conkling, Morton, and Hartranft supporters withdrew their candidates' names from consideration, leaving Hayes as the sole focus of opposition to Blaine. With the other candidates gone, Hayes won a narrow majority on the seventh ballot and secured the nomination.

Presidential Balloting / 3rd Day of Convention (June 16, 1876) File:1876RepublicanPresidentialNomination1stBallot.png|1st Presidential Ballot File:1876RepublicanPresidentialNomination2ndBallot.png|2nd Presidential Ballot File:1876RepublicanPresidentialNomination3rdBallot.png|3rd Presidential Ballot File:1876RepublicanPresidentialNomination4thBallot.png|4th Presidential Ballot File:1876RepublicanPresidentialNomination5thBallot.png|5th Presidential Ballot File:1876RepublicanPresidentialNomination6thBallot.png|6th Presidential Ballot File:1876RepublicanPresidentialNomination7thBallot.png|7th Presidential Ballot

Vice Presidential nomination

Vice Presidential candidates

Image:VicePresident-WmAlWheeler (cropped).jpg|Representative William A. Wheeler of New York Image:Frederick T. Frelinghuysen - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg|Senator Frederick Frelinghuysen of New Jersey Image:Marshall Jewell - NARA - 530329 (3x4a).jpg|Postmaster General Marshall Jewell of Connecticut Image:Gen. Stewart L. Woodford c. 1860s (cropped).jpg|Former Representative Stewart L. Woodford of New York (Declined) Image:Joseph Roswell Hawley - Brady-Handy.jpg|Former Representative Joseph R. Hawley of Connecticut

Five names were presented to the convention for the vice presidential nomination. Stewart L. Woodford of New York withdrew his own name from consideration as it was not done at his suggestion.

Representative William A. Wheeler of New York was thirteen votes shy of a majority on a partial first ballot when the rules were suspended so that he could be nominated by acclamation. Wheeler defeated Frederick T. Frelinghuysen of New Jersey, Marshall Jewell and Joseph R. Hawley of Connecticut for the nomination.

Vice Presidential Balloting / 3rd Day of Convention (June 16, 1876) File:1876RepublicanVicePresidentialNomination1stBallotPartial.png|1st Vice Presidential Ballot (Partial)

References

References

1. McFeely, William S.. (1981). "Grant: A Biography". Norton.
2. Patrick, Rembert W.. (1968). "The Reconstruction of the Nation". Oxford University Press.
3. Heymann, C. David. (1980). "American Aristocracy: The Lives and Times of James Russell, Amy, and Robert Lowell". Dodd, Mead & Company.
4. (10 April 1876). "Proceedings of the Republican national convention, held at Cincinnati, Ohio ... June 14, 15, and 16, 1876 ..". Concord, N.H., Republic press association.