Alexander Hamilton, could he have been POTUS?

Well... i was thinking no originally, but then i remember (vaguely) that there was a clause in the USC that mentioned that anybody who was a citizen at the time of the inception of the USC would be considered a natural US citizen, and therefore could be president. does Alexander Hamilton fall into this category? even though he was born in the Bahamas?
 
I think the standard was that anyone who was residing in the US at the time became a citizen and was thus eligible.
 
That would be section 1 article II: "No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution , shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States." So yes Hamilton was eligible, though he had a problem with making enemies even without his problematic love life.
 
Well... i was thinking no originally, but then i remember (vaguely) that there was a clause in the USC that mentioned that anybody who was a citizen at the time of the inception of the USC would be considered a natural US citizen, and therefore could be president. does Alexander Hamilton fall into this category? even though he was born in the Bahamas?

Yes, he does. Because he was a free white male living in the territory claimed by the United States prior to the adoption of the Constitution, he was automatically a citizen with full political rights at the adoption of the Constitution.
 
Didn't he attempt to become President in one of the early elections? Never minding how piss-poorly he did, the point was he TRIED and thus everyone accepted his elligibility.
 
All you need to do is get rid of the Alien and Sedition Acts, and find some way to deal with Burr, and Hamilton could easily snatch the Presidency.
 
I don't believe that Hamilton ever ran for President, but he was certainly eligible, as mentioned up thread. Perhaps, if John Adams were to get sick in early 1792 (not terrminally ill, just something serious enough to knock him out of commission for the presidential contest), then perhaps Hamilton might decide to run (hoping to come in 2nd and become Washington's VP).
 
That would be section 1 article II(snip)


xchen,

Back when I was in grammar school and dinosaurs still roamed the Earth, we were taught that the article you quoted was the "Hamilton Clause" and that it was specifically placed in the Constitution so that Hamilton and a very few others could run for president. How accurate that grammar school lesson was is anyone's guess.

I believe one of the Federalist Papers actually discusses the 14 year residency requirement; i.e. you had to be have been living in the colonies before the Revolution.


Bill
 
He could certainly become president if you either have him survive his duel with Burr, or just butterfly the event away completely.
 

Xen

Banned
A minor quibble, Hamilton was not born in the Bahamas, he was born in Nevis a tiny island in the Caribbean just east of Puerto Rico.

But yes he could run for President, and had he not been shot by Aaron Burr he would have probably ran in 1808
 
Since our resident AHer Alexander Hamilton is unavailable. I will attempt to step into his shoes.
To answer the question yes he could have been. One thing to note, he never held an elected office. He was Treasury Sec. that was until 1796. and a Maj. Gen. from 97-98, during the New Army. How likely was it after the Election of 1800? Not very, He was considered by many after 1800 to be untrustworthy and a manipulator because of his pamphlet published against Adams in the 1800 election I don't remember the exact title but its was something like "A. Hamilton's indictment of the public and private character of John Adams". After that pamphlet his party started to fall apart.

Butterfly that pamphlet and he has a shot. Butterfly the 1794(?) Mariah Reynolds affair and it is more likely.

Really without any significant butterflies 1796 is in my opinion his best shot. J. Adams was never the most popular guy, especially if you get Washington to endorse his protege.

One other POD to consider that hasn't really been done (although I am currently researching, but anyone is welcome to beat me to it) is the non-death of John Laurens in 1782 in otherwise worthless skirmish in S.C. If Laurens doesn't die there would be a Southern ally for Hamilton's programs making it much more palatable to the South.

In reference to the Duel, it really depends on how it goes down. I really don't think his surviving would make a difference, his next plan was according to Governeur Morris was a massive defense of Federalism explaining its true worth, etc. I could see him running for a Senate seat or Gov of New York, although then he has to contend with Dewitt Clinton and much more credible Burr (the duel is really what did him in). just some thoughts
 
Mr. Marty said it all.
I am fascinated by the general upsurge in interest in AH. For many, many years he was either largely forgotten or dispised as a proto monarchist/child labor supporter. Perhaps Chernow's great biography of AH is leading towards a more balanced view of the man.
Even before I read the Chernow book I had an admiration of a man who could arrive in the colonies as a penniless orphan (and literally a bastard) and by dint of hard work, bravery on the battlefield, intellectual brilliance and a great marriage (it is just as easy to love a rich, beautiful and politically connected women as a poor one) become one of the Founding Brothers.:)
But President. . .no, I don't think so for reasons I have discussed at too great a length in other threads.
 
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