History is repeating the election of 1816Stephen CarterMay 18, 2016
Jewish World Review
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0516/carter051816.php3#TI8mxE43TZHKtMfW.99We've been here before.
A two-term incumbent, once unpopular but looking better and better to his critics as his time runs out, is about to leave office. He has brought a controversial end to an unpopular war. His secretary of state, who is not particularly well-liked, is nevertheless nominated to succeed him, even though critics say that the candidate will just continue a political dynasty and has been cozying up to bankers who care only about profits. The opposition, fractured by dissent, finds itself unable to run a serious convention, and winds up fielding a weak but wealthy candidate who hails from New York.
Welcome to 1816. Two hundred years ago, the nation faced an election with striking similarities to the present moment. The scholar in me cannot fail to point out both the parallels and the lessons to be learned.
Let's set the scene: President James Madison has managed to escape office without quite losing the War of 1812. Even though the British burned down the White House, his supporters insist that the war was a great U.S. victory. His Democratic-Republican party nominates James Monroe, the secretary of state and a member of the Virginia dynasty that supplied four of the first five presidents. The opposition Federalist Party is coming apart at the seams. The Federalists nominate Rufus King in what is universally expected to be a losing cause.
Read more at
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0516/carter051816.php3#TI8mxE43TZHKtMfW.99
Some interesting parallels to be sure, not encouraging ones either.
