WI: President John McLean

John McLean was a potential candidate in the 1856 election. However, he lost out to the much more popular John Frémont. Had McLean been nominated instead, (perhaps Frémont falls ill or something) would he have done any better in the election? What consequences could this have? Thanks.
 
He would certainly have done better, but as a nascent party I'm not sure the Republicans can win the electoral college even with a stronger candidate. Especially with Fillmore in the race. Perhaps the electoral college deadlocks and the election goes to the House, where Buchanan or Fillmore is elected in a contingent election. But if Buchanan isn't nominated, and instead Pierce or Douglas is nominated by a divided Democratic Party, then McLean could certainly win. But in that case the Civil War probably starts four years early...
 
He would certainly have done better, but as a nascent party I'm not sure the Republicans can win the electoral college even with a stronger candidate. Especially with Fillmore in the race. Perhaps the electoral college deadlocks and the election goes to the House, where Buchanan or Fillmore is elected in a contingent election. But if Buchanan isn't nominated, and instead Pierce or Douglas is nominated by a divided Democratic Party, then McLean could certainly win. But in that case the Civil War probably starts four years early...
Why do you think McLean would've done better than Frémont?
 
Why do you think McLean would've done better than Frémont?

Unlike Fremont, McLean wasn't suspected of being a Catholic. In 1856, that was the kiss of death for presidential candidates. It's worth noting furthermore that Abraham Lincoln believed McLean was the strongest Republican candidate in 1856. The problem though is that the only state that Fremont narrowly lost (by that I mean within 5%) was Illinois. Flip that state, and Buchanan still wins.
 
Unlike Fremont, McLean wasn't suspected of being a Catholic. In 1856, that was the kiss of death for presidential candidates. It's worth noting furthermore that Abraham Lincoln believed McLean was the strongest Republican candidate in 1856. The problem though is that the only state that Fremont narrowly lost (by that I mean within 5%) was Illinois. Flip that state, and Buchanan still wins.
So do you think McLean potentially could have won? Perhaps if Franklin Pierce was renominated? Might his unpopularity give McLean (or Frémont for that matter) the presidency?
 
Is it possible (not likely, but possible) McLean could have been elected as a Whig, in 1848 perhaps? McLean's opinion in Ohio v. Carneal really won't go over well in the South, but could he win the North, even if it is a long shot?
 
Is it possible (not likely, but possible) McLean could have been elected as a Whig, in 1848 perhaps? McLean's opinion in Ohio v. Carneal really won't go over well in the South, but could he win the North, even if it is a long shot?
You can't win the Presidency with just the North in 1848, not until more states from the plains and Northwest are admitted was it possible to win without the South.
 
I remember a post in a "Frémont wins in 1856" thread disputing the notion that a Republican victory would have just been 1860 four years early (it was probably by David T, but I'm not sure). It seems most Southerners still had an attitude of "wait and see" in 1856 that was mostly gone by 1860.
 
I remember a post in a "Frémont wins in 1856" thread disputing the notion that a Republican victory would have just been 1860 four years early (it was probably by David T, but I'm not sure). It seems most Southerners still had an attitude of "wait and see" in 1856 that was mostly gone by 1860.
Yes I've seen that one too. While I agree that secession wouldn't be immediate, I do think it would occur at some point during Frémont's presidency once he refuses to compromise with the Southerners on the slavery issue.
 
Is it possible (not likely, but possible) McLean could have been elected as a Whig, in 1848 perhaps? McLean's opinion in Ohio v. Carneal really won't go over well in the South, but could he win the North, even if it is a long shot?
You can't win the Presidency with just the North in 1848, not until more states from the plains and Northwest are admitted was it possible to win without the South.
Could a few Southern states vote for him as a lesser evil to Cass or whoever the Democrats nominate in this scenario? Winfield Scott had an anti-slavery reputation, but he still did relatively well in the Upper South in 1852.
 
Yes I've seen that one too. While I agree that secession wouldn't be immediate, I do think it would occur at some point during Frémont's presidency once he refuses to compromise with the Southerners on the slavery issue.

1858 or 1859 might be more realistic than 1857. That said, McLean would be President here - not Fremont - and if a war breaks out he'll have until his death in April 1861 to win it. (It seems he died of pneumonia, maybe that would be butterflied away if he were President. But all the same he'd be 72 upon taking office - the oldest ever US President - and given the normal life expectancy as well as the deadliness of common diseases in this period I highly doubt that McLean would be able to serve two full terms).
 
1858 or 1859 might be more realistic than 1857. That said, McLean would be President here - not Fremont - and if a war breaks out he'll have until his death in April 1861 to win it. (It seems he died of pneumonia, maybe that would be butterflied away if he were President. But all the same he'd be 72 upon taking office - the oldest ever US President - and given the normal life expectancy as well as the deadliness of common diseases in this period I highly doubt that McLean would be able to serve two full terms).
Hmm, but would McLean be able to effectively run the war? And who would his Vice-President be?
 
he'd be 72 upon taking office
Given the strain of being PotUS, especially under the circumstances (& even moreso if war starts), would he even live that long? Or die in office & leave his VP to handle the war?

Easy bet Reconstruction would be unrecognizable.:eek: It might be decades of *Quantrill's Raiders, instead.:eek::eek:
 
Top