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AMPU Failed Presidential Nominees (excluding those that would be or were president)


vcczar

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Charles Coatesworth Pinckney

Pinckney Dynasty

Conservative

2 Command, 2 Military, 2 Admin, 1 Legislative

Military as initial expertise

Nationalist

Likable, Pliable, Uncharismatic, Geostrategist, Passive, Predictable

Notes: A two-time nominee. Lost to both Jefferson and Madison. Has a wide-range of abilities, but would have been a mediocre to terrible president, unless the country was at war. Likely to be a puppet, which may be fore the best. Jefferson and Madison were rightfully elected over Pinckney.

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5 hours ago, vcczar said:

Charles Coatesworth Pinckney

Pinckney Dynasty

Conservative

2 Command, 2 Military, 2 Admin, 1 Legislative

Military as initial expertise

Nationalist

Likable, Pliable, Uncharismatic, Geostrategist, Passive, Predictable

Notes: A two-time nominee. Lost to both Jefferson and Madison. Has a wide-range of abilities, but would have been a mediocre to terrible president, unless the country was at war. Likely to be a puppet, which may be fore the best. Jefferson and Madison were rightfully elected over Pinckney.

Was he the one Hamilton tried to maneuver into the White House instead of John Adams?

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2 hours ago, MrPotatoTed said:

Was he the one Hamilton tried to maneuver into the White House instead of John Adams?

Actually, we’re both right Hamilton plotted in 1796 to get Thomas Pinckney elected over Adams, and he tried the same thing with CC Pinckney (brother of Thomas) in 1800. 

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DeWitt Clinton

Clinton Dynasty, which also includes his famous uncle George Clinton

Liberal

1 Command, 1 Legislative, 3 Governing

Trade as initial expertise

Reformist

Efficient, Frail, Kingmaker, Pliable, Cosmopolitan, Bookkeeper, Domestic Warrior, Overeager

Notes: Potentially one of the good or great what-if presidents. Had many qualities of greatness but died suddenly. Almost beat Madison in 1812 and was expected to run for president in 1824, but he declined in the last moment. Was then expected again in 1828 but died. Aside from being "Frail," his "Pliable" nature could potentially derail the policies of his faction.  

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Rufus King

King Dynasty, includes a lot of siblings and descendants.

Liberal

1 Command, 1 Legislative, 1 Governing, 1 Justice, 1 Military, 1 Administration

Justice as initial expertise

Civil Rights

Provincial, Cop

Notes: Federalist nominee for president in 1816, and the straight-Federalist ticket nominee in 1812. One of the last Federalists to serve in the US Senate. Early abolitionist. In the game, he has tremendous range, having ability in every possible ability, which would also translate into helping implementation as president. However, he is quite regional for a candidate, and aside from being a good president for judicial reform, hasn't many other strengths to deal with a crisis. Fortunately, hasn't any major weaknesses. King likely would have served as a decent to good president. 

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Henry Clay

Clay dynasty, which includes a few of his sons

Moderate

2 Command, 4 Legislative, 1 Administrative

Justice as initial expertise

Expansionist, Nationalist, Reformist

Debater, Efficient, Iron Fist, Leadership, Manipulative, Orator, Propagandist, Cosmopolitan, Bookkeeper, Domestic Warrior, Overeager

Can Party Flip once

Notes: Along with Teddy Roosevelt, one of the most powerful politicians in the game. Historically, Clay ran for president in 1824, 1832, 1840, 1844, and in 1848. He was a nominee in the general election in three of these elections, losing out on the nomination to a general twice. Perfect for both Party Leader and Speaker. Would make a splendid president. Would make a great cabinet officer if he can gain more administrative ability. His only weakness, assuming he flips to Red as he did historically, is that he would serve the bulk of his career leading a party with few other national-level figures other than himself. My estimation is that Clay would have been an amazing president had he won any of his historical election, even if Congress was opposed to him. 

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Lewis Cass

Conservative

1 Command, 1 Legislative, 2 Governing, 2 Military, 2 Administrative

Military as initial expertise

Expansionist

Efficient, Propagandist, Hale, Geostrategist, can move to MI from OH. 

Notes: Party politics aside, much better equipped to be president than Zachary Taylor was. Huge ability range, with the ability to be a top-rate governor, general, or cabinet member. Would do well in a military crisis as president. Cass's huge weakness is also a historical one. He starts off in OH, one of the least influential states at the time, and he then moves to MI, which doesn't become a state until 1836, when he is almost 50. As a member of Jackson's cabinet, he was the prime mover of the Indian Removal Policy. As candidate in 1848, when he was quite old for the time, he ran for president while promoting Popular Sovereignty to heal the North-South divide. Later, he was in Buchanan's cabinet but was so old that he could barely work. When Cass was younger, he was a War of 1812 general, and he had ruled Michigan for almost two decades while it was a territory.

 

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Winfield Scott

Moderate

1 Command, 4 Military

Military as initial expertise

Nationalist

Efficient, Leadership, Unlikable, Cosmopolitan, Numberfudger, Geostrategist, Micromanager, Decisive General

Southern Unionist

Can move to NJ or NY after moving from his original state of VA

Notes: Greatest general in US history. Never lost a battle in the field and won against incredible odds. Came up with the anaconda plan, which helped win the Civil War after he had retired. Was an incompetent campaigner when running for president. Exceptionally disorganized politically and micromanaged everything. Most likely would have been an erratic president too. Keep him in the military.

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John C Fremont

Fremont dynasty, includes his spouse, who is the daughter of Sen. Thomas Hart Benton

Progressive

1 Command, 1 Legislative, 1 Governing, 1 Military

Military as initial expertise

Civil Rights, LW Activist, Reformist

Celebrity, Charisma, Disharmonious, Controversial, Teflon, Cosmopolitan, Numberfudger, Naive Strategist, Domestic Warrior, Delegator, Illicit

Can party flip once, Can be Independent

Notes: Best bet is to keep in the military, as governor, or as legislator. Very risky president, although could win an election. Will need to be well served if president to make use of his delegator ability. 

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@WVProgressive saved the thread

Stephen A Douglas

Moderate

1 Command, 2 Legislative, 1 Judicial

Judicial as initial expertise

Expansionist

Debater, Efficient, Frail, Kingmaker, Manipulative, Orator, Propagandist, Unlikable, Cosmopolitan, Magician, Domestic Warrior, Cop

Notes: Best to keep him in the legislature as he'll have a hard time getting elected as a president unless he's facing an easy opponent. Would likely serve well as a president, politics aside. 

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John C Breckinridge

Breckinridge dynasty, one of the largest

Traditionalist

1 command, 1 legislative, 1 military, 1 administrative

Judicial as initial expertise

Frail, Cosmopolitan, Geostrategist

Notes: Good range. Probably is best for VP. Would serve well during warfare, but would likely be mediocre at other times. Historically, the youngest VP at about 36 years old. Buchanan didn't trust him, but secretly supported him in 1860 because he liked Douglas less. Didn't want secession to occur but joined the South and served admirably as a general and as a cabinet officer for the South. He didn't live too long after the war. 

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20 hours ago, vcczar said:

Henry Clay

Clay dynasty, which includes a few of his sons

Moderate

2 Command, 4 Legislative, 1 Administrative

Justice as initial expertise

Expansionist, Nationalist, Reformist

Debater, Efficient, Iron Fist, Leadership, Manipulative, Orator, Propagandist, Cosmopolitan, Bookkeeper, Domestic Warrior, Overeager

Can Party Flip once

Notes: Along with Teddy Roosevelt, one of the most powerful politicians in the game. Historically, Clay ran for president in 1824, 1832, 1840, 1844, and in 1848. He was a nominee in the general election in three of these elections, losing out on the nomination to a general twice. Perfect for both Party Leader and Speaker. Would make a splendid president. Would make a great cabinet officer if he can gain more administrative ability. His only weakness, assuming he flips to Red as he did historically, is that he would serve the bulk of his career leading a party with few other national-level figures other than himself. My estimation is that Clay would have been an amazing president had he won any of his historical election, even if Congress was opposed to him. 

Is Clay the most powerful politician starting out? His stats/abilities combination seems like the strongestIve seen, at least amongst the early era politicians.

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20 minutes ago, jvikings1 said:

Is Clay the most powerful politician starting out? His stats/abilities combination seems like the strongestIve seen, at least amongst the early era politicians.

I recalculated the political values in the master spreadsheet to create 0-100 scale (although someone can go beyond 100 and below 0). Clay is a historical 98, while Theodore Roosevelt is a historical 100. Clay had been the top politician in the game as far as value, but I made Command worth more points, and I I've also created a bunch of new traits, of which Roosevelt has a few and Clay has like one. The new traits also raised Reagan significantly. 

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George B McClellan

McClellan dynasty, includes his son

Conservative

1 Command, 1 Governing, 2 Military

Military initial expertise

Charisma, Disharmonious, Efficient, Frail, Pliable, Cosmopolitan, Numberfudger, Micromanager, Overeager

Notes: His worst trait might be "Overeager," which may prevent him from developing into a better general. If he can get to 3 military ability, then he should just stay in the military. Likely would be as bad as a president as he was as general. Micromanaging and pliable and disharmonious is an awful combination. Very electable against a mediocre opponent, however. 

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20 hours ago, vcczar said:

Not sure if people are reading these, so I'll stop until I get more interest.

I read every post so far, also because I am very interested into these ''oddballs''. Just don't feel like liking every post, because this would put important notifications/tags out of sight.

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Horatio Seymour

Seymour, which includes either a brother or son. Forget which.

Conservative

1 command, 1 legislative, 1 governing

Business expertise

Integrity, Pliable

Notes: Probably best for governor. Other than being prone to manipulation, has few flaws. However, hasn't much to help him in a major crisis. Good president for calm times, at least. Faced Grant in 1868 as a kind of sacrificial lamb. Wasn't expecting nomination but someone had to lose to Grant to keep the Democratic Party as an organized opposition. 

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Horace Greeley

Greeley Dynasty, which includes his wife

Progressive

1 command, 1 legislative

Media as initial expertise

Civil Rights, Expansionist, Pacifist, Reformist

Egghead, Pliable, Propagandist, Uncharismatic, Native Strategist, Micromanager

Can be Independent, Can Party Flip once

Notes: Arguably the weakest presidential nominee in US History. Has basically no strengths for the presidency. His biggest upside is that with four interests, one is likely going to know Greeley's agenda, provided he isn't manipulated. Historically, the eccentric Greeley was destroyed by Grant. The landslide was exacerbated by Greeley's grief over his wife's death. Greeley himself died before the electoral college met. Grant's administration was controversial enough that the election could have been competitive had Grant not lucked into a mess. The Democrats were so disorganized that they endorsed the 3rd Party Liberal Republicans, who were better organized but also lacking in much star power for the presidency. Charles F Adams Sr, son of JQ Adams, was the frontrunner for nomination but Greeley won at the convention, possibly because winning NY (where Greeley was a major publisher) was crucial. Greeley was far too progressive for most Democrats, so my guess is turnout was rather low for reliable Democrats. Grant just really didn't face a real opponent. 

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Samuel J Tilden

Conservative (bouts of Traditionalist)

1 command, 1 legislative, 1 governing

Business as initial expertise

Reformist, RW Activist

Integrity, Kingmaker, Leadership, Puritan, Bookkeeper, Micromanager, Predictable, Cop, Late Bloomer, Domestic Apathy

Notes: Could be a great president if he has control of both Houses of Congress. The combination of Puritan, Predictable, and Micromanager could lead to Tilden shooting himself in the foot. Would be best in attempting to resurrect the economy. 

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Winfield Scott Hancock

Moderate

1 command, 2 military

Military as initial expertise

Integrity, Pliable, Cosmopolitan, Numberfudger, Harmonious, Low Brow, Delegator, Passive, Domestic Apathy

Notes: Keep him as a general. He's tempting to run as president because he is electable. However, he'd arguably be a terrible president. His saving grace is that he's so susceptible to being a puppet that he could be manipulated into a good president. Not equipped to deal with a crisis. Best use is to run him just to deny the other party the presidency if they field a weak candidate. 

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William Jennings Bryan

Bryan Dynasty, which includes his father, wife, brother, and at least two children

Progressive

1 Command, 1 Legislative, 1 Administrative

Justice as initial expertise

LW Activist, Reformist, Theocrat

Charisma, Debater, Kingmaker, Leadership, Orator, Puritan, Numberfudger, Naive Strategist, Domestic Warrior, Low Brow, Micromanager

Notes: Very powerful politician for a Party Leader. Likely to defeat a weak opponent in the presidential election. The issue is once he is in office. Likely to get in his own way, especially in a crisis. Too rigid for the presidency.

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Alton B Parker

Conservative

1 Command, 1 Judicial

Justice as initial expertise

Reformist

Egghead, Integrity, Uncharismatic, Harmonious, Passive, Predictable, Cop, Domestic Apathy, Late Bloomer

Notes: Sort of one shot politician. If you can't get him in the Supreme Court just throw him up as a presidential nominee in a lost cause election. Could be a great judge, but likely to be a very ineffective president, especially if Congress is against him.

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Charles Evans Hughes

Hughes dynasty, includes at least one son.

Moderate

1 Command, 1 Governing, 3 Judicial, 1 Administrative

Justice as initial expertise

Reformist

Debater, Efficient, Egghead, Integrity, Pliable, Uncharismatic, Hale, Bookkeeper, Geostrategist, Harmonious, Cop

Notes: Would make a fine SC Justice but could also be a very effective president in a crisis. His weakest qualities are that his stiff nature might make it hard for him to get elected against a strong opponent, and his pliable nature could make him occasionally prone to manipulation.

 

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