Back to the 1880s

More probably, though, the something that will jolt the country out of its eight-year stalemate remains as yet unseen: some new crisis, some new leader, some new generational experience. And if the twenty years of deadlock that followed Reconstruction are any guide, it may not arrive anytime soon.

1876

Rutherford B. Hayes

(R)

* 47.95 percent

Samuel Tilden

(D)

50.97 percent

1880

James A. Garfield

(R)

* 48.27 percent

Winfield Hancock

(D)

48.25 percent

1884

Grover Cleveland

(D)

* 48.50 percent

James G. Blaine

(R)

48.25 percent

1888

Benjamin Harrison

(R)

* 47.82 percent

Grover Cleveland

(D)

48.62 percent

1892

Grover Cleveland

(D)

* 46.05 percent

Benjamin Harrison

(R)

42.96 percent

* winner

 

The 1990s had three:

1992

Bill Clinton

(D)

* 43.01 percent

George Bush

(R)

37.45 percent

H. Ross Perot

(I)

18.91 percent

1996

Bill Clinton

(D)

* 49.24 percent

Bob Dole

(R)

40.71 percent

H. Ross Perot

(I)

8.40 percent

2000

Al Gore

(D)

49.00 percent

George W. Bush

(R)

48.00 percent

* winner

David Frum, a contributing editor to THE WEEKLY STANDARD, is the author of a history of the 1970s, How We Got Here.