# SDMB Retrospective US Presidential Elections 1868

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1868/695980>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [August 20, 2014, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1868/695980 "2014-08-20T08:40:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1868/695980/1 "2014-08-20T08:40:39Z")

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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US\_presidential\_election,\_1868](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_presidential_election,_1868)

The only acceptable choice here is Grant IMO due to his commitment to enforcing civil rights legislation in the South.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1868/695980/2 "2014-08-20T09:49:41Z")

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I would have voted for Grant. As you note, he seemed like the obvious choice at the time. His faults as a political leader wouldn’t be revealed until he was in office.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1868/695980/3 "2014-08-21T19:10:09Z")

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Grant, clearly, but he needs to have able AND honest advisors. He’s a soldier, not a politician.