The accidental presidency of John Tyler became the story of one dramatic turn after another. He ascended to the presidency on 4/6/1841, two days after the death of Pres. William Henry Harrison. As President, Tyler established the precedent that a Vice President assuming the Presidency will not call a special presidential election.

Before his death, Pres. Harrison had called Congress into session on 5/31/1841, seven months earlier than usual. The Whigs have strong majorities in both the Senate and House. Sen. Henry Clay introduced a series of bills to enact the Whig agenda from the 1840 campaign. Congress passed a bill establishing the Bank of the United States on 8/6/1841, and on 8/13/1841 Congress repealed the Independent Treasury Act. President Tyler incredibly vetoed the bank bill on 8/16/1841. Lacking the votes to override the veto, Congress passed a watered-down bank bill on 9/3/1841, which Tyler vetoed on 9/9/1841. Two days later, the entire Cabinet except for SOS Daniel Webster resigned in protest.

Gridlock between the President and Congress continued into 1842. A frustrated Henry Clay resigned from the Senate on 3/31/1842 rather than attempting to work with the obstinate President.

Meanwhile, Tyler scored a series of foreign policy victories. The Webster-Ashburton treaty settled the disputed boundary between Maine and Canada. Congress on three occasions passed new tariff bills, and Tyler vetoed all three. By early 18

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The accidental presidency of John Tyler became the story of one dramatic turn after another. He ascended to the presidency on 4/6/1841, two days after the death of Pres. William Henry Harrison. As President, Tyler established the precedent that a Vice President assuming the Presidency will not call a special presidential election.

Before his death, Pres. Harrison had called Congress into session on 5/31/1841, seven months earlier than usual. The Whigs have strong majorities in both the Senate and House. Sen. Henry Clay introduced a series of bills to enact the Whig agenda from the 1840 campaign. Congress passed a bill establishing the Bank of the United States on 8/6/1841, and on 8/13/1841 Congress repealed the Independent Treasury Act. President Tyler incredibly vetoed the bank bill on 8/16/1841. Lacking the votes to override the veto, Congress passed a watered-down bank bill on 9/3/1841, which Tyler vetoed on 9/9/1841. Two days later, the entire Cabinet except for SOS Daniel Webster resigned in protest.

Gridlock between the President and Congress continued into 1842. A frustrated Henry Clay resigned from the Senate on 3/31/1842 rather than attempting to work with the obstinate President.

Meanwhile, Tyler scored a series of foreign policy victories. The Webster-Ashburton treaty settled the disputed boundary between Maine and Canada. Congress on three occasions passed new tariff bills, and Tyler vetoed all three. By early 1843, Tyler was working on building public support for the annexation of Texas. With this move, SOS Daniel Webster resigned, ending the last vestiges of Harrison's Cabinet. Pursuing the annexation was put on hold for two months when Santa Anna announced on 8/23/1844 that an annexation would be considered an act of war against Mexico.

In the mid-term elections of 1842-1843, the public had an opportunity to weigh in on the impasse between Congress and Tyler. The Democrats took control of the House, defeating 23 incumbents and gaining a majority of 142-65 with 4 from minor parties. The Whigs maintained their 29-23 margin in the Senate.

President Tyler desired a second term. He had no hope of obtaining the Whig nomination, as throughout 1843 both Clay and Webster jockeyed for position for that nomination. Furthermore, Tyler's attempt to create a loyal following regardless of the two parties offended most politicians of both parties. Throughout 1843, however, his appointees held public gatherings to encourage the upcoming Democratic National Convention to consider his candidacy. The New Hampshire Patriot, a Democratic newspaper, reported on 5/18/1843 that many Democratic newspapers were starting to come out against a Democratic endorsement of the President. In the state Democratic conventions of 1843-1844, Tyler's forces were unable to win a single pledged delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

National Democratic Tyler Convention

The National Democrat Tyler Party Convention assembled in Calvert Hall, Baltimore MD, at the same time as the Democratic National Convention (5/27-28/1844), which meant that the city's hotels were full. When the convention assembled at noon, delegations appeared from NY, OH, VA, PA, MD, CT, and NJ. At the head of the meeting room, a large portrait of President Tyler appeared over the words "Re-Annexation of Texas: Postponement is Rejection."

Temporary Chairman: William Shaler NY

Permanent Chairman: Joel W. White CT

After choosing its officers, the convention moved immediately to nominate John Tyler for President. He was nominated without opposition, and no roll call was taken. However, when Tyler's name was first offered, some New York delegates stated that they still hoped for an agreement of some kind with the Democratic convention. A delegate from Virginia offered a resolution that neither convention make a nomination until later in the year, but the delegate was shouted down. [New York Herald, 5/29/1844]

On the second day of the convention, a committee of seven was chosen to select a suitable candidate for vice president; the committee would announce its decision when it was ready. The convention then adjourned sine die.

The Campaign

Tyler was at first enthusiastic about his chances. His address accepting their nomination was referenced in the New Hampsire Patriot and State Gazette on 6/6/1844, but the paper did not print the text of Tyler's letter. Tyler spent much of the summer with his new bride and their honeymoon in New York City. While there, he discovered that his support was quite soft. He wrote a letter in which he withdrew from the race around 8/25/1844; it was announced in several newspapers on 8/29/1844, including the New-Hampshire Patriot and State Gazette, the Berkshire County Whig, and the Barre Gazette. The NHPSG stated that Tyler withdrew for fear that his candidacy would divide the anti-Clay vote and possibly elect him.

Popular Vote of 1844

Electoral Vote of 1844

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