In 1812 the Federalists considered nominating Chief Justice John Marshall for President, but backed off when DeWitt Clinton ran as an anti-war Republican. They decided not to field a candidate that year. While Clinton got much Federalist support, with the rest going to Rufus King, he nonetheless lost to James Madison. What if Marshall had been nominated for President by the Federalists? Could he have beaten Madison? If he had, what would be the impact on US history?