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Line 39: − '''Roscoe Conkling''' (October 30, 1829 – April 18, 1888) was a [[Representative]] and a [[Senator]] from [[New York]]. He served as a bodyguard to Senator [[Thaddeus Stevens]] of Pennsylvania (a [[Radical Republican]] who opposed [[slavery]]) and helped to organize the Compromise of 1877, which gave [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] the [[presidency]]. Conkling also led the [[Stalwart]] faction of the [[Republican Party]], which was considered to be its more [[conservative]] wing at the time. He boxed and exercised regularly; such healthy physical condition was considered uncommon at the time. While a politician, he opposed the [[Half-Breeds]], the more [[liberal]] wing. He resigned in 1881 and was confirmed as an [[Associate Justice]] of the [[United States Supreme Court]]. However, he did not serve. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Slightly expand - I still got a TON more to add!
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'''Roscoe Conkling''' (October 30, 1829 – April 18, 1888) was a U.S. representative and senator from [[New York]]. He served as a bodyguard to Senator [[Thaddeus Stevens]] of Pennsylvania (a fierce [[Radical Republican]] leader) and helped to organize the Compromise of 1877, which handed [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] the presidency.
A member of the Radical Republicans,<ref name=letters>[https://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/c/conkling_r.htm Roscoe Conkling Letters: An inventory of his letters at Syracuse University]. ''Syracuse University''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> Conkling led the [[conservative]] [[Stalwart]] faction of the [[Republican Party]], which firmly supported maintaining the [[spoils system]] to secure the constitutional rights of blacks.<ref>Matthews, Dylan (June 20, 2016). [https://www.vox.com/2016/7/20/12233454/christie-trump-purge-federal-employees Donald Trump and Chris Christie are reportedly planning to purge the civil service]. ''Vox''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> He opposed the [[Half-Breeds]], the more moderate/[[liberal]] wing of the GOP which supported demands by some Democrats to install a [[bureaucratic]] [[civil service system]].
He boxed and exercised regularly; such healthy physical condition was considered uncommon at the time.
==U.S. House of Representatives==
Conkling first successfully ran for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in the 1858 midterms, defeating Democrat P. Sheldon Root in New York's 22nd congressional district by fifteen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725369 NY District 20 Race - Nov 02, 1858]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> He was easily re-elected to a second term in the subsequent 1860 elections.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725370 NY District 20 Race - Nov 06, 1860]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref>
===1862 midterm defeat, 1864 comeback===
In the 1862 elections, Conkling ran under the banner of the Unionist Party and faced Democrat Francis Kernan, who very narrowly won the general election.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725371 NY District 21 Race - Nov 04, 1862]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> However, he successfully re-emerged in 1864, ousting Kernan.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725372 NY District 21 Race - Nov 08, 1864]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref>
During the [[American Civil War]], Conkling strong supported President [[Abraham Lincoln]].<ref name=u-s-history.com>[https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h706.html Roscoe Conkling]. ''U-S-History.com''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> Following the war, he expressed support for confiscating land from the defeated Confederates to distribute among the newly freed slaves.
In his House years, Conkling became bitter political rivals with Rep. [[James G. Blaine]] of [[Maine]], who would later lead the Half-Breeds. Blaine once mocked the "turkey-gobbler strut" of Conkling, who vowed to never speak with him again.<ref>[http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/history/waughj/classes/gildedage/private/gilded_age_politics/history/bio_conkling.html Roscoe Conkling: Congressman and Political Boss (1829-1888)]. ''UCLA Social Sciences''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref>
==U.S. Senate==
In the 1867 elections, Conkling ran for [[United States Senate]], and was nominated over two intraparty opponents.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=576344 NY US Senate - R Caucus Race - Jan 10, 1867]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> He proceeded to be elected by the New York legislature in a landslide over two Democrat opponents.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=392210 NY Us Senate Race - Jan 15, 1867]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref>
During [[Reconstruction]], Conkling helped push through major Radical Republican legislation, including the [[Civil Rights Act]] of 1875.<ref name=letters/>
===Presidential bid, 1876===
In the [[United States presidential election, 1876|1876 presidential election]], Conkling sought the party nomination for the general election as an ally of the Grant Administration.<ref name=u-s-history.com/> He unsuccessful, garnering the votes of only ninety-nine delegates in the [[Republican National Convention]] polling only 8.44% of the total vote.<ref name=1876convention>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=57956 US President - R Convention Race - Jun 14, 1876]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> The nomination instead went to [[Rutherford Hayes]], who "reformers" bolstered.<ref name=u-s-history.com/>
Blaine also sought the nomination, finishing second place with the support of 351 delegates.ref name=1876convention/>
===Leading the Stalwarts===
A political boss who effectively utilized [[patronage]], Conkling led the remnants of the Radical Republicans during the late 1870s which opposed civil service reform and supported:<ref>Weisberger, Bernard A. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/james-garfield-and-chester-arthur James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref>
{{cquote|...so-called carpetbag and black rule in the South, hard money, and high tariffs.|||Encyclopedia.com}}
==Death and legacy==
He died as a result of the Great Blizzard of 1888.
He died as a result of the Great Blizzard of 1888.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conkling, Roscoe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conkling, Roscoe}}