1884 Republican National Convention
The 1884 Republican National Convention was a presidential nominating convention held at the Exposition Hall in Chicago, Illinois, on June 3–6, 1884.[1] It resulted in the nomination of former House Speaker James G. Blaine from Maine for president and Senator John A. Logan of Illinois for vice president. The ticket lost in the election of 1884 to Democrats Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks.
| 1884 presidential election | |
  Nominees Blaine and Logan | |
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | June 3–6, 1884 |
| City | Chicago, Illinois |
| Venue | Exposition Hall |
| Chair | John B. Henderson |
| Keynote speaker | John R. Lynch |
| Candidates | |
| Presidential nominee | James G. Blaine of Maine |
| Vice presidential nominee | John A. Logan of Illinois |
| Other candidates | Chester A. Arthur George F. Edmunds |
| Voting | |
| Total delegates | 832 |
| Votes needed for nomination | 417 |
| Results (President) | Blaine (ME): 541 (65.98%) Arthur (NY): 207 (25.24%) Edmunds (VT): 41 (5%) Logan (IL): 7 (0.85%) Others: 24 (2.93%) |
| Results (Vice President) | Logan (IL): 779 (95%) Abstaining: 34 (4.15%) Gresham (IN): 6 (0.73%) Foraker (OH): 1 (0.12%) |
| Ballots | 8 |
In attendance were 1600 delegates and alternates and 6000 spectators.[1] There were 820 official delegates; 411 votes were needed to win the nomination.[2] The incumbent President, Chester A. Arthur, was not a serious contender due to ill health. Blaine was the favorite going in, but there was a possibility that President Arthur could build a coalition with smaller candidates such as George F. Edmunds.[1] There were also rumors that members of the Party would bolt if Blaine won the nomination.[3] Neither Blaine nor Arthur were in attendance. Blaine was at his home in Augusta, Maine, and Arthur followed the events from the White House by telegraphy.[4]
Candidates
Declined to contest
Pre-balloting maneuvers
To test the waters, Blaine supporters nominated Powell Clayton as temporary chair of the Convention. A former Arthur supporter, Clayton was now in Blaine's camp. He was popular with veterans, but was also associated with the Star Route Frauds. Edmunds supporters, led by Henry C. Lodge moved to nominate John R. Lynch instead, an African-American from Mississippi. The speech supporting Lynch was given by Theodore Roosevelt. Lynch won the vote 424 to 384, and Blaine's nomination seemed for the first time vulnerable.[1]
Blaine's future seemed more vulnerable the next day when, to address the rumors of Party members bolting, his supporters made a motion to remove seats of delegates who failed to pledge support of the eventual nominee. The motion failed, again by the fortitude of Edmunds's supporters.[3] The day closed with John B. Henderson being elected permanent chair of the Convention.[3]
That evening leaders of Arthur's and Edmunds's camps met in private in the Grand Pacific Hotel and tried to create a viable coalition. Arthur's team could not guarantee that his supporters would back Edmunds. It was more likely that the second choice of Arthur delegates was Blaine.[3]
Nominations
The roll call of the States began the next evening. When Maine was called, the cheering lasted ten minutes, during which time William H. West came to the platform and gave a rabble-rousing speech to second the nomination. After West's speech, pandemonium continued in the building, much to West's chagrin.[5] Further speeches seconding the nomination were given by Cushman Kellogg Davis and Thomas C. Platt.[6]
When the roll call reached New York, it was Arthur's turn to be nominated. Martin I. Townsend's speech was lackluster at best and poorly prepared, Townsend having been selected for the responsibility only after the roll call began. His speech was occasionally drowned out by hisses and eruptions of side conversations.[6] The nomination was seconded by Harry H. Bingham, John R. Lynch and Patrick H. Winston. Bingham's speech was strong, Lynch's brief, and Winston's irritating. Although it was already 11 PM, a motion to adjourn failed. Another speech for Arthur was given by P. B. S. Pinchback, but like the others, it did not sway any support.[7]
To close the night Joseph B. Foraker nominated John Sherman and John Davis Long nominated Edmunds. The delegates adjourned just after midnight.[2]
Balloting
On the morning of June 6, balloting began.
On the first ballot Blaine received 344½, Arthur 278, Edmunds 93, Logan 63½, Sherman 30, with Joseph Roswell Hawley, Robert Todd Lincoln and William Tecumseh Sherman receiving parts of the remainder. Arthur received only a third of his votes from the North, none from Ohio, 1 of 44 from Illinois, 9 of 30 from Indiana, 11 of 60 from Pennsylvania and only 31 of 71 from his home state of New York. It was expected that Logan's delegates would shift to Blaine.[3]
On the second ballot, Blaine received 375 (gaining delegates from Edmunds), Arthur 274. On the fourth ballot, Blaine received 541, Arthur 207 and Edmunds 41. Blaine received 130 more than the majority needed, grabbing 67 from Arthur's camp and 28 from Edmunds's. That evening Logan was selected to be Blaine's running mate.[3]
| Presidential Ballot | Vice Presidential Ballot | |||||
| Ballot | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Ballot | 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James G. Blaine | 334.5 | 341 | 375 | 541 | John A. Logan | 780 |
| Chester A. Arthur * | 278 | 270 | 274 | 207 | Walter Q. Gresham | 6 |
| George F. Edmunds | 93 | 85 | 69 | 41 | Joseph B. Foraker | 1 |
| John A. Logan | 63.5 | 61 | 58 | 7 | ||
| John Sherman | 30 | 28 | 25 | 0 | ||
| Joseph R. Hawley | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | ||
| Robert T. Lincoln | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | ||
| William T. Sherman | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Not Voting | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | ||
See also
- List of Republican National Conventions
- 1884 United States presidential election
- U.S. presidential nomination convention
- History of the United States Republican Party
- 1884 Democratic National Convention
References
- Reeves 1975, p. 375.
- Reeves 1975, p. 380.
- Reeves 1975, p. 376.
- Reeves 1975, p. 381.
- Reeves 1975, p. 377.
- Reeves 1975, p. 378.
- Reeves 1975, p. 379.
Bibliography
- Reeves, Thomas C. (1975). Gentleman Boss. New York City: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-394-46095-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
External links
- Republican Party platform of 1884 at The American Presidency Project
- Official Proceedings of the Republican National Convention Held at Chicago, June 3, 4, 5, and 6, 1884
| Preceded by 1880 Chicago |
Republican National Conventions | Succeeded by 1888 Chicago |