The Ultimate American Presidential Election Book: Every Presidential Election in American History (1788-2020) is now available! https://amzn.to/3aYiqwI Mr. Beat's band: http://electricneedleroom.net/ Mr. Beat on Twitter: https://twitter.com/beatmastermatt Help Mr. Beat spend more time making videos: https://www.patreon.com/iammrbeat The 25th episode in a very long series about the American presidential elections from 1788 to the present. In 1884, it's still just all about the facial hair, but the mustache gains momentum. Feeling extra dorky? Then visit here: http://www.countingthevotes.com/1884 The 25th Presidential election in American history took place on November 4, 1884. Chester Arthur had become President after the assassination of James Garfield. His health had been declining, and he honestly didn’t know if he would make it another term if he ran for re-election. Still, a lot of people wanted him to run, so he gave it try. James Blaine, the former Speaker of the House and Senator from Maine, was the favorite for the Republican nomination, but George Edmunds, a Senator from Vermont, also had a good chance to win it. Two notable people that many wanted to run were Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman and Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln, who at this time was the Secretary of War. Both Sherman and Lincoln strongly DID NOT want to run for President, no matter how much people tried to talk them into it. Ultimately, the Republicans went with a name that many already recognized throughout the country- James Blaine. He was nominated, with John Logan, a Senator from Illinois, as his running mate. The Democratic Party chose Grover Cleveland, the Governor of New York, who was known as a man of integrity who spent much of his career fighting political corruption, so I don’t know why the heck they nominated him. The Democratic Party went with a familiar face for Cleveland’s running mate. Thomas Hendricks, the former Governor of Indiana who ran for Vice President on the ticket with Samuel Tilden back in 1876. Remember that one? He won, I mean, lost that one, but was back for another try, this time with a different classical liberal. There were several third parties. The Greenback Party was back for a third try, hoping to gain even more momentum. They nominated Benjamin Butler, the former Governor of Massachusetts, with Absolom West, a plantation owner and former Confederate general from Mississippi, as his running mate. Another political party that was continuing to pick up momentum and continuing to hate alcohol was the Prohibition Party. This time they nominated John St. John (that’s his actual name and that’s his actual mustache), a former governor of Kansas, with William Daniel as his running mate, a lawyer and politician (go figure!) from Maryland. The second notable woman to run for President, Belva Ann Lockwood, ran with the Equal Rights Party. The former teacher and principal was the first female to actually appear on official ballots, so that’s pretty cool. Yep, she still didn’t stand a chance. Activist Marietta Stow was her running mate. The two top candidates were personally attacked leading up to the election. Blaine, for being accused of using his influence for special favors, and Cleveland, for allegedly fathering an illegitimate child.