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A Fractured Party, John M. Rudy

Civil War Era Studies Faculty Publications

The Republican party was fractured and in tatters. Warring factions could barely decide the most important issues of the day, let along rally around a candidate. A decade of fractious politics within the party left no true power brokers. The former Republican president was less than enthusiastic about the tickets his party fielded. America was faced with deciding between two candidates plagued by scandal. And a man from Adams County was not above trying to stir up even more trouble. [excerpt]