Anybody can be a success, but it takes real guts to be a failure. Here is a series of all those who vied for the top office in our land. And lost.
After two blow-outs against Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, the Democratic-Republican Party found tougher opposition against Dewitt Clinton. Jame Madison, the incumbent, must’ve felt a little piqued that DeWitt was the nephew of his own former Veep, George Clinton.
Wikipedia says DeWitt Clinton was a Federalist, but that’s just silly talk. Clinton was a Clintonian, an ad hoc party slapped together by Madison’s enemies. DeWitt was nominated by a rogue caucus (rogue caucus – there’s a pair of words you never see together) of Democratic-Republicans who were upset because Madison dragged his feet getting us into the War of 1812. (This accusation was completely unfair; I checked the facts, and the War of 1812 started right on schedule.)
I cannot express how sad I find it that we never had a DeWitt in the White House, but that’s the way it is. We had our chance at a Cotesworth and a Rufus, too, and we blew it then as well.
Result
James Madison: 128
DeWitt Clinton: 88
