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.