WI: Washington isn't the first president

I think this has been talked about before, but I thought I'd ask the question again. Let's suppose that after the constitution was created, Washington died before he could be elected president. Who would the Congress elect in his place? Jefferson and Adams sound like obvious choices, but I think they would have been turned down due to how they represented opposite political "parties". Anyways, lemme know what y'all think.
 
Franklin was the other choice even if he 'sherman' himself later on...could work...but a trick Washington become president later?
 
Franklin was the other choice even if he 'sherman' himself later on...could work...but a trick Washington become president later?
I'm not sure what you're saying. But Franklin was very old at that point. Unlikely they'd elect a president they knew would likely die in office.
 
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I'm not sure what you're saying. But Franklin was very old at that point. Unlikely they'd elect a president they knew would likely die in office.

I think that in this case, to "Sherman" means to refuse to run for office.

Despite his age, Franklin would probably be the second choice. He was the second-most prominent American, and he needn't be that active, as the early presidents had much less power than they do now, and the president was more of a caretaker role, making sure that everything ran smoothly.

Other candidates include John Jay, John Hancock, John Adams, George Clinton, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams.

Two very intriguing candidates would be John Paul Jones and Thomas Paine.

From hindsight, we know that the first president would set precedents for the following presidents. Therefore, whoever held the job first would take the presidency - and the nation - in his own direction. While Jay, Hancock, and J. Adams would be more or less similar to Washington, Clinton, Henry, Jones, and Paine would take the nation in an entirely different direction.
 
I think that in this case, to "Sherman" means to refuse to run for office.

Despite his age, Franklin would probably be the second choice. He was the second-most prominent American, and he needn't be that active, as the early presidents had much less power than they do now, and the president was more of a caretaker role, making sure that everything ran smoothly.

Other candidates include John Jay, John Hancock, John Adams, George Clinton, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams.

Two very intriguing candidates would be John Paul Jones and Thomas Paine.

From hindsight, we know that the first president would set precedents for the following presidents. Therefore, whoever held the job first would take the presidency - and the nation - in his own direction. While Jay, Hancock, and J. Adams would be more or less similar to Washington, Clinton, Henry, Jones, and Paine would take the nation in an entirely different direction.
May I ask what who you think the Congress would likely elect? I still can't imagine Congress electing such an old man like Franklin, but who knows. I agree that Franklin had the abilities and the political sway with other nations, but he'd also he the first president to die in office.
 
May I ask what who you think the Congress would likely elect? I still can't imagine Congress electing such an old man like Franklin, but who knows. I agree that Franklin had the abilities and the political sway with other nations, but he'd also he the first president to die in office.

Congress doesn't elect the President - the Electoral College does.

It is true that Franklin would die into his first term. However, since the next presidential election is only half a year away, there isn't much of a problem there The question is, does his VP accept the position of "acting president" or does he try to win recognition as full president, like Tyler did? Before Tyler, the vice president's succession was not that clear in the Constitution. It would provide an oppertunity for the Framers to address that issue.

Also, could James Madison be the first president? He was the Father of the Constitution after all.

Not likely. He was very young (only 37 at the time, two years over the minimum age), and would have probably been forced to step aside. The only pre-1792 path to office is if he becomes Franklin's VP (which may happen) and ascends that way.

Also, before the question inevitably gets raised, Jefferson would not have run - he was the Ambassador to France since 1785, so he would be a bit preoccupied. That being said, it would be interesting if he would still get the position of Secretary of State after he returns home in 1789.
 
Hmm, personally I'm partial to someone like Jay probably being the first president, but the idea of having someone like Clinton being the first also is interesting...
 
Yes I know the college elects the president, my mistake.
Congress doesn't elect the President - the Electoral College does.

It is true that Franklin would die into his first term. However, since the next presidential election is only half a year away, there isn't much of a problem there The question is, does his VP accept the position of "acting president" or does he try to win recognition as full president, like Tyler did? Before Tyler, the vice president's succession was not that clear in the Constitution. It would provide an oppertunity for the Framers to address that issue.



Not likely. He was very young (only 37 at the time, two years over the minimum age), and would have probably been forced to step aside. The only pre-1792 path to office is if he becomes Franklin's VP (which may happen) and ascends that way.

Also, before the question inevitably gets raised, Jefferson would not have run - he was the Ambassador to France since 1785, so he would be a bit preoccupied. That being said, it would be interesting if he would still get the position of Secretary of State after he returns home in 1789.
 
Do you have any predictions on the potential first president in this scenario?

Hard to say. With Jefferson out of the picture, it's probably between Adams and Madison, esp if Franklin doesn't want to be considered. But exactly what happens in the HoR is anybody's guess.
 
I believe that John Hancock planned on running until Washington was named to be in the running.

Hancock was the Governor of Massachusetts and if we take that to be an indicator of how he would act as president, expect a very hands off approach. Hancock's term as governor saw him do as little as possible, and trying his hardest to avoid controversial issues as much as possible.
 
John Jay would be my bet. A foreign policy leader who also helped frame the constitution would be what the US would think it needed

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
What precedents do you think someone like Jay would set? I imagine term limits could be different depending on how many times Jay decides to run.
John Jay would be my bet. A foreign policy leader who also helped frame the constitution would be what the US would think it needed

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
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