1888
The 1888 U.S. presidential election was won by Benjamin Harrison (Republican) with 233 of 401 electoral votes, defeating Grover Cleveland (Democratic). Electoral vote margin: 65 EV, popular-vote margin -0.8%; turnout 80.5%. The cycle falls in the Gilded Age era of American electoral history.
Benjamin Harrison and the 1888 map
Incumbent Grover Cleveland won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College to Republican Benjamin Harrison, grandson of President William Henry Harrison. The election centered on the tariff — Harrison championed high protective tariffs while Cleveland sought reduction. Harrison carried the key states of New York and Indiana. Cleveland's gracious acceptance of defeat ('I have tried so hard to do right') was widely admired; he would return to win back the presidency four years later.
Protective tariff policy; federal surplus management
Cleveland won popular vote but lost Electoral College; became the only president to serve non-consecutive terms
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