The U.S. has had its share of election chaos, but 1800 really set the bar (or mud pit?) for political drama. Once buddies who ended up enemies, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, took trash-talking to a new level. Jefferson’s crew called Adams a hermaphrodite, and Adams’s camp fired back that Jefferson had a “harem” at Monticello. After a ridiculous 36 rounds of tie-breaking votes, Jefferson finally snagged the win, and America got its first taste of election drama.
Then came 1840, when William Henry Harrison’s campaign went all out with “man of the people” vibes. A journalist’s jab about his age and love for hard cider turned into a full-blown hard cider rally tour, with “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” chants echoing everywhere–think “Let’s Go, Brandon”. The campaign worked, and Harrison won—though he only lasted a month in office. Moral of the story: hard cider can work wonders, but don’t forget to bundle up for the inauguration…
Next up, the 1872 election, where Horace Greeley became a press punching bag and his own running mate fainted mid-speech. Poor Greeley even passed away before the Electoral College vote, making him the only candidate to exit the race…forever. And we think today’s elections are crazy?
In 1964, the real candidates were Lyndon B. Johnson and Barry Goldwater, but prank candidate Yetta Bronstein—a made-up “Jewish mother” who promised “truth serum in the Senate drinking fountains”—stole the show with some pretty funny fake radio interviews. Johnson ended up winning, but Yetta probably won in the hearts of radio listeners everywhere.
And then there was 1988, proving once again that scandals and silly photos are campaign kryptonite. The Democratic candidates, referred to as “the Seven Dwarfs,” faced nonstop drama, and Michael Dukakis’s infamous tank photo op definitely did not help. Meanwhile, George H.W. Bush let the attack ads do all the talking and coasted right into the presidency without much effort.
And there you have it: proof that when it comes to U.S. elections, the drama isn’t a new feature—it’s practically baked into the Constitution. America’s elections seem to be less about patriotism and more about outlandish plots, epic feuds, and, occasionally, fainting candidates. So the next time you’re scratching your head at the latest political antics, just remember: if history’s taught us anything, it’s that in American politics, absurdity is always on the ballot! lol. Now, GO VOTE!
