vcczar Posted September 29 Share Posted September 29 VP Schuyler Colfax (IN-R) was part of the youngest pres ticket (until Clinton/Gore) with both he and Grant being in their 40s. Lincoln's rejection letter to Colfax in 1861 predicts that he sees Colfax rising high in the party, which would be realized in just 2 years, and moreso in 9 years. Regarding 1872, Schuyler and several GOPers thought Grant was going to serve only one-term, possibly because they still viewed him as a non-politician and assumed he didn't care for the job. As such, Colfax was going around trying to gain support for the presidency, with the caveate that he wouldn't run if Grant ran, but that caveate still bothered Grant. The combination of that, rumors that Lib Reps wanted him to run for their nom, and his ties to a scandal made Grant want to replace him. Despite this, Colfax ran anyway and came in a close 2nd in the VP vote to Henry Wilson. By the time he left office, his reputation from the scandal and being replaced was so bad that he retired. His people liked him enough that they wanted him to return to office 10 years later. His actions: Colfax, Schuyler 1856 Gives Kansas Code speech, attacking KS pro-slavery legislation, raising his profile in the North Colfax, Schuyler 1861 Lincoln declines to make him PM Gen when pressed to do so because he has another IN man in mind Colfax, Schuyler 1863 Elected Speaker of the US House, disappointing Lincoln who wanted someone more moderate Colfax, Schuyler 1865 Takes a leading role on the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery Colfax, Schuyler 1865 major speech re terms to readmit South Colfax, Schuyler 1865 meets with Stanton after Lincoln's death Colfax, Schuyler 1868 VP on Grant's winning ticket Colfax, Schuyler 1872 Alienates Grant when he states his desire to run for Pres if Grant does not Colfax, Schuyler 1872 Lib Reps consider Colfax for pres nom, which further alienates him from Grant Colfax, Schuyler 1872 Implicated in Credit Mobilier Scandal, which takes him off Grant's 1872 reelection plans Colfax, Schuyler 1872 Fails in his bid (w/o Grant's support) to secure VP spot for 2nd term Colfax, Schuyler 1882 Declines pressure to run for his old US House seat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcczar Posted September 29 Author Share Posted September 29 Not a strong unfavorable. 1872 just sort of pushes him him one direction more than the rest of his career combined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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