Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion : The Making of a President, 1884

The presidential election of 1884, in which Grover Cleveland ended the Democrats' twenty-four-year presidential drought by defeating Republican challenger James G. Blaine, was one of the gaudiest in American history, remembered today less for its political significance than for the mudslinging and slander that characterized the campaign. But a closer look at the infamous election reveals far more complexity than previous stereotypes allowed, argues Mark Summers. Behind all the mud and malarkey, he says, lay a world of issues and consequences. Summers suggests that both Democrats and Republicans sensed a political system breaking apart, or perhaps a new political order forming, as voters began to drift away from voting by party affiliation toward voting according to a candidate's stand on specific issues. Mudslinging, then, was done not for public entertainment but to tear away or confirm votes that seemed in doubt. Uncovering the issues that really powered the election and stripping away the myths that still surround it, Summers uses the election of 1884 to challenge many of our preconceptions about Gilded Age politics. The Presidential Election Of 1884, In Which Grover Cleveland Ended The Democrats' Twenty-four-year Presidential Drought By Defeating Republican Challenger James G. Blaine, Was One Of The Gaudiest In American History, Remembered Today Less For Its Political Significance Than For The Mudslinging And Slander That Characterized The Campaign. But A Closer Look At The Infamous Election Reveals Far More Complexity Than Previous Stereotypes Allowed. Summers Suggests That Both Democrats And Republicans Sensed A Political System Breaking Apart, Or Perhaps A New Political Order Forming, As Voters Began To Drift Away From Voting By Party Affiliation Toward Voting According To A Candidate's Stand On Specific Issues. Mudslinging, Then, Was Done Not For Public Entertainment But To Tear Away Or Confirm Votes That Seemed In Doubt. Uncovering The Issues That Really Powered The Election And Stripping Away The Myths That Still Surround It, Summers Uses The Election Of 1884 To Challenge Many Of Our Preconceptions About Gilded Age Politics. -- Publisher Description. Ch. 1. No Business To-day Other Than Politics -- Ch. 2. The Dispirit Of '76 -- Ch. 3. The Bloody Shirt -- In Hoc Signo Vinces -- Ch. 4. The Politics Of Personality -- Ch. 5. O Temperance, O Mores! -- Ch. 6. The Protection Racket -- Ch. 7. The Democrats Rise From The Dead -- Ch. 8. The Passing Of Arthur -- Ch. 9. We Love Him For The Enemies He Has Made -- Ch. 10. The Public Be Crammed! -- Ch. 11. Love's Libels Lost -- Ch. 12. Windypendents' Day -- Ch. 13. Ireland Sold For Gold! -- Ch. 14. Sideshows -- Ch. 15. Carrying The War Into Africa -- Ch. 16. Local All Over -- Ch. 17. Clerical Errors -- Ch. 18. Lord! But We Skirted The Edge! -- Ch. 19. Justice At Last! By Mark Wahlgren Summers. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The presidential election of 1884, in which Grover Cleveland ended the Democrats' twenty-four-year presidential drought by defeating Republican challenger James G. Blaine, was one of the gaudiest in American history, remembered today less for its political significance than for the mudslinging and slander that characterized the campaign. Mark Summers argues that the infamous election was far more complex than previous stereotypes allowed. Behind all the mud and malarkey, he says, lay a world of issues and consequences. Summers suggests that both Democrats and Republicans sensed a political system breaking apart, or perhaps a new political order forming, as voters began to drift away from voting by party affiliation toward voting according to a candidate's stand on specific issues. Mudslinging, then, was done not for public entertainment but to tear away or confirm votes that seemed in doubt. Uncovering the issues that really powered the election and stripping away the myths that still surround it, Summers uses the election of 1884 to challenge many of our preconceptions about Gilded Age politics. Examines one of the dirtiest presidential campaigns in American history. The author suggests that both Democrats and Republicans sensed a political system falling apart, as voters drifted from being affiliated to a specific party to voting according to a candidate's stand on a particular issue