Chapter 13: William Henry Harrison and John Tyler

The Whigs finally breakthrough in 1840 with the election of General Harrison, hero of Tippecanoe, only to have him die after one month in office. As he is the first to pass while serving, confusion reigns regarding his successor. That ends when running mate John Tyler rushes to DC asserting that the Vice-President is next in line. While Tyler is called “His Accidency,” the succession principle holds.

However, Tyler, a Virginia plantation owner casually added to “balance the ticket,” is no Whig, and he vetoes all of their legislation before being expelled from the Party, but not the Oval Office.