How would you have voted?: United States Presidential Elections

[darklordoftech]

1984: Mondale.
1988: H.W. Bush.

A Mondale-Bush voter? What’s your reasoning for each vote?

[Calthrina950]

1984: Mondale.
1988: H.W. Bush.

A Mondale-Bush voter? What’s your reasoning for each vote?

Bush in my view, was the last Republican of the "pre-Reagan" mold-even though he was of course Reagan's Vice-President. When I first posted my voting choices, I actually marked my 1980/84 votes for Reagan. But I've changed my stances since.

[RINO Tom]

I think I have said this before, but it actually still surprises me how many Democrats would have voted for Eisenhower.  I mean, taking away the fact that Ike was actually a pretty standard mainstream conservative for the time, Stevenson was a decidedly "liberal" Democrat.  I know Ike has gained a (well-deserved!) great reputation over the years, but this isn't exactly like picking Coolidge over Davis.  Perhaps it's because of Stevenson's VP pick to placate the South, but no one usually has a real problem with FDR or Truman throwing the Southern Democrats' bones.  I'd have to imagine it's just Eisenhower's personal popularity, but I think a lot of Democrats would like him a lot less during the time period, as party loyalty on that side of the aisle was likely at an all-time high.

[Sumner 1868]

1824: John Quincy Adams
1828: John Quincy Adams
1832: William Wirt
1836: No idea
1840: James Birney
1844: James Birney
1848: Gerrit Smith
1852: John Hale
1856: John C. Frémont
1860: Abraham Lincoln
1864: Abraham Lincoln
1868: Ulysses Grant
1872: Ulysses Grant
1876: Peter Cooper
1880: James B. Weaver
1884: Benjamin Butler
1888: Alson Streeter
1892: James B. Weaver
1896: Charles Matchett

[Mr. Smith]

I think I have said this before, but it actually still surprises me how many Democrats would have voted for Eisenhower.  I mean, taking away the fact that Ike was actually a pretty standard mainstream conservative for the time, Stevenson was a decidedly "liberal" Democrat.  I know Ike has gained a (well-deserved!) great reputation over the years, but this isn't exactly like picking Coolidge over Davis.  Perhaps it's because of Stevenson's VP pick to placate the South, but no one usually has a real problem with FDR or Truman throwing the Southern Democrats' bones.  I'd have to imagine it's just Eisenhower's personal popularity, but I think a lot of Democrats would like him a lot less during the time period, as party loyalty on that side of the aisle was likely at an all-time high.

"Standard mainstream conservative" in those times was a bajillion times more liberal in many ways than today by default.

And yeah, it's hard to argue against the one billed as the second coming of George Washington himself.

But given the heavy civil rights and peacenik slants here, and between the Veep pick, and Truman committing 'Nam before 'Nam; along with allowing the CIA to form; and along with starting up the Cold War ...is it really a surprise then that someone planning to get out of Korea and not so blatantly playing The South would get the benefit of the doubt?

[Joe Haydn]

I think I have said this before, but it actually still surprises me how many Democrats would have voted for Eisenhower.  I mean, taking away the fact that Ike was actually a pretty standard mainstream conservative for the time, Stevenson was a decidedly "liberal" Democrat.  I know Ike has gained a (well-deserved!) great reputation over the years, but this isn't exactly like picking Coolidge over Davis.  Perhaps it's because of Stevenson's VP pick to placate the South, but no one usually has a real problem with FDR or Truman throwing the Southern Democrats' bones.  I'd have to imagine it's just Eisenhower's personal popularity, but I think a lot of Democrats would like him a lot less during the time period, as party loyalty on that side of the aisle was likely at an all-time high.

In my case, it's a question of choosing between the guy who was supported by Henry Wallace and Claude Pepper, or the doughface who chose Southerners (the first an avid segregationist) as his running mates.

[RINO Tom]

I think I have said this before, but it actually still surprises me how many Democrats would have voted for Eisenhower.  I mean, taking away the fact that Ike was actually a pretty standard mainstream conservative for the time, Stevenson was a decidedly "liberal" Democrat.  I know Ike has gained a (well-deserved!) great reputation over the years, but this isn't exactly like picking Coolidge over Davis.  Perhaps it's because of Stevenson's VP pick to placate the South, but no one usually has a real problem with FDR or Truman throwing the Southern Democrats' bones.  I'd have to imagine it's just Eisenhower's personal popularity, but I think a lot of Democrats would like him a lot less during the time period, as party loyalty on that side of the aisle was likely at an all-time high.

"Standard mainstream conservative" in those times was a bajillion times more liberal in many ways than today by default.

And yeah, it's hard to argue against the one billed as the second coming of George Washington himself.

But given the heavy civil rights and peacenik slants here, and between the Veep pick, and Truman committing 'Nam before 'Nam; along with allowing the CIA to form; and along with starting up the Cold War ...is it really a surprise then that someone planning to get out of Korea and not so blatantly playing The South would get the benefit of the doubt?

Eh, I would disagree with the first assertion.  As for the last part, I have read quite a bit about how Eisenhower was eager and excited to court the South.  I mean, his campaign spent a lot more time courting Southern Whites than they did Black voters, for example.  Eisenhower was also apparently quite better than Black voters gave a majority to Stevenson both times, considering both Stevenson's VP pick and Eisenhower's endorsement of (admittedly timid) civil rights legislation.

I think Eisenhower has gone down in history as much less conservative than he was.  I remember reading in the book The Presidents Club that Truman and he had a permanent falling out when Truman figured out just how partisanly Republican and conservative he was.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

In my case, it's a question of choosing between the guy who was supported by Richard Nixon and Joe McCarthy, or the progressive who chose Southerners (the second an avid anti-segregationist) as his running mates.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Eh, I would disagree with the first assertion.  As for the last part, I have read quite a bit about how Eisenhower was eager and excited to court the South.  I mean, his campaign spent a lot more time courting Southern Whites than they did Black voters, for example.

Eisenhower lost South Carolina by 4,922 votes (1.44%) in 1952, thanks in part to endorsements from Jimmy Byrnes and Strom Thurmond (!!!). He carried four former Confederate states that year, and added a fifth in 1956. The notion that he didn't actively court white Southerners is absurd.

[TDAS04]

1856: Fremont
1860: Lincoln
1864: Lincoln
1868: Grant
1872: Grant
1876: Hayes
1880: Garfield
1884: Cleveland
1888: Cleveland
1892: Cleveland
1896: Bryan
1900: Bryan
1904: Roosevelt
1908: Taft
1912: Taft
1916: Hughes
1920: Harding
1924: La Follette
1928: Smith
1932: Roosevelt
1936: Roosevelt
1940: Roosevelt
1944: Roosevelt
1948: Truman
1952: Eisenhower
1956: Eisenhower
1960: Kennedy
1964: Johnson
1968: Humphrey
1972: McGovern
1976: Carter
1980: Carter
1984: Mondale
1988: Dukakis
1992: Clinton
1996: Clinton
2000: Gore
2004: Kerry
2008: Obama
2012: Obama
2016: Clinton
2020: Biden

[TDAS04]

I’m a bit conflicted about 1952 and 1956.  They’re close calls for me, but my votes for Ike do in large part have to do with respect for his figure.  Also, as someone with a bit of an independent streak, maybe I’d be willing to vote for a Republican after 20 years of Democrats holding the presidency, especially a relatively moderate one.

However, Ike may actually be a bit overrated on this forum.  He was a bit cowardly on civil rights and his administration did some pretty bad things in foreign policy (not sure to what extant Ike disagreed with Dulles).  Still, he was an above-average president.

[darklordoftech]

What was Stevenson’s platform?

[Kingpoleon]

Link to last

1976: Gerald Ford
1980: Jimmy Carter
1984: Ronald Reagan
1988: George Bush
1992: Ross Perot
1996: Bob Dole
2000: Al Gore
2004: David Cobb*
2008: John McCain
2012: Mitt Romney
2016: Evan McMullin

[ChrisMcDanielWasRobbed]

All the republican nominees, except 1912 where I would have voted Roosevelt and 1968 where I would have voted for Wallace.

[Chips]

1976: Gerald Ford
1980: John B. Anderson
1984: Ronald Reagan
1988: Abstain
1992: Ross Perot

Actual votes:

1996: Ross Perot
2000: Ralph Nader
2004: Abstain
2008: Barack Obama
2012: Gary Johnson
2016: Donald Trump
2020: Lean Jo Jorgensen

[The Right Honourable Martin Brian Mulroney PC CC GOQ]

I'm not even gonna try pre-1820

1820: Monroe
1824: Clay
1828: Adams
1832: Clay
1836: One of the Whigs
1840: Harrison
1844: Clay
1852: Scott
1856: Fremont
1860: Lincoln
1864: Lincoln
1868: Grant
1872: Grant
1876: Hard to say, I'll go with Tilden
1880: Garfield
1884: Blaine
1888: Harrison
1892: Harrison
1896: Bryan
1900: McKinley
1904: Roosevelt
1908: Taft
1912: Roosevelt
1916: Wilson without hindsight, Hughes with
1920: Harding
1924: La Follette
1928: Hoover without hindsight, if I had hindsight, probably abstained or third party
1932: FDR
1936: FDR
1940: FDR
1944: FDR
1948: Truman
1952: Eisenhower (possibly Stevenson without hindsight)
1956: Eisenhower
1960: JFK
1964: Johnson
1968: Humphrey
1972: McGovern
1976: Carter
1980: Anderson without hindsight, Carter with
1984: Mondale
1988: Dukakis
1992: Clinton
1996: Clinton
2000: Gore
2004: Kerry
2008: Obama
2012: Obama
2016: Clinton
2020: Biden

[Goldwater]

(Trying my best to vote without hindsight)

1952: Dwight Eisenhower
1956: Dwight Eisenhower
1960: John F. Kennedy
1964: Barry Goldwater
1968: Richard Nixon
1972: Richard Nixon
1976: Gerald Ford
1980: Ronald Reagan
1984: Ronald Reagan
1988: George H.W. Bush
1992: Bill Clinton
1996: Bill Clinton
2000: Al Gore
2004: George W. Bush
2008: John McCain
2012: Barack Obama
2016: Gary Johnson (IRL vote)
2020: Joe Biden (IRL vote)

Expanding on that:
1948: Harry Truman
1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1940: Wendell Willkie
1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1928: Al Smith
1924: Calvin Coolidge
1920: Warren Harding
1916:Charles Hughes
1912: Woodrow Wilson
1908: William Howard Taft
1904: Theodore Roosevelt
1900: William McKinley
1896: William McKinley
1892: Grover Cleveland
1888: Grover Cleveland
1884: Grover Cleveland
1880: James A. Garfield
1876: Rutherford B. Hayes
1872: Ulysses S. Grant
1868: Ulysses S. Grant
1864: Abraham Lincoln
1960: Abraham Lincoln
1856: John C. Frémont
1852: Winfield Scott
1848: Zachary Taylor
1844: James K. Polk
1840: William Henry Harrison
1836: Martin Van Buren
1832: Andrew Jackson
1828: Andrew Jackson
1824: Andrew Jackson
1820: James Monroe
1816: James Monroe
1812: James Madison
1808: James Madison
1804: Thomas Jefferson
1800: Thomas Jefferson
1796: Thomas Jefferson
1792: George Washington
1788-89: George Washington


Of course the older the election, the less sure I can be about my vote, especially since I'm trying to do these without hindsight.

[sofaboi]

1828-1852: National Republican/Whig nominee
1856-2012: Republican nominee

2016: Hillary Clinton
2020: Joe Biden

[Mr. Smith]

Okay UPDATED...I'll stick with just the 3rd Party system

1856: Abstain
1860: Lincoln
1864: Lincoln
1868: Grant
1872: Grant
1876: Hayes
1880: Garfield
1884: Cleveland
1888: B. Harrison
1892: Weaver
1896: Bryan
1900: Bryan
1904: T. Roosevelt
1908: Bryan
1912: Wilson
1916: Wilson
1920: Cox
1924: LaFollette
1928: Hoover
1932: F. Roosevelt
1936: F. Roosevelt
1940: F. Roosevelt
1944: F. Roosevelt
1948: Truman
1952: Eisenhower
1956: Eisenhower
1960: Nixon
1964: L. Johnson
1968: Humphrey
1972: McGovern
1976: Carter
1980: Carter
1984: Mondale
1988: Dukakis
1992: B. Clinton
1996: Abstain
2000: Gore
2004: Kerry
2008: Obama
2012: OBAMA [ACTUAL VOTE]
2016: H. CLINTON
2020: HAWKINS

[KaiserDave]

All without hindsight and considering the cultural and geographic location of past KaiserDave, though there are some where hindsight changes things (1916 is an example).

Updated Routinely, updates noted

1789: George Washington (Independent)
1792: George Washington (Independent)
1796: Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican)
1800: Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican)
1804: Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican)
1808: James Madison (Democratic-Republican)
1812: James Madison (Democratic-Republican)
1816: James Monroe (Democratic-Republican)
1820: James Monroe (Democratic-Republican)
1824: John Quincy Adams (National Republican)
1828: John Quincy Adams (National Republican)
1832: Henry Clay (National Republican)
1836: Martin Van Buren (Democratic)
1840: Martin Van Buren (Democratic) 1840: James Birney (Liberty)
1844: Henry Clay (Whig) 1844: James Birney (Liberty)
1848: Martin Van Buren (Free Soil)
1852: Winfield Scott (Whig) 1852: John Hale (Free Soil)
1856: John Fremont (Republican)
1860: Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
1864: Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
1868: Ulysses S. Grant (Republican)
1872: Ulysses S. Grant (Republican)
1876: Peter Cooper (Greenback)
1880: James A. Garfield (Republican)
1884: Benjamin Butler (Greenback)
1888: Benjamin Harrison (Republican)
1892: James Weaver (Populist)
1896: William Jennings Bryan (Democratic)
1900: William Jennings Bryan (Democratic)
1904: Theodore Roosevelt (Republican)
1908: William Howard Taft (Republican)
1912: Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive)
1916: Woodrow Wilson (Democratic)
1920: Warren Harding (Republican)
1924: Robert La Follette (Progressive)
1928: Al Smith (Democratic)
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic)
1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic)
1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic)
1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic)
1948: Harry S. Truman (Democratic)
1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican)
1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican)
1960: John F. Kennedy (Democratic)
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic)
1968: Hubert H. Humphrey (Democratic)
1972: George McGovern (Democratic)
1976: Jimmy Carter (Democratic)
1980: Jimmy Carter (Democratic)
1984: Walter Mondale (Democratic)
1988: Michael Dukakis (Democratic)
1992: Bill Clinton (Democratic)
1996: Bill Clinton (Democratic)
2000: Al Gore (Democratic)
2004: John Kerry (Democratic)
2008: Barack Obama (Democratic)
2012: Barack Obama (Democratic)
2016: Hillary Clinton (Democratic)
2020: Joe Biden (Democratic)

Party System Membership
1792-1824: Democratic Republican
1824-1848: Anti-Jacksonian/National Republican/Whig*
1848-1855: Free Soil
1855-1929: Republican
1929-Present: Democratic


*I'd be a real WINO though

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

without hindsight
1789: Washington
1792: Washington
1796: Jefferson
1800: Jefferson
1804: Jefferson
1808: Madison
1812: Madison
1816: Monroe
1820: Monroe
1824: Clay
1828: Jackson
1832: Clay
1836: Van Buren
1840: Van Buren
1844: Clay
1848: Taylor
1852: Scott
1856: Buchanan
1860: Lincoln
1864: Lincoln
1868: Grant
1872: Grant
1876: Tilden
1880: Hancock
1884: Cleveland
1888: Cleveland
1892: Cleveland
1896: Bryan
1900: Bryan
1904: T. Roosevelt
1908: Bryan
1912: Wilson
1916: Wilson
1920: Cox
1924: LaFollette
1928: Smith
1932: F. Roosevelt
1936: F. Roosevelt
1940: F. Roosevelt
1944: F. Roosevelt
1948: Truman
1952: Eisenhower
1956: Eisenhower
1960: Kennedy
1964: L. Johnson
1968: Humphrey
1972: McGovern
1976: Ford
1980: Carter
1984: Mondale
1988: Dukakis
1992: Clinton
1996: Clinton
2000: Gore
2004: Kerry
2008: Obama
2012: Obama
2016: Clinton
2020: Biden

[Horus]

1860-1928 - GOP
1932-1944 - Dem
1948-1960 - GOP
1964-2020 - Dem

[JA]

Updated Results

General Election Vote
1788: George Washington
1792: George Washington
1796: Thomas Jefferson
1800: Thomas Jefferson
1804: Charles Pinckney
1808: Charles Pinckney
1812: DeWitt Clinton
1816: Rufus King
1820: No candidate
1824: John Q. Adams
1828: John Q. Adams
1832: Henry Clay
1836: Martin Van Buren
1840: Martin Van Buren
1844: Henry Clay
1848: Martin Van Buren
1852: John Parker Hale
1856: John C. Fremont
1860: Abraham Lincoln
1864: Abraham Lincoln
1868: Ulysses S. Grant
1872: Ulysses S. Grant
1876: Rutherford B. Hayes
1880: James B. Weaver
1884: Grover Cleveland
1888: Benjamin Harrison
1892: James B. Weaver
1896: William J. Bryan
1900: William J. Bryan
1904: Eugene V. Debs
1908: William J. Bryan
1912: Eugene V. Debs
1916: Woodrow Wilson
1920: Eugene V. Debs
1924: Robert M. La Follette
1928: Al Smith
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1948: Henry Wallace
1952: Adlai Stevenson
1956: Adlai Stevenson
1960: John F. Kennedy
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson
1968: Hubert Humphrey
1972: George McGovern
1976: Jimmy Carter
1980: John B. Anderson
1984: Walter Mondale
1988: Michael Dukakis
1992: Bill Clinton
1996: Bill Clinton
2000: Al Gore
2004: John Kerry
2008: Barack Obama
2012: Barack Obama
2016: Hillary Clinton
2020: Joe Biden

[Joe Haydn]

Updated Results

General Election Vote
1788: George Washington
1792: George Washington
1796: Thomas Jefferson
1800: Thomas Jefferson
1804: Charles Pinckney
1808: Charles Pinckney
1812: DeWitt Clinton
1816: Rufus King
1820: No candidate
1824: John Q. Adams
1828: John Q. Adams
1832: Henry Clay
1836: Martin Van Buren
1840: Martin Van Buren
1844: Henry Clay
1848: Martin Van Buren
1852: John Parker Hale
1856: John C. Fremont
1860: Abraham Lincoln
1864: Abraham Lincoln
1868: Ulysses S. Grant
1872: Ulysses S. Grant
1876: Rutherford B. Hayes
1880: James B. Weaver
1884: Grover Cleveland
1888: Benjamin Harrison
1892: James B. Weaver
1896: William J. Bryan
1900: William J. Bryan
1904: Eugene V. Debs
1908: William J. Bryan
1912: Eugene V. Debs
1916: Woodrow Wilson
1920: Eugene V. Debs
1924: Robert M. La Follette
1928: Al Smith
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1948: Henry Wallace
1952: Adlai Stevenson
1956: Adlai Stevenson
1960: John F. Kennedy
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson
1968: Hubert Humphrey
1972: George McGovern
1976: Jimmy Carter
1980: John B. Anderson
1984: Walter Mondale
1988: Michael Dukakis
1992: Bill Clinton
1996: Bill Clinton
2000: Al Gore
2004: John Kerry
2008: Barack Obama
2012: Barack Obama
2016: Hillary Clinton
2020: Joe Biden

I agree with most of your list, but why vote for Pinckney and not Adams? Adams was easily one of the best Federalists in my opinion, while Pinckney was one of the worst, especially on slavery. It's odd to me that you would vote for all these nonentites the Federalists nominated in later years but not the great John Adams.

[JA]

I agree with most of your list, but why vote for Pinckney and not Adams? Adams was easily one of the best Federalists in my opinion, while Pinckney was one of the worst, especially on slavery. It's odd to me that you would vote for all these nonentites the Federalists nominated in later years but not the great John Adams.

I was very torn on the issue of voting for John Adams and, when first typing this list, I did cast my "vote" for John Adams. However, I reversed that decision based on two factors:

1. On principle, I would've abhorred the Alien and Seditions Act that Adams enacted.
2. I would've been considerably more aligned with France than Great Britain and would've detested the way in which Adams & Co. campaigned against Jefferson on this issue.