William A. Wheeler

William Almon Wheeler
19th Vice President of the United States
In office
March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
President Rutherford B. Hayes
Preceded by Henry Wilson
Succeeded by Chester A. Arthur
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 16th district
In office
March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by George W. Palmer
Succeeded by Orlando Kellogg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th district
In office
March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873
Preceded by Calvin T. Hulburd
Succeeded by Robert S. Hale
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 18th district
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
Preceded by John M. Carroll
Succeeded by Andrew Williams
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 19th district
In office
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877
Preceded by Henry H. Hathorn
Succeeded by Amaziah B. James
Personal details
Born June 30, 1819(1819-06-30)
Malone, New York
Died June 4, 1887(1887-06-04) (aged 67)
Malone, New York
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Mary King Wheeler
Alma mater University of Vermont
Signature

William Almon Wheeler (June 30, 1819 – June 4, 1887) was a Representative from New York and the 19th Vice President of the United States (1877–1881).

Contents

Early life and career

Wheeler was born in Malone, New York, and attended Franklin Academy and the University of Vermont, although monetary concerns forced him to drop out without graduating.[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1845, practiced law in Malone, and served as district attorney for Franklin County from 1846 to 1849. He became a member of the New York State Assembly in 1850 and 1851 and member of the state Senate from 1858 to 1860. He was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-seventh United States Congress (March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1863). He was President of the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1867-68, and was elected to the Forty-first and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877).

Wheeler was also President of the New York Northern Railroad.[2]

When Congress voted a pay raise in 1873 and made it retroactive for five years, Wheeler not only voted against the raise, but returned his salary adjustment to the Treasury department.[1]

Wheeler's reputation for honesty was celebrated by Allan Nevins in his introduction to John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage. Roscoe Conkling, a Senator and a political boss offered "Wheeler, if you will act with us, there is nothing in the gift of the State of New York to which you may not reasonably aspire." Wheeler declined with "Mr. Conkling, there is nothing in the gift of the State of New York which will compensate me for the forfeiture of my self-respect." (John F. Kennedy, Profiles in Courage (New York, 1956), p. xiv.)

Wheeler did serve as president of the New York State Constitutional Convention of June 1867. His acceptance speech gave a ringing endorsement for racial equality:

"[W]e owe it to the cause of universal civil liberty, we owe it to the struggling liberalism of the old world,...that every man within [New York], of whatever race or color, or however poor, helpless, or lowly he may be, in virtue of his manhood, is entitled to the full employment of every right appertaining to the most exalted citizenship."[3]

Election of 1876

Wheeler was a delegate to the Republican convention in 1876, which had just nominated Rutherford B. Hayes on the seventh ballot.

The convention was recessed for dinner, and as a sop to Roscoe Conkling, the party bosses announced that they would let the New York delegation pick the candidate for Vice President. So some of the delegation were discussing the matter and they were stymied. They could not think of anyone who they would want to stick with the position. Then one of them began to giggle. "What about Wheeler?" he chuckled. Soon everyone was having a hearty laugh, including Wheeler, and the next morning he was, much to everyone's surprise, nominated by acclamation.[4] He won the nomination with 366 votes to the 89 for his nearest rival Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, who later served on the Electoral Commission.

Governor Hayes, when he heard of what had happened, remarked: "I am ashamed to say: Who is Wheeler?"[4] This guilty admission reflects more on Hayes' ignorance of national politics than on Wheeler's political fame.

Vice Presidency

He was inaugurated in March 1877 and served until March 1881.

Since Wheeler was a recent widower, his wife having died three months before he took the oath of office,[1] he was a frequent guest at the White House's alcohol-free luncheons. As Vice President, Wheeler presided over the Senate. According to Hayes, Wheeler "was one of the few Vice Presidents who were on cordial terms, intimate and friendly, with the President. Our family were heartily fond of him."[1]

Hayes had long announced he wouldn't run for a second term, and Wheeler wasn't put forward for the 1880 nomination.

Retirement

When his term was over, he retired from public life and active business pursuits because of ill health, and died in Malone, New York. He was interred in Morningside Cemetery, Malone.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Tally, Steve (1992). Bland Ambition. New York: HBJ. pp. 152–157. ISBN 015613404. 
  2. ^ Quigley, Second Founding, p.53
  3. ^ Quigly, Second Founding, p. 53
  4. ^ a b Barzman, Sol (1974). Madmen and Geniuses. Chicago: Follett Books. ISBN 0695804871. 

References

External links

Political offices
Vacant
Title last held by
Henry Wilson
Vice President of the United States
March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
Succeeded by
Chester A. Arthur
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Henry H. Hathorn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 19th congressional district

March 4, 1875 – March 4, 1877
Succeeded by
Amaziah B. James
Preceded by
John M. Carroll
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 18th congressional district

March 4, 1873 – March 4, 1875
Succeeded by
Andrew Williams
Preceded by
Calvin T. Hulburd
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 17th congressional district

March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1873
Succeeded by
Robert S. Hale
Preceded by
George W. Palmer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 16th congressional district

March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1863
Succeeded by
Orlando Kellogg
Party political offices
Preceded by
Henry Wilson
Republican Party vice presidential candidate
1876
Succeeded by
Chester A. Arthur