1872 Democratic National Convention

Accepting the "Liberal Republican" platform meant the Democrats had accepted the "New Departure", rejecting the anti-Reconstruction platform of 1868: they realized that in order to win, they had to look forward and not try to refight the Civil War. While Greeley's long reputation in the years before as the most aggressive attacker of the earlier Democratic Party, its principles, its leadership, and its activists cooled enthusiasm among many of the delegates for the potential nominee, it was accepted that the Democrats would only split the anti-Grant vote and all but assure Grant of re-election if they nominated any other candidate. == Presidential nomination ==

Presidential candidates Image:Horace Greeley restored (cropped).jpg|Former Representative Horace Greeley of New York Image:JeremiahSBlack.png|Former Secretary of State Jeremiah S. Black of Pennsylvania Image:JamesABayardJr.png|Former Senator James A. Bayard of Delaware Image:Hon. William S. Grossbeck, Ohio - NARA - 526638 (a).jpg|Former Representative William S. Groesbeck of Ohio Image:William B. Franklin enh.jpg|Major General William B. Franklin of Connecticut(Declined Consideration) Major General William B. Franklin was approached by a group of Democrats from Pennsylvania and New Jersey who urged him to run against Horace Greeley for the party's presidential nomination. Citing a need for party unity, Franklin declined their suggestion. On the first ballot, Pennsylvania and New Jersey would cast the majority of votes against Greeley. Horace Greeley received 686 of the 732 delegate votes cast on the first ballot. The motion to have Greeley's nomination be declared unanimous was carried. Source: Official proceedings of the National Democratic convention, held at Baltimore, July 9, 1872. (September 3, 2012). File:1872DemocraticPresidentialNomination1stBallot.png| == Vice presidential nomination ==

Vice presidential candidates Image:BGratzBrown.png| Image:John Stevenson.jpg| Benjamin G. Brown received 713 of the 732 delegate votes cast on the first ballot. Source: Official proceedings of the National Democratic convention, held at Baltimore, July 9, 1872. (September 3, 2012). File:1872DemocraticVicePresidentialNomination1stBallot.png| == Straight-Out Democrats Convention ==

A splinter, conservative group of Democrats broke off due to their dissatisfaction with the nomination of Greeley. Calling themselves the Straight-Out Democrats, they held a Straight-Out Democratic National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. They nominated for President Charles O'Conor, who told them by telegram that he would not accept their nomination, and John Quincy Adams II for vice president. The candidates received 23,054 votes (0.35%) in the election, and no Electoral College electors. == See also ==