Corrupt Bargain
The Maundy Morning Newsletter - This Week in History November 28 - December 4.
Monday is here, Okay History friends! It’s the last Monday in November, meaning 2022 will soon be history.
We just wrapped up our latest election cycle, one in which we saw delayed results due to the closeness of many races and the laws set up to ensure that voter fraud doesn’t happen; even though it doesn’t happen, we constantly talk about it in a never-ending circle.
If people think elections today are corrupt deceptions of the Deep State, their minds would have been blown if they lived through the presidential election of 1824 when voting ended on December 2.
John Quincy Adams, of the Democratic-Republican party, faced off with Andrew Jackson, who also was a member of the Democratic-Republican party. Since we were only 24 states in 1824, two other gentlemen jumped into the fold. Henry Clay, another member of the Democratic-Republican party, and William Crawford, who, you guessed it, was also a member of the Democratic-Republican party.
I can’t spoil the result because you know who won, but the biggest winner was the leader of the Democratic-Republican party.
With 24 states and the electoral college very much a thing, you needed 131 votes to secure the presidency. With four dudes on the ballot, each popular in their respective regions, winning the necessary votes on election night would be impossible.
Jackson finished with the most electoral and popular votes, winning 99 and just over 40%. Adams finished a close second with 84 and 30%. Crawford came in third, and Clay finished fourth.
Under the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution, this lack of a majority vote kicked the election to the House of Representatives, a place of sound-minded people from across the country. With Henry finishing last, he swung his support to Adams, with whom he shared many similar ideas, being of the same political party and all.
The result was that Henry, then Speaker of the House, and its members, elected Adams, giving him the distinction of being the only president who didn’t win the majority of the popular or electoral vote. Once Adams entered the White House, he nominated Clay to be Secretary of State, Adam’s previous position in 1824, setting up Clay to be what was considered at the time the heir apparent.
What’s amazing about this decision was that it did not throw the country into a violent reaction. Jackson was obviously upset, calling the Adams/Clay pact a corrupt bargain. Four years later, Jackson got his revenge when he defeated Adams in a rematch, while you have never heard of President Henry Clay.
Crazy.
Okay, let's highlight what else happened this week. Here's what I got:
Almost 500 people died in the Couanut Grove Nightclub fire on November 28, 1942. The popular club in Boston was filled with twice its legal capacity. Electrical shortage sparked fires, and people couldn’t get out because, for some stupid reason, they locked the exits from the inside.
Jon Stewart was born on November 28, 1962. The comedian hosted The Daily Show from 1998-2015, becoming a leading political commentator. After a few years off, he decided to do it again, hosting Problems with Jon Stewart in 2021. He’s funny and annoying like me.
Michael Jackson released the Thriller album on November 30, 1982. The Pop Star’s sixth studio album is the second best-selling album of all time. Human Nature remains my favorite song.
I think we are at a crucial point with how we view our elections. Voting is a right and should be made available to everyone eligible and done in an easy, accessible way. We need to make it a national holiday, not for some dude named Christopher Columbus, and the earlier we can vote, the better. The election of 1824 took place from October 26 through December 2. We didn’t have a declared winner until that House vote took place in February 1825. It can be done.
When our leaders claim that elections are rigged against them, it causes January 6. We had too many candidates on the ballot this year running on a platform that our elections are flawed, which they are not. I’m happy most of them lost.
I’m unsure how we can correct this ignorant mindset, but I’m open to ideas.
We are in the last few weeks of the state rankings. Who do you think will end up number one? See you in this space on Friday, and have a great week!
Okay,
Chris
Suggestion for a new ranking project: Rank the voting systems of major, developed nations. How many parties, how often, balance of direct and indirect democracy, etc. Whether voting is restricted to a select group or is universal, voluntary or mandatory. Who pays for what. What is the retention rate for incumbents? How long does it take to announce the results? Do they have a holiday or some other way to prioritize the election over normal commerce?
That would be interesting and might lead to some ideas that would go to answering the questions you raise.