How would you have voted?: United States Presidential Elections

[SteveRogers]

1852:Franklin Pierce
1856:James Buchanan
1860:John C. Breckinridge

...

1948:Strom Thurmond

...

1968:George C. Wallace

So are you actually a racist?

No, I have plenty of black friends. I do believe in state's rights though. 

But you understand that the "right" that Thurmond and Wallace were fighting for was the right of the state to be racist, right?

[Rockefeller GOP]

1852:Franklin Pierce
1856:James Buchanan
1860:John C. Breckinridge

...

1948:Strom Thurmond

...

1968:George C. Wallace

So are you actually a racist?

No, I have plenty of black friends. I do believe in state's rights though. 

But you understand that the "right" that Thurmond and Wallace were fighting for was the right of the state to be racist, right?

Maybe he's doing it without hindsight?  Given that he's from the South.

[NHI]

1789: George Washington
1792: George Washington
1796: Thomas Jefferson
1800: Thomas Jefferson
1804: Thomas Jefferson
1808: James Madison
1812: James Madison
1816: James Monroe
1820: James Monroe
1824: Andrew Jackson
1828: Andrew Jackson
1832: Andrew Jackson
1836: Martin Van Buren
1840: William Henry Harrison
1844: James K. Polk
1848: Zachary Taylor
1852: Winfield Scott
1856: John Fremont
1860: Abraham Lincoln
1864: Abraham Lincoln
1868: Ulysses S. Grant
1872: Ulysses S. Grant
1876: Samuel Tilden
1880: James A. Garfield
1884: Grover Cleveland
1888: Grover Cleveland
1892: Grover Cleveland
1896: William McKinley
1900: William McKinley
1904: Theodore Roosevelt
1908: William Howard Taft
1912: Theodore Roosevelt
1916: Woodrow Wilson
1920: Warren G. Harding
1924: Calvin Coolidge
1928: Herbert Hoover
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1948: Harry Truman
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: George H.W. Bush
1996: Bill Clinton
2000: George W. Bush
2004: George W. Bush
2008: John McCain
2012: Mitt Romney

[VPH]

1789:George Washington
1792:George Washington
1796:John Adams
1800:John Adams
1804:Charles C. Pickney
1808:James Madison
1812:Dewitt Clinton
1816:Rufus King
1820:James Monroe
1824:John Quincy Adams
1828:John Quincy Adams
1832:Henry Clay
1836:Daniel Webster
1840:Martin Van Buren
1844:Henry Clay
1848:Martin Van Buren
1852:John Hale
1856:John Fremont
1860:Abe Lincoln
1864:Abe Lincoln
1868:Ulysses S. Grant
1872:Horace Greeley
1876:Rutherford B. Hayes
1880:James A. Garfield
1884:James Blaine
1888:Benjamin Harrison
1892:James B. Weaver
1896:William J. Bryan
1900:William J. Bryan
1904:Theodore Roosevelt
1908:Eugene V. Debs
1912:Theodore Roosevelt
1916:Woodrow Wilson
1920:James M. Cox
1924:Robert LaFollette (The only true Liberal in the race)
1928:Al Smith
1932:FDR
1936:FDR
1940:FDR
1944:FDR
1948:Harry Truman
1952:Dwight D. Eisenhower (Being a Kansan, I have a soft spot for Ike)
1956:Dwight D. Eisenhower
1960:John F. Kennedy
1964:Lyndon B. Johnson
1968:Hubert Humphrey
1972:George McGovern
1976:Jimmy Carter
1980:Jimmy Carter
1984:Walter Mondale
1988:Michael Dukakis
1992:Ross Perot (I like many of his stances as a Liberal, esp. on NAFTA)
1996:Bill Clinton (Not going for Perot's Reform party run)
2000: Ralph Nader (Gore bugs me, especially on welfare)
2004:John Kerry
2008:Barack Obama
2012:Barack Obama
               Primaries
1952:Estes Kefauver
1960:John F. Kennedy
1964:Lyndon B. Johnson
1968:Eugene McCarthy
1972:George McGovern
1976:Jimmy Carter
1980:Edward Kennedy
1984:Walter Mondale
1988:Jesse Jackson
1992:Jerry Brown
1996: Bill Clinton
2000:Bill Bradley (Reluctantly)
2004: Howard Dean
2008:Dennis Kucinich

As a footnote, I supported the Bank of the US which is why I voted Federalist in many of the early elections.

[ElectionsGuy]

1789 - George Washington
1792 - George Washington
1796 - Thomas Jefferson
1800 - Thomas Jefferson
1804 - Thomas Jefferson
1808 - James Madison
1812 - James Madison
1816 - James Monroe
1820 - James Monroe
1824 - Andrew Jackson
1828 - Andrew Jackson
1832 - Andrew Jackson
1836 - Martin Van Buren
1840 - Martin Van Buren
1844 - James Birney
1848 - Martin Van Buren
1852 - John Hale
1856 - John Fremont
1860 - Abraham Lincoln
1864 - Abraham Lincoln
1868 - Ulysses Grant
1872 - Ulysses Grant
1876 - Samuel Tilden
1880 - James Garfield
1884 - Grover Cleveland
1888 - Grover Cleveland
1892 - Grover Cleveland
1896 -
1900 - William McKinley*
1904 - Alton Parker
1908 - William Taft
1912 - William Taft
1916 - Charles Hughes
1920 - Warren Harding
1924 - Calvin Coolidge
1928 - Al Smith
1932 - Franklin Roosevelt*
1936 - Alfred Landon
1940 - Wendell Willkie*
1944 - Thomas Dewey*
1948 - Thomas Dewey*
1952 - Dwight Eisenhower
1956 - Dwight Eisenhower
1960 - Richard Nixon*
1964 - Barry Goldwater
1968P - Ronald Reagan
1968 - Richard Nixon*
1972 - John Hospers
1976P - Ronald Reagan
1976 - Roger MacBride
1980P - Ronald Reagan
1980 - Ronald Reagan
1984 - David Bergland
1988 - Ron Paul
1992 - Andre Marrou
1996 - Harry Browne
2000P - George W. Bush
2000 - Harry Browne
2004P - Howard Dean
2004 - Michael Badnarik
2008P - Ron Paul
2008 - Bob Barr
2012P - Ron Paul
2012 - Gary Johnson
2016P - Ted Cruz ✔

*Reluctant/unenthusiastic/close call
✔ Actual Vote

I'll add other hypothetical primary votes later.

[RR1997]

I'll start from the 1920 election.

1920-Warren Harding
1924-Calvin Coolidge
1928-Herbert Hoover
1932-Franklin Roosevelt
1936-Franklin Roosevelt
1940-Wendell Willkie
1944-Franklin Roosevelt
1948-Harry Truman
1952-Dwight Eisenhower
1956-Dwight Eisenhower
1960-John F. Kennedy
1964-Barry Goldwater
1968-Richard Nixon
1972-George McGovern
1976-Jimmy Carter
1980-Ronald Reagan
1984-Ronald Reagan
1988-George H.W. Bush
1992-George H.W. Bush
1996-Bill Clinton
2000-George W. Bush
2004-George W. Bush
2008-Barack Obama
2012- Mitt Romney

[Jerseyrules]

Particularly enthusiastic support those in bold

1789: George Washington (F)
1792: George Washington (F)
1796: John Adams (F)[/color]
1800: Thomas Jefferson (R)
1804: Thomas Jefferson (R)
1808: James Madison (R)
1812: James Madison (R)
1816: James Monroe (R)
1820: James Monroe (R)
1824: William Crawford (R)[/green]
1828: Andrew Jackson (D)
1832: Andrew Jackson (D)
1836: Martin Van Buren (D)
1840: William Henry Harrison (W)
1844: James K. Polk (D)
1848: Zachary Taylor (W)
1852: Winfield Scott (W) - may have supported President Fillmore for the Whig nomination though.  His actions arguably preserved the union for another 10 years and he may have been able to appeal better to southern and border state voters
1856: Millard Fillmore (American) - while I'm not in favor of the anti-immigrant policies espouses by the Know-Nothings, I'd hold my nose and vote for a former president with proven experience making compromise rather than a doughface or a radical whose election could spark an earlier civil war
1860: Abraham Lincoln (R) - I'd vote strategically in this election, favoring the least pro-slavery candidate who could still win in whatever state I was in.  I'd be inclined to support Seward at the Republican convention but if I were in a border state I'd probably favor John Bell
1864: Abraham Lincoln (R)
1868: Ulysses S. Grant (R)
1872: Ulysses S. Grant (R)
1876: Samuel L. Tilden (D)
1880: James A. Garfield (R) - I'd probably support General Grant at the convention, but I like bothe candidates
1884: Grover Cleveland (D) - Arthur at the GOP convention, but I'd be ready for a change in leadership after 24 years of Republican Presidents
1888: Grover Cleveland (D)
1892: Tough.  I'd probably vote for Cleveland but I'd consider supporting Harrison, and definitely as a Blaine supporter at the Republican convention.  He redeemed himself during his stint as Secretary of State
1896: William McKinley (R)
1900: William McKinley (R)
1904: Theodore Roosevelt (R)
1908: William Howard Taft (R)
1912: Theodore Roosevelt (P)
1916: Charles Evans Hughes (R)
1920: Another tough call - I loathe nearly every policy pursued by President Wilson prior to 1917, but his conduct of World War I and subsequent handling of the Treaty of Versailles, and pursuit of a League of Nations would probably have resulted with me siding with him, Cox, and the rest of the internationalist crowd.  But once the postwar depression hits I'd probably swing to Harding because of economic issues
1924: Calvin Coolidge (R)
1928: Al Smith (D)
1932: Herbert Hoover (R)
1936: Alf Landon (R)
1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) - same as with Wilson.  Despise his economic policies, but I'd probably vote for him out of the "rally round the flag" effect, plus having the guts to break that stupid 2-term tradition in a time of national crisis
1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt (D)
1948: Thomas Dewey (R)
1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower (R)
1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower (R)
1960: John F. Kennedy (D)
1964: Barry Goldwater (R)
1968: George Wallace (AIP) - the only candidate with a clear plan to win in Vietnam, though I revile his attitudes on race
1972: Richard M. Nixon (R)
1976: Jimmy Carter (D) - would have supported Reagan in the GOP primary
1980: Ronald W. Reagan (R)
1984: Ronald W. Reagan (R)
1988: George H. W. Bush (R)
1992: H. Ross Perot (I)
1996: Bill Clinton (D)
2000: George W. Bush (R)[/blue] - McCain in the primary
2004: George W. Bush (R)
2008: John S. McCain (R)
2012: Mitt Romney (R) - worked for Paul's primary campaign though

[Mechaman]

1856: Millard Fillmore (American) - while I'm not in favor of the anti-immigrant policies espouses by the Know-Nothings, I'd hold my nose and vote for a former president with proven experience making compromise rather than a doughface or a radical whose election could spark an earlier civil war.

I'm going to take the liberty of making a few comments:

Sure, I will acknowledge, as an indepth historian, that Millard Fillmore might not have been a foaming at the mouth anti-Irish and anti-Catholic zealot like the rank and file of the Americans were.  Hell, he even had one of his daughters attend a Catholic school for a few years if I recall correctly.  However, I do not see how you as someone who has said in the past to have German Catholic background of some sort, can just laugh off the "anti-immigrant" policies of the Know Nothings.  Well I guess sure, the Know Nothings were more specifically anti-Irish than they were anti-German, you might say, but like that is supposed to make it better?

But hey, you might say that by 1856 there were enough moderate hero Whigs to make the Americans harmless!  Sure, they might have been formed off of bigotry against our ancestors, but at least by 1856 they had got enough slavery moderates to hold off a Civil War while not being "doughfaces".  I am going to spare you a sarcastic response here, and just post what wikisource shows as the 1856 Presidential Platform of the American Party:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

It doesn't matter how many devoted abolitionists or old school Whigs joined the American Party just because the Whigs and the Free Soilers were then disorganized messes, it does not change the awfulness of what being a member of a party like the American Party was.  Joining such a party as the Americans, whose mission was explicitly anti-Irish, anti-German, anti-Catholic, anti-Polish, anti-etc. was that you believed somewhere inside you that immigrants and non-Anglo Protestants either didn't deserve rights or weren't worthy enough to have rights.  And I could give a toss how anti-slavery some of these people were, after all of their preaching about how cruel slavery was and how evil racism against blacks were they should have rightfully been able to see how wrong centuries of ingrained British bigotry against the Celts was also racism and not worthy of any political support.  Abraham Lincoln, as much as some people like to badmouth him as being a racial moderate in the 1850s who wasn't willing to take the radical steps to end slavery, was a much better man than these people:

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Voting Republican in 1856 was not a "radical" choice.  It was a moral choice, as a plurality of Northern voters realized that year.

Just realize that voting American or American Independent is a sh*tty choice to make and that there are more than a few wars that aren't worth fighting.

EDIT: Figured this would get the point down shorter and sweeter.

[TNF]

Doing this again, because why not?

AFAIK, universal white male suffrage came to Kentucky in 1800. However, given that the Atlas doesn't have state level information for votes in Kentucky prior to 1824, I'll start there and limit myself only to candidates on the ballot in Kentucky since 1824 in this list.

1824: Andrew Jackson (Republican)
1828: Andrew Jackson (Democratic)
1832: Andrew Jackson (Democratic)
1836: Martin Van Buren (Democratic)
1840: William Henry Harrison (Whig)
1844: Henry Clay (Whig)
1848: Zachary Taylor (Whig)
1852: John Parker Hale (Free Soil)
1856: James Buchanan (Democratic)
1860: Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
1864: Abraham Lincoln (Union Republican)
1868: Ulysses Grant (Republican)
1872: Ulysses Grant (Republican)
1876: Rutherford Hayes (Republican)
1880: James Weaver (Greenback)
1884: Benjamin Butler (Greenback)
1888: Alson Streeter (Union Labor)
1892: James Weaver (People's)
1896: William Jennings Bryan (Democratic)
1900: Eugene Debs (Social Democratic)
1904: Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1908: Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1912: Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1916: Allan Benson (Socialist)
1920: Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1924: Robert LaFollette (Progressive)
1928: William Foster (Communist)
1932: William Foster (Communist)
1936: Norman Thomas (Socialist)
1940: Norman Thomas (Socialist)
1944: Norman Thomas (Socialist)
1948: Norman Thomas (Socialist)
1952: Eric Hass (Socialist Labor)
1956: Eric Hass (Socialist Labor)
1960: Abstain.
1964: Abstain.
1968: Fred Halstead (Socialist Workers)
1972: Linda Jenness (Socialist Workers)
1976: Peter Camejo (Socialist Workers)
1980: Andrew Pulley (Socialist)
1984: Melvin Mason (Socialist Workers)
1988: Abstain.
1992: Abstain.
1996: Ralph Nader (Write-in)
2000: Ralph Nader (Green)
2004: Ralph Nader (Independent)
2008: Brian Moore (Write-in)
2012: Barack Obama (Democratic) (actual) / Jill Stein (Green) (in retrospect)

[TNF]

And redoing my Illinois list, too.

1824: Andrew Jackson (Republican)
1828: Andrew Jackson (Democratic)
1832: Andrew Jackson (Democratic)
1836: Martin Van Buren (Democratic)
1840: James Birney (Liberty)
1844: James Birney (Liberty)
1848: Martin Van Buren (Free Soil)
1852: John Parker Hale (Free Soil)
1856: John Fremont (Republican)
1860: Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
1864: Abraham Lincoln (Union Republican)
1868: Ulysses Grant (Republican)
1872: Ulysses Grant (Republican)
1876: Peter Cooper (Greenback)
1880: James Weaver (Greenback)
1884: Benjamin Butler (Greenback)
1888: Alson Streeter (Union Labor)
1892: James Weaver (People's)
1896: Charles Matchett (Socialist Labor)
1900: Eugene Debs (Social Democratic)
1904: Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1908: Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1912: Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1916: Allan Benson (Socialist)
1920: Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1924: William Foster (Workers' Party of America)
1928: William Foster (Workers' Party of America)
1932: William Foster (Communist)
1936: Norman Thomas (Socialist)
1940: Norman Thomas (Socialist)
1944: Norman Thomas (Write-in)
1948: Norman Thomas (Socialist)
1952: Eric Hass (Socialist Labor)
1956: Eric Hass (Socialist Labor)
1960: Eric Hass (Socialist Labor)
1964: Abstain.
1968: Henning Blomen (Socialist Labor)
1972: Louis Fisher (Socialist Labor)
1976: Peter Camejo (Socialist Workers)
1980: Clifton DeBerry (Socialist Workers)
1984: Melvin Mason (Socialist Workers)
1988: Abstain.
1992: James Warren (Socialist Workers)
1996: Ralph Nader (Write-in)
2000: David McReynolds (Write-in)
2004: David Cobb (Write-in)
2008: Ralph Nader (Independent)
2012: Jill Stein (Green)

[Cassius]

1789: George Washington (I)
1792: George Washington (I)
1796: John Adams (F)
1800: John Adams (F)
1804: Charles C. Pinckney (F)
1808: Charles C. Pinckney (F)
1812: DeWitt Clinton (F)
1816: James Monroe (DR)
1820: James Monroe (DR)
1824: John Quincy Adams (DR)
1828: John Quincy Adams (NR)
1832: Henry Clay (NR)
1836: William Henry Harrison (W)
1840: William Henry Harrison (W)
1844: Henry Clay (W)
1848: Zachary Taylor (W)
1852: Franklin Pierce (D)
1856: James Buchanan (D)
1860: John Bell (CU)
1864: Abraham Lincoln (R)
1868: Horatio Seymour (D)
1872: Horace Greeley (LR)
1876: Samuel Tilden (D)
1880: Winfield S. Hancock (D)
1884: Grover Cleveland (D)
1888: Grover Cleveland (D)
1892: Grover Cleveland (D)
1896: William McKinley (R)
1900: William McKinley (R)
1904: Theodore Roosevelt (R)
1908: William H. Taft (R)
1912: William H. Taft (R)
1916: Charles E. Hughes (R)
1920: Warren Harding (R)
1924: Calvin Coolidge (R)
1928: Hebert Hoover (R)
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1936: Alf Landon (R)
1940: Wendell Willkie (R)
1944: Thomas Dewey (R)
1948: Thomas Dewey (R)
1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower (R)
1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower (R)
1960: Richard Nixon (R)
1964: Barry Goldwater (R)
1968: Richard Nixon (R)
1972: Richard Nixon (R)
1976: Gerald Ford (R)
1980: Ronald Reagan (R)
1984: Ronald Reagan (R)
1988: George H.W. Bush (R)
1992: George H.W. Bush (R)
1996: Bob Dole (R)
2000: George W. Bush (R)
2004: George W. Bush (R)
2008: John McCain (R)
2012: Mitt Romney (R)

[JRH1234]

1904:  Theodore Roosevelt
1908:  William Howard Taft
1912:  Theodore Roosevelt
1916:  Woodrow Wilson
1920:  James Cox
1924:  Robert La Follette
1928:  Al Smith
1932:  Franklin Roosevelt
1936:  Franklin Roosevelt
1940:  Franklin Roosevelt
1944:  Franklin Roosevelt
1948:  Harry Truman
1952:  Dwight Eisenhower
1956:  Dwight Eisenhower
1960:  John F. Kennedy
1964:  Lyndon Johnson
1968:  Hubert Humphrey
1972:  George McGovern (though much rather have Muskie as dem's nominee)
1976:  abstain
1980:  Ronald Reagan (as a moderate liberal this hurts, but dear god Carter was awful)
1984:  Ronald Reagan (assuming Iran-Contra has not been revealed)
1988:  Michael Dukakis (though would have preferred Mario Cuomo)
1992:  Bill Clinton
1996:  Bill Clinton
2000:  Al Gore
2004:  John Kerry
2008:  Barack Obama
2012:  ??

[Goldwater]

2012: Romney
2008: McCain
2004: Bush
2000: Bush
1996: Dole, although I could really see myself going either way.
1992: Bush
1988: Bush
1984: Reagan
1980: Reagan
1976: Ford
1972: Nixon
1968: Nixon
1964: Goldwater
1960: Nixon, although again I think I could have voted either way
1956: Eisenhower
1952: Eisenhower
1948: Dewey
1944: Roosevelt, because of WWII
1940: Willkie
1936: Landon
1932: Roosevelt
1928: Smith
1924: Coolidge
1920: Harding
1916: Hughes
1912: Taft
1908: Taft
1904: Roosevelt
1900: McKinley
1896: McKinley
1892: Cleveland
1888: Cleveland
1884: Cleveland
1800: Garfield
1876: Tilden
1872: Grant
1868: Grant
1864: Lincoln
1860: Lincoln
1856: Fremont
1952: Hale
1848: Van Buren
1844: Polk
1840: Van Buren
1836: Van Buren
1832: Jackson
1828: Jackson
1824: Jackson
1820: Monroe
1816: Monroe
1812: Madison
1808: Madison
1804: Jefferson
1800: Jefferson
1796: Adams
1792: Washington
1789: Washington

[ElectionsGuy]

I'm going to do this again, but only limiting myself to major party candidates that I must choose. No write-ins or third parties.

1789: George Washington
1792: George Washington
1796: Thomas Jefferson
1800: Thomas Jefferson
1804: Thomas Jefferson
1808: James Madison
1812: James Madison
1816: James Monroe
1820: James Monroe
1824: Andrew Jackson
1828: Andrew Jackson
1832: Andrew Jackson
1836: Martin Van Buren
1840: Martin Van Buren
1844: James Polk
1848: Zachary Taylor
1852: Winfield Scott
1856: John Fremont
1860: Abraham Lincoln
1864: Abraham Lincoln
1868: Ulysses Grant
1872: Ulysses Grant
1876: Samuel Tilden
1880: James Garfield*
1884: Grover Cleveland
1888: Grover Cleveland
1892: Grover Cleveland
1896: William McKinley
1900: William McKinley
1904: Alton Parker
1908: William Taft
1912: William Taft
1916: Charles Hughes
1920: Warren Harding
1924: Calvin Coolidge
1928: Herbert Hoover*
1932: Franklin Roosevelt**
1936: Alfred Landon
1940: Wendell Willkie
1944: Thomas Dewey
1948: Thomas Dewey
1952: Dwight Eisenhower
1956: Dwight Eisenhower
1960: Richard Nixon*
1964: Barry Goldwater
1968: Richard Nixon
1972: George McGovern
1976: Gerald Ford
1980: Ronald Reagan
1984: Ronald Reagan
1988: George H.W. Bush
1992: George H.W. Bush
1996: Bob Dole
2000: George W. Bush
2004: John Kerry**
2008: Barack Obama
2012: Mitt Romney

* Could have gone either way
** Probably would've abstained during these elections, but if I had to choose...

Changed my mind on 1824 and 1828.

[SPC]

Changed my mind on 1824 and 1828.

What made you change your view toward Jackson?

[ElectionsGuy]

Changed my mind on 1824 and 1828.

What made you change your view toward Jackson?

Pretty much for his opposition to national bank, paying off national debt, and nullification. But of course his policy with Native Americans was beyond horrific. I don't have that much against Quincy Adams so its not anti-Adams as much as it is likeability over some of Jackson's policies.

[H. Ross Peron]

1789: George Washington (No Party)
1792: George Washington (No Party)
1796: John Adams (Federalist)
1800: Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican)
1804: Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican)
1808: James Madison (Democratic-Republican)
1812: DeWitt Clinton (Federalist)
1816: James Monroe (Democratic-Republican)
1820: James Monroe (Democratic-Republican)
1824: John Quincy Adams (Democratic-Republican)[/color]
1828: John Quincy Adams (National Republican)
1832: Henry Clay (National Republican)
1836: William Henry Harrison/Daniel Webster (Whig)
1840: William Henry Harrison (Whig)
1844: James K. Polk (Democratic)
1848: Without Hindsight: Zachary Taylor (Whig), With Hindsight: Martin Van Buren (Free Soil)
1852: Winfield Scott (Whig)
1856: John C. Fremont (Republican)
1860: Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
1864: Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
1868: Ulysses S. Grant (Republican)
1872: Ulysses S. Grant (Republican)
1876: Samuel Tilden (Democratic)
1880: James Garfield (Republican)
1884: Benjamin Butler (Populist)
1888: Benjamin Harrison (Republican)
1892: Benjamin Harrison (Republican)
1896: William McKinley (Republican)
1900: William McKinley (Republican)
1904: Theodore Roosevelt (Republican)
1908: William Howard Taft (Republican)
1912: Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive)
1916: Woodrow Wilson (Democratic)
1920: James Cox (Democratic)
1924: Robert LaFollette (Progressive)
1928: Without Hindsight: Al Smith (Democratic) With Hindsight:Norman Thomas (Socialist)
1932: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Democratic)
1936: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Democratic)
1940: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Democratic)
1944: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Democratic)
1948: Harry Truman (Democratic)
1952: Adlai Stevenson (Democratic)
1956: Dwight Eisenhower (Republican)
1960: John F. Kennedy (Democratic)
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic)
1968: Hubert Humphrey (Democratic)
1972: Without Hindsight: Richard Nixon (Republican) With Hindsight:George McGovern (Democratic)
1976: Without Hindsight: Jimmy Carter (Democratic) With Hindsight: Gerald Ford (Republican)
1980: John B. Anderson (Independent)
1984: Without Hindsight: Ronald Reagan (Republican) With Hindsight: Walter Mondale (Democratic)
1988: Michael Dukakis (Democratic)
1992: William Jefferson Clinton (Democratic)
1996: William Jefferson Clinton (Democratic)
2000: Al Gore (Democratic)
2004: John Kerry (Democratic)
2008: Barack Obama (Democratic)
2012: Barack Obama (Democratic)

[Mr. Smith]

As a guide, instead of continuously pointing out the party and colors, I will just point out the colors from the get-go. Bold years mean the candidate won unambiguously, italicized means I picked the PV winner/declared loser, and nothing means the candidate lost fair and square. Also In brackets on the right is my primary choice or preferred alternative if it differs from the general candidate.

No color means Independent
Brown means Federalist
Green means Democratic-Republican
Red means Democratic
Orange means National Republican/Whig
Blue means Republican
Purple means Socialist, Populist, or Progressive I'll note the differences on those

So now to begin:

1789: George Washington
1792: George Washington
1796: John Adams
1800: Thomas Jefferson
1804: Thomas Jefferson
1808: James Madison
1812: DeWitt Clinton
1816 James Monroe
1820: James Monroe
1824: Andrew Jackson
1828: Andrew Jackson w/out hindsight, J.Q. Adams with it
1832: Andrew Jackson
1836: Martin Van Buren
1840: William Henry Harrison w/out hindsight, Martin Van Buren with it
1844: James Polk
1848: Zachary Taylor
1852: Winfield Scott
1856: John C. Fremont
1860: Abraham Lincoln
1864: Abraham Lincoln
1868: Ulysses S. Grant
1872: Ulysses S. Grant
1876: Rutherford B. Hayes
1880: James Garfield    [Ulysses S. Grant]
1884: Grover Cleveland
1888: Benjamin Harrison
1892: James B. Weaver (Populist)
1896: William Jennings Bryan
1900: William Jennings Bryan
1904: Theodore Roosevelt
1908: William Howard Taft , William Jennings Bryan again with hindsight.
1912: Theodore Roosevelt (Bull Moose Progressive)
1916: Charles Evans Hughes
1920: Warren G. Harding w/out hindsight, James M. Cox with it [Hiram Johnson]
1924: Robert La Follette (Progressive)     [Al Smith]
1928: Al Smith
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1948: Harry S. Truman
1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower  [Estes Kefuaver]
1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower  [Estes Kefauver]
1960: John F. Kennedy [ Hubert Humphrey]
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson  [Nelson Rockefeller]
1968: Hubert Humphrey  [George Romney]
1972: George McGovern   [Ed Muskie]
1976: Jimmy Carter
1980: Jimmy Carter
1984: Walter Mondale   [Gary Hart]
1988: Michael Dukakis
1992: Bill Clinton [Jerry Brown]
1996: Bill Clinton
2000: Al Gore [Bill Bradley]
2004: John Kerry   [Howard Dean]
2008: Barack Obama [Hillary Clinton]

I actually voted in 2012 for Obama, so it doesn't quite count. If I had to do it over again,I'd vote for  Jill Stein or Rocky Anderson though.

[DKrol]

With the wisdom of a year or so under my belt since I last did this, I figured I'd do it again. For the more recent elections, I've also included, in parentheses, who I did/would have supported in the primaries if it differs from my vote in the GE.

1788/9: George Washington
1792: George Washington
1796: Thomas Jefferson
1800: Thomas Jefferson
1804: Thomas Jefferson
1808: James Madison
1812: James Madison
1816: James Monroe
1820: James Monroe
1824: Andrew Jackson
1828: Andrew Jackson
1832: Henry Clay
1836: Daniel Webster
1840: William H. Harrison
1844: Henry Clay
1848: Zachary Taylor
1852: Winfield Scott
1856: John C. Fremont
1860: Abraham Lincoln
1864: Abraham Lincoln
1868: Ulysses S. Grant
1872: Ulysses S. Grant
1876: Samuel J. Tilden
1880: James A. Garfield
1884: James G. Blaine
1888: Benjamin Harrison
1892: Benjamin Harrison
1896: William J. Bryan
1900: William McKinley
1904: Theodore Roosevelt
1908: William H. Taft
1912: Woodrow Wilson
1916: Woodrow Wilson
1920: Warren G. Harding
1924: Calvin Coolidge
1928: Herbert Hoover
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt
1940: Wendell Willkie
1944: Thomas E. Dewey
1948: Thomas E. Dewey
1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower
1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower
1960: John F. Kennedy
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson
1968: Richard M. Nixon
1972: Richard M. Nixon
1976: Jimmy E. Carter
1980: Ronald W. Reagan (Ted Kennedy)
1984: Ronald W. Reagan
1988: Michael S. Dukakis
1992: William J. Clinton
1996: William J. Clinton
2000: George W. Bush (Elizabeth Dole)
2008: John S. McCain, III (Hillary R. Clinton)
2012: Willard M. Romney

[rpryor03]

1789: George Washington (I)
1792: George Washington (I)
1796: Thomas Jefferson (DR)
1800: Thomas Jefferson (DR)
1804: Thomas Jefferson (DR)
1808: James Madison (DR)
1812: James Madison (DR)
1816: James Monroe (DR)
1820: James Monroe (DR)
1824: Henry Clay (DR)
1828: John Q. Adams (NR)
1832: Henry Clay (NR)
1836: William Harrison (W)
1840: William Harrison (W)
1844: James K. Polk (D)
1848: Zachary Taylor (W)
1852: Winfield Scott (W)
1856: John Fremont (R)
1860: Abraham Lincoln (R)
1864: Abraham Lincoln (R)
1868: Ulysses S. Grant (R)
1872: Ulysses S. Grant (R)
1876: Rutherford Hayes (R)
1880: James Garfield (R)
1884: Grover Cleveland (D)
1888: Grover Cleveland (D)
1892: Grover Cleveland (D)
1896: William McKinley (R)
1900: William McKinley (R)
1904: Theodore Roosevelt (R)
1908: William Taft (R)
1912: William Taft (R)
1916: Charles E. Hughes (R)
1920: Warren Harding (R)
1924: Calvin Coolidge (R)
1928: Herbert Hoover (R)
1932: Herbert Hoover (R)
1936: Alf Landon (R)
1940: Wendell Willkie (R)
1944: Thomas Dewey (R)
1948: Harry Truman (D)
1952: Dwight Eisenhower (R)
1956: Dwight Eisenhower (R)
1960: Richard Nixon (R)
1964: Barry Goldwater (R)
1968: Richard Nixon (R)
1972: Richard Nixon (R)
1976: Gerald Ford (R)
1980: Ronald W. Reagan (R)
1984: Ronald W. Reagan (R)
1988: George H.W. Bush (R)
1992: George H.W. Bush (R)
1996: Bob Dole (R)
2000: George W. Bush (R)
2004: George W. Bush (R)
2008: John McCain (R)
2012: Mitt Romney (R)

[Mr. Smith]

To explain some parts, I like Clay's policies better than Jackson,but the man himself disgusts me far more than Jackson, and frankly he probably would've done the same thing to the Native Americans if it made him look good.

1876 would be a hard call since both are Big Business toadies,but Tilden seems like a Democratic Nixon, harping on the "corrupt" Grant administration and not denazifying the South. Sorry but no.

1884 despite Cleveland being a business toadie again, at least he seemed sincere in his convictions and Blaine's case was really bad.

1892 Harrison was simply no good at this point,and Cleveland's Randian policies were even worse.

1952: Only because it was Eisenhower against the Democrats, and because all contenders were pretty weak except for Kefauver....same thing with '56. Also they picked a segregationist for VP,that's the one thing worse than Nixon

1964: I don't see LBJ as much better than Nixon,so I would've been open to any Republican on this election...except Goldwater the business-over-poor toadie. But Rockefeller seems most ideal

1968: George Romney seems exactly like Rockefeller,except Mormon and more dovish. I admire Humphrey,but the triple combination wins it.

1976: Would've been a toss-up if Ford had kept Rockefeller and not made that foreign policy blunder. This marks the last halfway decent Republican.

[SWE]

Decided to do this again. For 1789-1894, I'm imaging myself as an electoral candidate. Given 1898 was the first year with universal white male suffrage in NY, I'm imaging myself as a New York voter. For the first four elections, I'll be making two votes, for president and vice president.

1989: George Washington (I)/George Clinton (D-R)
1792: George Washington (I)/George Clinton (D-R) 
1796: Thomas Jefferson (D-R)/Aaron Burr (D-R)
1800: Thomas Jefferson (D-R)/Aaron Burr (D-R)
1804: Thomas Jefferson (D-R)
1808: George Clinton (D-R)
1812: DeWitt Clinton (D-R)
1816: Daniel Tompkins (D-R)
1820: DeWitt Clinton (I)
1824: Andrew Jackson (D)
1828: Andrew Jackson (D)
1832: Andrew Jackson (D)
1836: Martin Van Buren (D)
1840: James Birney (Liberty)
1844: James Birney (L)
1848: Gerrit Smith (L)
1852: John Hale (Free Soil)
1856: John Fremont (R)
1860: Abraham Lincoln (R)
1864: Abraham Lincoln (R)
1868: Ulysses S. Grant (R)
1872: Ulysses S. Grant (R)
1876: Peter Cooper (Greenback)
1880: James Weaver (GB)
1884: Benjamin Butler (GB)
1888: Alson Streeter (Union Labor)
1892: Simon Wing (Socialist Labor)
1896: Charles Matchett (SL)
1900: Eugene Debs (Social Democrat)
1904: Eugene Debs (SD)
1908: Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1912: Eugene Debs (S)
1916: Allan Benson (S)
1920: Eugene Debs (S)
1924: William Foster (Worker's)
1928: Norman Thomas (S)
1932: Norman Thomas (S)
1936: Norman Thomas (S)
1940: Norman Thomas (S)
1944: Norman Thomas (S)
1948: Norman Thomas (S)
1952: Farrell Dobbs (Socialist Worker)
1856: Eric Hass (Write-in)
1860: Farrell Dobbs (SW)
1864: Clifton DeBerry (SW)
1868: Frank Halstead (SW)
1872: Evelyn Reed (SW)
1876: Peter Camejo (SW)
1980: Clifton DeBerry (SW)
1984: Gus Hall (Communist)
1988: James Warren (SW)
1992: James Warren (SW)
1996: James Warren (SW)
2000: James Harris (SW)
2004: Roger Calero (SW)
2008: Roger Calero (SW)
2012: Peta Lindsay (Socialism and Liberation)

[Lyly]

I tried to find someone to vote for in every election, but after the 70s, it gets a bit harder to find someone I'd feel comfortable with.

1904 - Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1908 - Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1912 - Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1916 - Arthur Reimer (Socialist Labor)
1920 - Eugene Debs (Socialist)
1924 - Robert LaFollette (Progressive)
1928 - William Foster (Communist)
1932 - William Foster (Communist)
1936 - John Aiken (Socialist Labor)
1940 - John Aiken (Socialist Labor)
1944 - Edward Teichert (Socialist Labor)
1948 - Farrell Dobbs (Socialist Workers)
1952 - Eric Hass (Socialist Labor
1956 - Eric Hass (Socialist Labor)
1960 - Eric Hass (Socialist Labor)
1964 - Clifton DeBerry (Socialist Workers)
1968 - Fred Halstead (Socialist Workers)
1972 - Evelyn Reed (Socialist Workers)
1976 - abstain
1980 - abstain
1984 - abstain
1988 - abstain
1992 - abstain
1996 - Ralph Nader (Green)
2000 - Ralph Nader (Green)
2004 - abstain
2008 - abstain
2012 - Jill Stein (Green)

[Bigby]

1789: George Washington
1792: George Washington
1796: John Adams
1800: Thomas Jefferson
1804: Charles Pinckney
1808: Charles Pinckney
1812: DeWitt Clinton
1816: James Monroe
1820:James Monroe
1824: Henry Clay
1828: John Quincy Adams
1832: Henry Clay
1836: William Harrison
1840: William Harrison
1844: Henry Clay
1848: Zachary Taylor
1852: Winfield Scott
1856: John C. Fremont (Buchanan sucks. That is all.)
1860: Abraham Lincoln
1864: Abraham Lincoln
1868: Horatio Seymour
1872: Horace Greeley
1876: Samuel Tilden
1880: James Garfield
1884: Grover Cleveland
1888: Grover Cleveland
1892: Grover Cleveland
1896: William McKinley
1900: William McKinley
1904: Teddy Roosevelt
1908: William Taft
1912: William Taft
1916: Charles Evan Hughes
1920: Warren Harding
1924: Calvin Coolidge
1928: Herbert Hoover
1932: Herbert Hoover
1936: Alf Landon (More of a dissent vote, really.)
1940: Wendell Willkie
1944: Tom Dewey
1948: Tom Dewey
1952:  Dwight Eisenhower
1956: Dwight Eisenhower
1960: Richard Nixon
1964: Barry Goldwater
1968: Richard Nixon
1972: Richard Nixon (I wouldn't even consider McGovern.)
1976: Gerald Ford (Shame that Carter was our only President from Georgia.)
1980: Ronald Reagan
1984: Ronald Reagan
1988: George H.W. Bush
1992: Ross Perot (I'd probably do a write-in to pick ANYONE for VP besides Stockdale.)
1996: Ross Perot
2000: Abstain
2004: Michael Badnarik
2008: John McCain
2012: Mitt Romney (The same choice I made in real life.)

And now for the primaries:

1952: Robert Taft
1956: Eisenhower
1960: Barry Goldwater
1964: Barry Goldwater
1968: George Romney, then Ronald Reagan after Romney drops out.
1972: Richard Nixon
1976: Ronald Reagan
1980: Ronald Reagan
1984: Ronald Reagan
1988: George H.W. Bush
1992: Abstain
1996: Pete Wilson
2000: John Kasich, then abstain once he drops out.
2004: Abstain
2008: Write-in either Rob Portman, Kay Hutchison, or MAYBE vote Huckabbe
2012: Either Gary Johnson (before he drops out) or John Huntsman

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

@GOPLibertarian why not Ron Paul?