Best President US never had

moe.ron · #1 10-06-2004, 12:01 PM

Here is something to ponder, who is the best candidate that lost the election or died before election occured?

DeltAlum · #2 10-06-2004, 01:32 PM

Is this a quiz?

Hubert Humphrey?

(Please, don't anyone say Dan Quayle)

ZTAngel · #3 10-06-2004, 01:46 PM

Dan Quayle

AZ-AlphaXi · #4 10-06-2004, 01:47 PM

Henry Clay

IowaStatePhiPsi · #5 10-06-2004, 01:54 PM

honeychile · #6 10-06-2004, 01:59 PM

Aaron Burr.

Gotta love a President who will duel!!

mrblonde · #7 10-06-2004, 03:34 PM

Samuel Tilden. Read about the situation between him and (I think) Rutherford B. Hayes.

DeltAlum · #8 10-06-2004, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZTAngel
Dan Quayle

You just had to do that, didn't you?

(Wasn't he in the National Guard during Vietnam, too?)

KSig RC · #9 10-06-2004, 04:05 PM

George Wallace had a very strong chance to defeat Nixon in 72 - that would have been interesting, to say the least. I think he got shot while campaigning, ending it and pushing McGovern to the nomination.

KSigkid · #10 10-06-2004, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSig RC
George Wallace had a very strong chance to defeat Nixon in 72 - that would have been interesting, to say the least. I think he got shot while campaigning, ending it and pushing McGovern to the nomination.

He was definitely gaining support, but I think the Democratic party was too fractured at that point for anyone to challenge Nixon. McGovern won the nomination because of how far left he was campaigning; his move towards the center turned off many of his potential voters after he secured the nomination.

If you get a chance, read Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail" about the '72 election. Very good book.

As far as people who would have made interesting Presidents - Adlai Stevenson, Henry Clay, RFK come to mind. Hell, if Gary Hart and Ted Kennedy had been smarter, those may have been memorable campaigns as well. Tilden is someone who was absolutely robbed in the situation with Hayes. Or there was Thomas Dewey...wonder how he would have been if he really did overtake Truman?

I'll post a couple of more as I think of them.

KSig RC · #11 10-06-2004, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSigkid
He was definitely gaining support, but I think the Democratic party was too fractured at that point for anyone to challenge Nixon. McGovern won the nomination because of how far left he was campaigning; his move towards the center turned off many of his potential voters after he secured the nomination.

If you get a chance, read Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail" about the '72 election. Very good book.

As far as people who would have made interesting Presidents - Adlai Stevenson, Henry Clay, RFK come to mind. Hell, if Gary Hart and Ted Kennedy had been smarter, those may have been memorable campaigns as well. Tilden is someone who was absolutely robbed in the situation with Hayes. Or there was Thomas Dewey...wonder how he would have been if he really did overtake Truman?

I'll post a couple of more as I think of them.

wow, I think I must have overlooked RFK because it was so obvious . . . good catch.

As far as the fracturing of the Democratic party - very true, and I will def pick up Thompson's book (unless you want to loan me your copy, hint hint), but the reality is that much of Nixon's strategy was talking over the heads of the media (who hated him, and rightly so) and pointing out McGovern's rhetoric as insanely left-wing (resulting in him being labeled as a 'radical'). Wallace carried every county in FL, and won MD even after being shot - his actual policies and worthiness notwithstanding, he would have put up much more of a fight than McGovern, who was universally seen as completely impossible to elect (a la Howard "YEEEAAAAAH!!" Dean). It may have made no difference - Nixon was insanely popular due to economic recovery and the war looking better (sound familiar?), if I'm correct, and Collin would know better for sure, but it's an interesting concept.

ZTAngel · #12 10-06-2004, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
You just had to do that, didn't you?

lol....yes

DeltaSigStan · #13 10-06-2004, 04:53 PM

The son of Greek immigrants who lost to our current mor...President's father in 88.

Not really....just kidding.....

DeltAlum · #14 10-06-2004, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSig RC
wow, I think I must have overlooked RFK because it was so obvious . . . good catch.

Ditto. I got mentally hung up on VP's.

Funny someone should mention Gary Hart. We originated the news conference live for NBC when he dropped out of the race. The notice was very short. Our mobile unit was parked around the corner from the rest of the stations, and when the Secret Service and DPD started milling aroud us, I called the station and got another photographer and camera and had the only live pics of him arriving at the back door of the hotel where the event took place.

As they say, precise planning and careful attention to detail seldom succeed like dumb luck.

We also did the pickup, and I directed, when Pat Schroeder dropped out in her now (in)famous crying speech.

She was/is an interesting woman and might deserve a place on the list. Although most either loved or hated her.

PhiPsiRuss · #15 10-06-2004, 05:39 PM

Its not even a contest.