This illustration was originally done for American History Magazine in 2007 for a series on noteworthy presidential campaigns.

1824 and the “Corrupt Bargain”. The behind-the-scenes stories regarding this election were quite fascinating from the standpoint of establishing the foundations for elections having less to do with the will of the majority and more to do with deal-making and the will of the electoral college. Hence the image of the rug being pulled under Andrew Jackson, who had clearly won the majority of the popular vote. In the illustration, left to right, are William Crawford of Georgia, a leading contender for President who suffered two seriously debilitating strokes during the campaign. It was still a time when the idea of candidates petitioning on their own behalf was considered low class. Crawford’s strokes had little impact on his actual standing as he did not have to make appearances. After the second stroke, he was wrapped in blankets to keep his lower extremities warm. Next to him is Stephen van Rensselaer of New York, Congressman, the founder, in 1824, of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, as well as a major player behind the construction of the Erie Canal. More on him later. Daniel Webster is next. He served as counsel to the Boston branch of the Bank of the United States, which Jackson detested. Webster tried to align himself with Jackson but their differences were too many and too deep. His alliance switched to Henry Clay and John Calhoun. Next is John Quincy Adams whose ambition to become president overrode his abhorrence of making deals, which he quietly made with Henry Clay, promising Clay a major position in his cabinet for his support. Henry Clay, the skilled orator and political operator/deal maker, is next to Adams; Clay and Jackson despised each other. Looming behind them is John Calhoun, another candidate for President who dropped out of the race as he had the least support but was chosen to be the Vice President. With Crawford out and neither Jackson or Adams claiming a majority of electoral votes, the election was thrown back to the House of Representatives. I will quote here from Martin van Buren’s autobiography: “In the House, the vote was tied between Andrew Jackson and John Q. Adams, with only Stephen Van Rensselaer from New York not having voted yet. Van Rensselaer was a strong Crawford supporter, but Crawford had already been eliminated. While everyone was waiting for Van Rensselaer to cast his ballot to break the tie, he leaned forward, closed his eyes, and quietly prayed for a sign indicating which candidate he should write on his ballot. As Van Rensselaer opened his eyes, he spotted a completed ballot on the floor next to him with John Quincy Adams’ name on it. Believing it was truly an answer from God, he picked up the ballot and dropped it into the ballot box, making Adams our 6th president.”