Dirty Campaign Tactics in History

[mykevermin]

1828: Andrew Jackson vs. John Quincy Adams

The supporters of Andrew Jackson began spreading a rumor that Adams, while serving as American ambassador to Russia, had procured an American girl for the sexual services of the Russian czar. The attack was no doubt baseless, but the Jacksonians delighted in it, even calling Adams a “pimp” and claiming that procuring women explained his great success as a diplomat.

Adams was also attacked for having a billiard table in the White House and allegedly charging the government for it. It was true that Adams played billiards in the White House, but he paid for the table with his own funds.

...

As these scurrilous charges appeared in the pages of partisan newspapers, John Quincy Adams reacted by refusing to get involved with the campaign tactics. He was so offended by what was happening that he even refused to write in the pages of his diary from August 1828 until after the election.

Jackson, on the other hand, was so furious about the attacks on himself and his wife that he got more involved. He wrote to newspaper editors giving them guidelines on how attacks should be countered and how their own attacks should proceed.

Yeah!

Also, in the 1836 election, Davy Crockett published a book saying the following about Martin Van Buren:

"He is laced up in corsets, such as women in a town wear, and, if possible, tighter than the best of them. It would be difficult to say, from his personal appearance, whether he was a man or woman, but for his large red and gray whiskers."

What else can y'all dig up?

 

[Ikohn4ever]

I know the Adams V Jefferson was pretty vicious, but back then candidates just went home and let others campaign for them

 

[freakyzeeky]

Dan Qualye and that damned 'Potatoe' :lol: