1872
The 1872 U.S. presidential election was won by Ulysses S. Grant (Republican) with 286 of 352 electoral votes, defeating Thomas A. Hendricks (Democratic). Electoral vote margin: 244 EV, popular-vote margin +11.8%; turnout 72.1%. The cycle falls in the Reconstruction era of American electoral history.
Ulysses S. Grant and the 1872 map
Grant won re-election in a landslide over the Liberal Republican nominee Horace Greeley, who was also endorsed by the Democrats. Greeley, the famous newspaper editor, died three weeks after the election before the Electoral College voted, causing his 66 electoral votes to be scattered among other candidates — the largest such dispersal in history. The Credit Mobilier scandal had damaged Grant's reputation but voters chose him over Greeley, whose eccentric campaign style failed to inspire confidence.
Corruption reform; Reconstruction continuation; Liberal Republican revolt
Nominee Horace Greeley died before electoral votes were cast; his 66 EV scattered among others
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