deadlock in 1800), Indiana Governor Thomas Hendricks, former Ohio governor William Allen (defeated by Hayes in 1875), General Winfield Hancock, and a few also-rans. The party convention took place in St. Louis in late June. The Tilden campaign touted the candidate’s electability in a general election, emphasizing that New York would be a large, crucial swing state. This was back in the day when, to a large extent, party bosses controlled their state’s delegates, and the Tilden camp was comfortable moving and schmoozing in smoke-filled rooms.
On June 27, the convention’s first day, the Democratic National Committee selected a Tilden supporter as convention president. The next day was given over to approving a platform largely drafted by Tilden’s people. The balloting began on June 29, and on the first ballot Tilden picked up 401.5 votes, easily outpacing the runner-up, Hendricks, who tallied 140.5, but falling well short of the 491 needed for the nomination. Between the first and second ballots, Tilden’s adroit operatives convinced several delegations that their man was the inevitable nominee and that they should cast their lot with him sooner rather than later. On the second ballot, he received 535 votes and the nomination. Hendricks was the virtually unanimous choice for vice president. The Democrats were united by a fervent desire to regain the White House after a long exile, and chose the ticket that seemed best designed for that purpose.
From the beginning, a close contest between Hayes and Tilden was expected. In the wake of several scandals plaguing the outgoing Grant administration, the issue of civil service reform favored Tilden and the Democrats. The Republican platform echoed the Democrats’ call for such reform, but as the candidate of the incumbent party, Hayes needed to do more. With that in mind, he pledged to serve only one term if elected.
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