THE MEASURE OF THE MAN

The American electorate is in a Constitutional crisis which is typical of our history. This is the fourth time we have gone through it.

The first was in 1800 when nobody won a majority of the Electoral College, and the House of Representatives had to elect the president. Alexander Hamilton persuaded his friends to elect Thomas Jefferson rather than Aaron Burr. Burr responded as a small man, and shot Hamilton in a duel. The only thing ordinary Americans know about Aaron Burr is that he killed Alexander Hamilton. He became a footnote to our history.

Samuel J. Tilden defeated Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876, but the results were disputed, specifically in Florida and Oregon. The two men made a five-point agreement which included ending the military occupation of the South. Tilden stood aside and let an ad hoc Electoral Commission@ chose Hayes by one vote. Because Tilden acted in strength, the occupation ended, Hayes only served one term, and Tilden was offered his party=s nomination in both 1880 and 1884.

Grover Cleveland won the election of 1888, but Benjamin Harrison won the Electoral College. Cleveland did not contest the election, and won the White House again in 1892.

Richard Nixon did not contest the election of 1960, and he was handed his party=s nomination in 1968.

Dwight Eisenhower took responsibility for the U2 incident, and kept the people=s respect. Jack Kennedy took responsibility for the Bay of Pigs debacle, and kept the people=s respect. Lyndon Johnson refused to accept responsibility for the Vietnam War, and was driven from office. Richard Nixon refused to accept responsibility for the Watergate break in, and was driven from office. Bill Clinton refused to accept responsibility for his zipper, and may have cost Al Gore the election.

The point is that if the candidate who loses Florida is big enough to close the matter he will be the nominee, and probably the president, in 2004. If he whines, he will join Aaron Burr as a footnote in history.

Roger Thomas