Monday, December 03, 2007

 

This Day in the History of Close American Votes for President

On this day in 1800, U.S. state electors met and cast their ballots for the presidency, which voting resulted in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, both with 73. Jefferson had been running for President and Burr for Vice President, but the electoral system back then had a few kinks to work out. As fate would have it, Jefferson received more votes, finally, in a House election and became President and later had Burr tried, unsuccessfully, for treason. Burr later shot and killed Alexander Hamilton who had been instrumental in getting Jefferson the votes he needed in the House. Kind of make our current politics seem like patty cakes.

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