1884 Republican National Convention
1884 presidential election | |
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 | 4 |
The 1884 Republican National Convention was a
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]
Pre-balloting maneuvers
To test the waters, Blaine supporters nominated
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]
Presidential nomination
Presidential candidates
-
Joseph R. Hawley
from Connecticut
Declined to contest
- Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln from Illinois
- General William Tecumseh Sherman from Ohio
- Lieutenant General Philip Sheridan from New York
The roll call of the States began the next evening. When Maine was called, the cheering lasted ten minutes, during which time
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
On the morning of June 6, balloting began.
On the first ballot Blaine received 334½, Arthur 278, Edmunds 93, Logan 63½, and Sherman 30, with
On the third 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.
Presidential Ballot | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
Blaine | 334.5 | 349 | 375 | 541 |
Arthur * | 278 | 276 | 274 | 207 |
Edmunds | 93 | 85 | 69 | 41 |
Logan | 63.5 | 61 | 53 | 7 |
J. Sherman | 30 | 28 | 25 | 0 |
Hawley
|
13 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
Lincoln | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
W. T. Sherman | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Not Voting | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
Presidential Balloting / 4th Day of Convention (June 6, 1884)
-
1st Presidential Ballot
-
2nd Presidential Ballot
-
3rd Presidential Ballot
-
4th Presidential Ballot
Vice Presidential nomination
Vice Presidential candidates
In the evening of the day of Blaine's nomination, Logan was selected to be the Republican vice presidential nominee.[3]
Vice Presidential Ballot | |
---|---|
Candidate | 1st |
Logan | 779 |
Gresham | 6 |
Foraker | 1 |
Not Voting | 34 |
Vice Presidential Balloting / 4th Day of Convention (June 6, 1884)
-
1st
Vice Presidential Ballot
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
- ^ a b c d Reeves 1975, p. 375.
- ^ a b Reeves 1975, p. 380.
- ^ a b c d e f Reeves 1975, p. 376.
- ^ Reeves 1975, p. 381.
- ^ Reeves 1975, p. 377.
- ^ a b Reeves 1975, p. 378.
- ^ Reeves 1975, p. 379.
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-394-46095-2.
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 |