Mailbag: Presidential elections were contentious following the Republic’s birth
After serving two terms as president, George Washington stepped down from political office and returned to his private life and work. By this action he set the precedent of serving for only two terms in public service.
Until recent years, this tradition of resuming one’s private life and previous career had been the norm. Today, however, career politicians often serve for life, and this has resulted in many of the inefficiencies and inadequacies of government today.
Political parties became more entrenched during the Washington Administration and reflected the primary differences between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, that is, the difference between those who advocated a strong centralized government as found by those living predominantly in New England with shipping and manufacturing and the Anti-Federalist coalition, known as the Democratic-Republican, who preferred a more decentralized states-rights position and favored the agrarian economy as found predominantly in the South.
Washington’s vice president, John Adams of Massachusetts, became the candidate for the Federalist Party ticket. Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina was the next most popular Federalist. The secretary of state, Thomas Jefferson, ran on the Democratic-Republican ticket with Aaron Burr of New York as the second most popular candidate from that party. Each man ran alone, as there were no running mates.
While there was no heavy campaigning from the candidates themselves, as this would be unseemly, the campaign on both sides was especially vitriolic. The Federalists, for example, tried to identify the Republicans with the violence of the French Revolution. Jefferson was particularly fond of the French and had favored them, at first, in their conflicts with the British, but had changed his opinion of them after the alarming violence of the French Revolution.
On the other hand, the Republicans accused the Federalists and Adams of favoring the British with their monarchy and strong aristocratic class. They were also opposed to the treaty with Britain, Jay’s Treaty, even though it had kept the young nation out of war with the British, at least for the time being. The Republicans also resented the strong centralized banking system which Alexander Hamilton had established to put the country on a sound fiscal footing, earning the respect of foreign nations. So there were serious differences and animosities between the two groups.
Life is full of ironies and surprises, however. When the Electoral College votes came in, Adams received the most votes and Jefferson received the second-highest number of electoral votes. This meant that Adams, the Federalist, became the new president while Thomas Jefferson, the Democratic Republican, became the new vice president!
Needless to say, there were ill-feelings throughout this administration, and these ill feelings remained until close to the end of their lives when they finally resumed their friendship. It is interesting to note that both men died on the same day, July 4, 1825, on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, an event in which they had both participated.
To solve this dilemma of the president and vice president being elected from different parties, the 12th Amendment was adopted and ratified in 1804. Candidates for president and vice president would now run on the same ticket so this was not an issue again.
Sherry Nord Marron
Newport Beach
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Quote was offensive to Laguna readers
I understand, for efficiency, you needed to combine the Coastline Pilot, H.B. Independent and Daily Pilot. I’ve lived in Laguna for 17 years, after five in Costa Mesa and 26 in Newport. As hopefully you realize, the communities have profoundly different cultures.
What I absolutely do not understand is how you could cover the presidential election with an article on Nov. 11, “Newport Republicans hold their noses and vote for Trump,” quoting people saying Clinton represents “some of the darkest forces of our nation” and “evil.” Laguna voted 52.8% for Clinton, 31.9% for Trump. For many, the hurt of the loss is deep. Rubbing salt in the wounds with your choice of quotes is not helpful.
Sherry Loofbourrow
Laguna Beach
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Kids’ participation in cartoon contest
It was rather bizarre to be publicly scolded from the dais at a recent City Council meeting for inviting high school students to exercise their 1st Amendment rights by expressing their views on issues in the local election.
These kids will be voting soon. We want them paying attention to the workings of government at all levels, especially City Council, where they have a chance to make a difference. How better to involve them than asking them to draw a political cartoon on a local issue that affects them?
The young people who participated in the Costa MesSED UP cartoon contest live on the city’s Westside. They have strong feelings about the gentrification in their neighborhoods that is displacing families and causing much fear among their friends and neighbors. It’s ironic the mayor pro tem wants to protect the kids from political cartooning but not from the ills of the policies he and his allies on council have been pursuing for the last four years.
Kathy Esfahani
Costa Mesa
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A poem about the election
Election 2016
Election! Have we ever seen,
Such wretched, sad, decorum?
The false reports! The lies! The spin!
Not fit for public forum!
We hear the news in disbelief,
Could this get worse? We wonder!
Their shameful speech brings constant grief!
Such lightning; and such thunder!
Most media have just caved in,
No longer true reporters!
They’re anxious now, to add their spin!
Spurred on by others’ orders!
Why not return, and use their tools,
Without their added spinning?
We’re sick of being played for fools!
It’s clear; they’re bent on winning!
So, tell me: Would they want their friends,
To forge a lie, to catch them?
To hide the truth, for their own ends?
Manipulate, or steer them?
Well, what can “We the people” do,
To heal our nation’s future?
A brand-new heart? New conscience too?
A stitch in time; or suture?
It can’t be just “the other guy”,
We blame as we’re declining!
But also, me! Myself! And I!
Can use some real refining!
In truth is where real freedoms rise!
It’s worth the cost to find it!
It’s there that we gain opened eyes!
If otherwise — we’re blinded!
David Edson Zwicker
Costa Mesa