New York and the American Election on Display

The Museum of the City of New York unveils a new exhibit today "coinciding with the 2008 election and providing insight into New York's often pivotal role in American electoral politics." Campaigning for President: New York and the American Election covers presidential politics spanning back to the inauguration of George Washington on lower Manhattan's Wall Street. Below are some of the pieces that will be on display, as well as some facts from the press release:

  • From 1820 to the 1960s, New York was the most populous state in the country, and for 160 years, from 1812 until 1972, it wielded more electoral votes than any other state.
  • New York sent forth eight presidents, more than twenty-five major-party presidential and vice-presidential nominees, and countless hopefuls.
  • From 1900 to 1948, there was a New Yorker on every national ticket, and from 1868 until 1892, with the sole exception of 1880, every Democratic nominee for president was a New Yorker.
Campaigning for President shines the spotlight on the "sloganeering, promissory mantra-making, and gleefully vicious mud-slinging" which is as prevalent today as it was in the 19th century. The exhibit will be on view through November 4th.

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