The 1872 United States presidential election, held on November 5, 1872, marked the 22nd quadrennial presidential election in the nation's history. This election was a significant event during the Reconstruction Era, a period following the Civil War when many Southerners were disenfranchised. The political landscape was characterized by the Third Party System, and despite internal divisions, the Republican Party managed to maintain its dominance over
both the presidency and Congress. The election ultimately resulted in a decisive victory for the incumbent Republican president, Ulysses S. Grant.
The Contenders: Grant vs. Greeley
Ulysses S. Grant, representing the Republican Party, sought re-election. His running mate was Henry Wilson, a junior U.S. senator from Massachusetts. Grant's opponent was Horace Greeley, a prominent newspaper editor from the New-York Tribune and a former U.S. representative from New York's 6th congressional district. Greeley ran as the candidate for the Liberal Republican Party, a faction that emerged with a platform advocating for civil service reform and an end to Reconstruction policies. Eager to challenge Grant's power, the Democratic Party also nominated Greeley, forming an unusual alliance.
A Unique Electoral Outcome
Grant secured a landslide victory, winning 286 electoral votes out of 352 available. His popular vote margin was significant, with Republicans holding an 11.8% lead. Greeley, despite the combined support of the Liberal Republican and Democratic parties, initially won 66 electoral votes. However, a tragic and unprecedented event occurred: Horace Greeley died after the election but before the Electoral College could officially meet and certify the votes. This made him the first and only major party presidential candidate to pass away prior to the certification of the election results.
The Aftermath: Electoral Votes and Congressional Control
Due to Greeley's death, most of his electoral votes were reallocated. His running mate, Missouri Governor Benjamin Gratz Brown, received a portion of these votes. Other votes went to former Senator Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana, and Charles O'Conor, who ran as a Straight-Out Democratic candidate. In Indiana, for example, O'Conor received 1,417 votes, representing 0.40% of the total. Grant's victory not only ensured his second term but also solidified the Republican Party's control over both houses of Congress. In the House of Representatives, Republicans made substantial gains, picking up new seats and winning others from the Democrats. While Republicans maintained a commanding majority in the Senate, they did lose multiple seats to both Democrats and Liberal Republicans, indicating some shifts in the political landscape despite the presidential landslide.
