The election of 1892 was another Presidential rematch.

The Rematch Election

Sitting Republican President Benjamin Harrison was poised to seek a second term – against Democratic ex-President Grover Cleveland, who held the position from 1885-9.

Grover Cleveland, the opponent.

Grover Cleveland was generally well considered – even by Republicans. He was conservative, stable, of good judgement and character, and fairly accessible. His biggest problem was that he was a Democrat – and it was barely 20 years since the Civil War. The Democrats were still perceived to be the party of rebellion – and traitors. It was anathema to many that a Democrat could hold the highest office in the country.

So in 1888, the Republicans ran Benjamin Harrison, also conservative, stable, of good judgement and character, and fairly accessible. He was also a Midwesterner (Indiana), a Union Brigadier General, and possessed of a superb name and lineage. The Republicans waved the “bloody shirt” again and Harrison won.

Young Carrie Harrison

But it was a squeaker. He won the electoral votes, but lost the popular votes by less than 100,000 out of 10 million cast.

Benjamin Harrison, a cool fellow of limited personal skills, proved to be a solid, albeit uninspiring POTUS. He could list a few accomplishment, including having six new stars added to the flag – the most of any one-term president since the country began.

As an aside about early election campaigns. Until the 20^th century, it was considered self-serving, unbecoming and indeed tacky, for a candidate to actively seek election, believing that the office should seek the man. Both spoke little, and relied on their supporters and associates to propel their candidacy.

Now, in 1892, a rematch election was up for grabs.

President and Mrs. Harrison

Caroline Scott Harrison

Benjamin and Caroline Harrison had married young. Only twenty. Despite the solid lineage of Harrisons, their financial status was meager. His law practice struggled. It took more than a decade before he was able to support his family comfortably. And, with limited funds, two children, and Ben’s cool persona, the ups and downs of marriage took a toll.

General Benjamin Harrison

General Benjamin Harrison

When the Civil War began, Ben Harrison hung a flag from his window and raised a regiment, awarding him a Governor-appointed colonelcy, enough to send home a paycheck each month, along with truly affectionate letters to his wife.

But Carrie was a talented Homemaker First Class, and enjoyed domesticity. She cooked, sewed, gardened, decorated, and painted water colors. She also sang in the choir, joined a woman’s club and became its president, bought a small kiln and gave lessons in china painting – the new rage after the Civil War. Bustles became fashionable, and Carrie was a bustling lady.

The Harrison home in Indianapolis.

The marriage improved, and both found their niches in Indianapolis life. Politics beckoned, and bland persona notwithstanding, Benjamin Harrison was a hit. All the way to the White House.

FLOTUS Harrison

Most early First Ladies were homebodies by inclination, plus the fact that few opportunities were available to make them shine. They were content to put home and family first, and take their bows as Mrs. President.

The DAR portrait

Carrie, was truly a homemaker, and bustled through the White House, actually making a difference, and leaving a record of accomplishment. She insisted on a major upgrade to the House itself, something that had not been done for decades, including electric lights.

She entertained graciously, supervising a well-run kitchen, bountiful flora in the conservatory, all the niceties of FLOTUSdom, vis-à-vis the appropriate notes, letters, bouquets and invitations.

Then there was her serious interest in collecting and researching the remnants of previous White House dinner services…

In 1890, when the Daughters of the American Revolution established their organization (since the new Sons of the American Revolution denied them membership), she was number 7 on their membership list. She was delighted to serve as their first President General, squeezing one more activity into her busy bustling schedule.

Early 1892

Carrie’s health, like other Victorian women, had its limitations. She had a bout or two with pneumonia – never to be taken lightly. A fall had added to the aches and pains of natural aging. She was 58 when she became First Lady, one of our oldest till that time.

Nevertheless, she was surprised when her normal energies began flagging in the winter of 1891, and medical attention was required. There are a few sources that claim she had pneumonia. Some said typhoid. Both of them were serious illnesses, but most sources concurr that she had consumption, what is now called tuberculosis. Prior to WWII, it was a killer. Very few survived, although there were many who languished with it for decades.

Carrie’s health failed rapidly, and in 1892, there was no cure, and the only treatment per se, was a cool climate and nourishing diet. By early July, when fluid collecting in the First Lady’s chest complicated her already serious condition, she was sent to a cottage at Loon Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. The President accompanied her on the train, along with her personal doctor, and her widowed niece, Mary Dimmick. Other family members arrived a few days later. The POTUS only remained for a few days, since Congress was in session, but once it adjourned in August, he returned to her side.

For a brief time, she showed improvement, enough to take an occasional carriage ride, but by September, she had declined precipitously. The President (already nominated for a second term), began cancelling engagements, preoccupied with his wife’s health. By September 20, the decision was made to bring her back to the White House, according to her own wishes.

She was carried on a stretcher and placed on a cot in a wagon, to take her on a slow four-mile journey to the depot, and gently carried aboard the train to Washington.

Once back in the White House, she rallied briefly, but by then, Benjamin Harrison’s heart was not in the campaign for re-election. He cancelled more appearances.

On October 25, she died.

On Tuesday, November 8, Benjamin Harrison lost the election. It wasn’t that much of a squeaker. Some said he no longer cared.

Sources:

Caroli, Betty Boyd – First Ladies: An Intimate Look at How 38 Women Handled what may be the most Demanding, Unpaid, Unelected Job in America – Oxford University Press, 1995

Foster, Feather Schwartz – The First Ladies from Martha Washington to Mamie Eisenhower – Sourcebooks, 2011

https://millercenter.org/president/bharrison/campaigns-and-elections

http://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2014/09/a-first-ladys-failed-adirondack-cure/

http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=24

https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-life-and-presidency-of-benjamin-harrison