THE ORIGINAL ATTEMPT TO STEAL THE PRESIDENCY Jeffersonian-Style BY PAUL F IN KEL M A N IT WAS THE
FIRST ELECTION OF THE NEW CENTURY.
HAD BEEN TIGHT AND CLOSE.
THE
THE
RACE
INCUMBENT PARTY MIGHT
NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD THE PRESIDENCY, DESPITE RELATIVE PROSPERITY IN THE NATION.
FOR
NATION
KNOWING
WAITED
PRESIDENT. NO
WITHOUT
WEEKS AND WEEKS, THE WHO
WOULD
BE
CANDIDATE HAD A CLEAR MAJORITY OF THE
ELECTORAL VOTES.
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
MIGHT HAVE
BEEN DESIGNED TO INSURE A SMOOTH ELECTION OF THE
PRESIDENT, CRISIS….
BUT IT WAS NOT WORKING.
WITH
THE
NATION WAS IN
NO CERTAIN WINNER, ONE OF THE CANDI-
DATES, WHO WAS THE OUTGOING THE ELECTION WOULD BE
VICE PRESIDENT,
“STOLEN”
FROM HIM.
FEARED
THUS,
THE
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DISCUSSED WITH HIS FRIENDS THE POSSIBILITY OF CALLING ON SYMPATHETIC GOVERNORS TO MOBILIZE STATE MILITIAS TO SECURE HIS TRANSITION TO OFFICE.
POLITICIANS MANEUVERED, RUMORS SPREAD,
ANXIETY ROSE , AND THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION REMAINED IN DOUBT.
THIS
WAS HIGH-STAKES DRAMA , WITH
THE FATE OF THE NATION IN BALANCE.
16