American presidential campaigns are fun and complex events for the USA and world. Why? Because in the United States, individual states decide how and when to register voters, which has often led to confusion.
When there are many things in the United States and elections, a lot of confusion can happen. Why? Now more than ever there is confusion with the current US president stepping down from an election.
US presidential elections have a fascinating history full of wonderful contradictions and surprising tales. Learn how one president was elected and then died suddenly and how one populist president was elected and threw a great big party.
Read more and discover more about the US presidential elections below! Let us know if we missed anything.
1. There are three main requirements to be president of the United States
You can be American easily and without question almost but being president does require three main requirements. These requirements are what were set out in the constitution of the United States.
First for example, it is stated that no Person except a natural born Citizen is qualified. Secondly, you have to be a Citizen of the United States as this is crucial and mandatory. Moreover, as noted at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, these are two requirements to being President. Lastly, the final requirement states there should be no Person eligible to that Office who is not at least 35 years old. The final addition to this mandatory part is that an American should have at least lived fourteen Years as a Resident within the United States.
When the United States Constitution was put together and ratified the founders pushed that all federal officers should be landowners as well. But, ultimately it was these requirements that were set out below: (1) Must be at least 35 years old, (2) have lived in the United States at least 14 years, and (3) be a natural-born citizen.
2. Joe Biden is the first president to have left a reelection race this close to Election Day
Joe Biden is already the oldest president to have been elected. But, today he broke another record as he only decided to drop out of the race he won so close to election day. Questions about Biden’s old age and health had been brought into question. But, Biden had suffered from Covid-19, which made him drop out so suddenly.
Historically, with elections, there has never been a president that had left a reelection race this close to Election Day. What was odd and some say damaging about the announcement from Biden is that for many weeks after the debate he kept reassuring many he would stay to compete against President Donald Trump.
The decision by Biden to drop as the democratic nominee has created confusion for this election. Essentially, Biden by conceding this late in the game of presidential elections has caused more confusion, excitement, and controversy. The democratic nominee for president is Kamala Harris.
3. The most honest American presidential election campaign happened in 1789
The only “clean” election in American history was most likely the first one in 1789, when George Washington had decided to run this election uncontested. Sins George Washington ran for president unopposed the need for tricks or even strategy was not needed. The United States elected George Washington unanimously chosen as the very first president of the United States. It was a clear choice by electors from 10 of the 13 existing states.
Another reason why it was so honest is because George Washington was the clear and obvious choice. Washington was a clear leader for president and the most qualified. There was no competition in this field in terms
The honesty of this election stems from the fact that George Washington was a national hero. Also, the favorite son of Virginia, which was the largest state at the time in the United States. When Washington became president it was after he had served as the commander in chief of the army and more.
4. One party was so wild during an inauguration that one president partied all night
There are some parties that are big and epic and others that are more forgettable. After Andrew Jackson was sworn in at the ceremony and gave his address to Congress, the new president had a party and celebration that went wild.
This president, Andrew Jackson, returned to the White House to meet and see a lot of visitors. Here Jackson saw a host of politicians, celebrities and citizens ready to celebrate with him. Why? Because Andrew Jackson was America's initial and pioneering populist president. Jackson connected to people and was a direct and chatty “outsider.”
What happened in this celebration party of victory is now legendary in American politics. Very shortly, the crowd of Jackson fans had gone up to 20,000. There are stories of what can best be described as people standing on chairs to see what was going on or as well random people grabbing for food and drinks! It was a chaotic party and celebration in the White House.
One story had it that the new president had to sneak out of the White House and go to a nearby hotel. Finally, servants dragged tubs of punch out on the lawn to lure out the crowds.
5. One Election included a candidate running from Prison
It is strange indeed but this happened before. This event had happened during the 1920 US presidential election. Eugene Debs, a candidate, had tried to run and compete for president from prison. This is an oddity for sure. However, today with Trump’s legal problems as well as Biden it seems more likely.
Debs had won 6 percent of the vote in the 1912 election, but eventually got arrested. He had trouble and was arrested by police in regards to new anti-sedition laws in the USA. Debs still ran for president even though he was convicted with the Espionage Act. Debs was arrested in 1917 for making an anti-war speech and sentenced to five years in prison.
Eventually by the 1920s with a third party candidate. In the election, Debs won 3.4% of the vote, which remains a record breaking high number of votes for a Socialist Party candidate in US presidential election history. Debs had run for president in other elections but was in jail for opposing World war I. This became a rare and odd occurrence in US presidential history.
6. John Adams became president even after losing the popular and electoral vote
This election did not set a good example in any way going forward. Why? It was the 1824 election that really set things apart. Moreover, it was the first in which a large majority of electors were picked or selected by voters instead of by appointment. For example, it would have been by state legislatures.
What happened? This particular American election of 1824 was the only election in American history where no presidential candidate actually really received a majority of the votes. An incredible thing to happen so early on in American history. In this situation, the electoral college. Andrew Jackson received 99 electoral votes but was 32 votes short of the amount needed to reach a majority.
John Quincy Adams is the only president to have lost both the popular vote and electoral vote and still become president. Basically, this president lost everything and still was able to be president.
7. The Youngest and Oldest elected Presidents of the US were almost 40 years apart in age
Being president means experience and wisdom, but we have had younger presidents and older ones more recently in the US. For example, John F. Kennedy was and still is the youngest elected American president at 43. Moreover, with John F Kennedy, he was also the first Catholic President to win.
However, it is Theodore Roosevelt who is technically the youngest president at 42 years old. Why? Because he served as president but was not elected by popular vote in an election. Sadly, Kennedy was the youngest president to leave the White at age 46 years old when he was assassinated.
On the other hand, current president Joe Biden is the oldest elected American President at 78. Biden is still president and has been criticized for perhaps being too old to serve as president. However, even though Biden was selected as the democratic nominee for president he resigned due to his age and health reasons.
8. Gerald Ford was President and Vice President and never elected
To become vice president is amazing especially if you are not elected. But, to become vice president and president and never be elected is amazing and rare. The only President and Vice President to never be elected to the office was Gerald Ford. He became vice president when Spiro Agnew resigned and became president when Nixon resigned.
Historically, there are five presidents in US history who never won a presidential election. But, Gerald Ford is different because he was vice president without election and president. Also, Ford is still the most current one who served. Ford served in office as a Republican. In terms of his tenure as president and in the White House, he was the 38th president of the United States. Ford served in office from 1974 to 1977 and then left the White House in electoral defeat
The history books will remember Ford because he was in presidential power without the popular vote. Ford’s presidency was filled with hardship following the Nixon scandal and high inflation.
9. Voting Machines began to be used in American Elections in the late 1800s
Voting machines are only a recent phenomenon. In general, a voting machine is a machine used to record votes. The United States was a leader in this technology for elections.The first voting machines used in the US were mechanical. Throughout time, it was more to be used instead of the old and less efficient way of collecting votes.
The first election to use a voting machine was in 1892. Though it was actually invented earlier, candidates initially opposed the idea because it eliminated the wheeling and dealing for votes over the phone.
In general, how Americans usually vote and what specific equipment they use can change and vary. In the end, Americans feel less likely to vote or less trust in voting when methods are more vulnerable or less effective. Voting machines and styles of casting votes have produced big controversies in elections as well.
10. The Longest Inauguration Speech caused a president to die
When we look back at history, it was President William Henry Harrison who died early as president. He died after serving only 32 days in office at the White House in 1841.
Unfortunately, it is this president that has the tragic record of shortest term in office. However, it was Harrison who gave the longest inaugural address in history. This incredible amount of history is what gives Harrison a spot in presidential history as well.
When Harison gave the presidential speech it was a very bitterly cold March morning. Thus, he was facing a harsh snowstorm and elements to speak in a cold climate. Harrison spoke for one hour and 45 minutes but then fell ill thereafter.
By The time Harrison went to bed at the end of inauguration day his cold had turned into a deadly case of pneumonia. On the other side, George Washington delivered the shortest inauguration speech at only 135 words. While the William Henry Harrison’s was the longest clocking in with around 8,445 words in total!
