The Vote That Made the President

"The Vote That Made the President" by David Dudley Field is a recount of the 1876 American presidential election and how the votes in Louisiana and Florida led to Rutherford B. Hayes becoming president. It looks closely at whether the electoral votes were correct and asks important questions about the electoral system. The book gives a detailed look at the political and legal issues that came from the election while focusing on how the Returning Board of Louisiana changed the vote counts, misrepresenting Samuel J. Tilden’s votes so Hayes could win. It especially concentrates on Orlando H. Brewster, an elector whose appointment was considered improper because of his previous job and how he voted. It argues that the election in Louisiana was corrupt, so there were failures of democratic institutions and a lack of responsible elections by people in power to maintain integrity. The book offers a broader commentary on leading with morals and ethics while pushing for more oversight in the electoral process.