Question of the Week: Who does the Republican Party nominate in 1864 if Lincoln is killed earlier?
Hypothetical Thinking Time: Abraham Lincoln was killed by Jubal Early’s soldiers at Fort Stevens in 1864. Who should the Republican Party now nominate as their candidate in the 1864 election?
I would think that the Republican Party would have reverted back and asked Hannibal Hamlin to run, as he was a much stronger abolitionist than Andrew Johnson as VP, need to bypass him.
But wouldn’t it be something to see Benjamin Butler versus George McClellan!
Nathaniel P. Banks, former Speaker of the House, with a strong New England following and probably support from the new Louisiana faction.
If President Lincoln had been killed at Fort Stevens in July 1864, the Presidency would have been assumed by VP Hannibal Hamlin, briefly. The contest for Republican candidate for President would have developed between General John Fremont (the popular 1856 Republican candidate) and William H. Seward, Lincoln’s Secretary of State (and strong Republican candidate in 1860, before Lincoln gained the Nomination that year.)
Secretary of State William Seward. Not only was he already in a prestigious cabinet position (one seen historically as a springboard to the Presidency), Seward was a leader in the Republican Party, so had his own base. He has (or at least before the War had) a radical tinge to him, so maybe he satisfies the Radical Republicans. Also, he is a known Lincoln confidant so should be seen as a logical successor. He would be someone for Republicans to rally around.
I agree with Kevin Donovan’s suggestion that the Republicans would have nominated William Seward for the Presidency. I think he was the perfect and real only choice to fill the shoes and fulfill the Mandate of Lincoln.
Salmon P. Chase?
Salmon P. Chase.
Depends if the shooting of Lincoln also was part of a successful, even temporarily successful, Confederate occupation of Washington! In any event, by 1864 Seward was loathed by the most powerful members of the Republican Congressional leadership. Their political domination in the North would have allowed them the opportunity to ignore he and his diminishing band of allies. My guess is the choice would have been Fessenden of Maine, or John Sherman of Ohio.
I think that race and subsequent campaign(s) would be wide open. Lincoln’s re-election wasn’t a sure thing at the time of his appearance at Fort Stevens. But there were plenty of potential candidates on the Republican side. Thaddeus Steven’s, Charles Sumner, and Benjamin Wade come to mind. Might an active duty general have been recruited to run? In 1868, that’s what the Republicans wanted, and got, in US Grant.
But as the fallout of Lincoln’s death played out, I think Sherman’s efforts in and around Atlanta would still have taken place, and the boost to Union aims and goals that provided would have still influenced the 1864 election. A candidate advocating for staying the course upon Lincoln’s death would probably be considered quite ‘attractive’ to quite a few people. Seeing how the Democrats ended up running a candidate who had been a prominent general himself, the Republicans doing the same might have served them well.
I think this scenario depends on if Butler has failed in his attempt to usurp Lincoln yet. If he hasn’t, then I think the party about faces and embraces him since he is a fellow radical that will embrace their Reconstruction ideas. If he has already failed in his attempt, then I could see John Sherman parlaying his similar views to Lincoln, and the fact that his brother captured Atlanta and essentially assured a Union victory. Overall it is hard to pick one candidate the GOP of 1864 had the problem that we have seen in both parties in modern times, that is to say the candidates don’t really stand out or feel like logical selections.
this is great question … i am going with SECSTATE Steward … not as radical as Stevens, Sumner and Wade, but just radical enough, politically savvy, and decent enough leader.
I’m thinking Seward.
Boy, there’d be a big fight – Salmon Chase was positively lusting for the Oval Office. Seward, of course, was strong, able, close to Lincoln and had run for President in the past. Who, though, was running the GOP and what were their views and behaviors of the time? That will give a good indication of who might have been chosen. But then…Hannibal Hamlin would have become President – would they insist he continue? Would he have insisted?