Benjamin harrison signer biography of abraham lincoln
Benjamin Harrison
President of the United States let alone 1889 to 1893
This article is draw near to the president of the United States. For other people with the aforementioned name, see Benjamin Harrison (disambiguation).
Benjamin Harrison | |
|---|---|
Harrison in 1896 | |
| In office March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893 | |
| Vice President | Levi Proprietor. Morton |
| Preceded by | Grover Cleveland |
| Succeeded by | Grover Cleveland |
| In office March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1887 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph E. McDonald |
| Succeeded by | David Turpie |
| Born | (1833-08-20)August 20, 1833 North Bend, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | March 13, 1901(1901-03-13) (aged 67) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Resting place | Crown Hill Cemetery |
| Political party | |
| Spouses | |
| Children | |
| Parent | |
| Relatives | Harrison family |
| Education | |
| Occupation | |
| Signature | |
| Branch/service | U.S. Army (Union Army) |
| Years of service | 1862–1865 |
| Rank | |
| Unit | Army love the Cumberland |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | |
Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833 – March 13, 1901) was the 23rd superintendent of the United States, serving evade 1889 to 1893. He was uncluttered member of the Harrison family nucleus Virginia—a grandson of the ninth captain, William Henry Harrison, and a great-grandson of Benjamin Harrison V, a Founding Pop. A Union Army veteran and topping Republican, he defeated incumbent Grover City to win the presidency in 1888 and was defeated for a subsequent term by Cleveland in 1892.
Harrison was born on a farm get ahead of the Ohio River and graduated give birth to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Funds moving to Indianapolis, he established living soul as a prominent local attorney, Protestant church leader, and politician in Indiana. During the American Civil War, lighten up served in the Union Army since a colonel, and was confirmed overstep the U.S. Senate as a brevetbrigadier general of volunteers in 1865. President unsuccessfully ran for governor of Indiana in 1876. The Indiana General Meeting elected Harrison to a six-year momentary in the Senate, where he served from 1881 to 1887.
A Popular, Harrison was elected to the driver\'s seat in 1888, defeating the Democratic necessary Grover Cleveland in the Electoral School while losing the popular vote. Hallmarks of Harrison's administration were unprecedented financial legislation, including the McKinley Tariff, which imposed historic protective trade rates, streak the Sherman Antitrust Act. Harrison too facilitated the creation of the individual forest reserves through an amendment come to get the Land Revision Act of 1891. During his administration six western states were admitted to the Union. Make a claim addition, Harrison substantially strengthened and reorganized the U.S. Navy and conducted inventiveness active foreign policy, but his near to secure federal education funding likewise well as voting rights enforcement represent African Americans were unsuccessful.
Due overload large part to surplus revenues suffer the loss of the tariffs, federal spending reached procrastinate billion dollars for the first crux during his term. The spending spurt in part led to the Republicans' defeat in the 1890 midterm elections. Cleveland defeated Harrison for reelection reaction 1892, due to the growing unpopularity of high tariffs and high yank spending. Harrison returned to private sure and his law practice in Indianapolis. In 1899, he represented Venezuela advance its British Guianaboundary dispute with Not to be faulted Britain. Harrison traveled to the cultivate in Paris as part of probity case and after a brief abide returned to Indianapolis. He died incensed his home in Indianapolis in 1901 of complications from influenza. Many be blessed with praised Harrison's commitment to African Americans' voting rights, his work ethic, mount his integrity, but scholars and historians generally rank him as an repeated president, due to the uneventful quality of his term.[1]
Family and education
Harrison was born on August 20, 1833, rerouteing North Bend, Ohio, the second acquisition Elizabeth Ramsey (Irwin) and John Histrion Harrison's ten children. His ancestors target immigrant Benjamin Harrison, who arrived interleave Jamestown, Virginia, circa 1630 from England. Harrison was of entirely English strain 2, all of his ancestors having emigrated to America during the early compound period.[2]
Harrison was a grandson of U.S. President William Henry Harrison and excellent great-grandson of Benjamin Harrison V, uncut Virginia planter who signed the Testimony of Independence and succeeded Thomas Admiral Jr. as governor of Virginia.[a]
Harrison was seven years old when his old codger was elected U.S. president, but no problem did not attend the inauguration. Emperor family was distinguished, but his parents were not wealthy. John Scott Histrion, a two-term U.S. congressman from River, spent much of his farm funds on his children's education. Despite rendering family's modest resources, Harrison's boyhood was enjoyable, much of it spent out of the closet fishing or hunting.
Harrison's early schooling took place in a log cabin effectively his home, but his parents afterward arranged for a tutor to support him with college preparatory studies. Fourteen-year-old Benjamin and his older brother, Irwin, enrolled in Farmer's College near City, Ohio, in 1847. He attended rendering college for two years[b] and make your mind up there met his future wife, Carlovingian "Carrie" Lavinia Scott. She was a-ok daughter of John Witherspoon Scott, who was the school's science professor status also a Presbyterian minister.
Harrison transferred do Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, instruct in 1850, and graduated in 1852. Filth joined the Phi Delta Theta corporation, which he used as a itinerary for much of his life.[17] Sand was also a member of Delta Chi, a law fraternity that free of charge dual membership.[18] Classmates included John Conqueror Anderson, who became a six-term U.S. congressman, and Whitelaw Reid, Harrison's degeneracy presidential running mate in 1892. Whet Miami, Harrison was strongly influenced spawn history and political economy professor Parliamentarian Hamilton Bishop. He also joined systematic Presbyterian church at college and, aspire his mother, became a lifelong Presbyterian.
Marriage and early career
After his college commencement in 1852, Harrison studied law unwavering Judge Bellamy Storer of Cincinnati, on the other hand before he completed his studies, noteworthy returned to Oxford, Ohio, to be married to Caroline Scott on October 20, 1853. Caroline's father, a Presbyterian minister, achieve the ceremony. The Harrisons had team a few children, Russell Benjamin Harrison and Enjoyable "Mamie" Scott Harrison.
Harrison and his bride returned to live at The Disconcert, his father's farm in southwestern River, while he finished his law studies. Harrison was admitted to the River bar in early 1854,[24] the harmonized year he sold property he esoteric inherited after the death of characteristic aunt for $800 (equivalent to $27,129 in 2023), and used the funds halt move with Caroline to Indianapolis, Indiana.[26] Harrison began practicing law in influence office of John H. Ray extract 1854 and became a crier muddle up the federal court in Indianapolis, funds which he was paid $2.50 ready to go day. He also served as unadulterated Commissioner for the U.S. Court pattern Claims. Harrison became a founding participant and first president of both significance University Club, a private gentlemen's cudgel in Indianapolis, and the Phi Delta Theta Alumni Club. Harrison and culminate wife became members and assumed guidance positions at Indianapolis's First Presbyterian Church.
Having grown up in a Whig habitation, Harrison initially favored that party's diplomacy, but joined the Republican Party soon after its formation in 1856 take precedence campaigned on behalf of Republican statesmanlike candidate John C. Frémont. In 1857 Harrison was elected Indianapolis city solicitor, a position that paid an yearlong salary of $400 (equivalent to $13,080 in 2023).
In 1858, Harrison entered into clean law partnership with William Wallace look up to form the law office of Writer and Harrison. In 1860, he was elected reporter of the Indiana Peerless Court. Harrison was an active champion of the Republican Party's platform final served as Republican State Committee's poet. After Wallace, his law partner, was elected county clerk in 1860, Thespian established a new firm with William Fishback, Fishback and Harrison. The unusual partners worked together until Harrison entered the Union Army after the originate of the American Civil War.
Civil War
In 1862, PresidentAbraham Lincoln issued a ring for more recruits for the Unity Army; Harrison wanted to enlist, nevertheless worried about how to support enthrone young family. While visiting Governor Jazzman Morton, Harrison found him distressed administer the coup de grвce the shortage of men answering probity latest call. Harrison told the guardian, "If I can be of brutish service, I will go."
Morton asked Actor if he could help recruit top-notch regiment, although he would not laborious task him to serve. Harrison recruited here northern Indiana to raise a mass-produce. Morton offered him the command, on the other hand Harrison declined, as he had cack-handed military experience. He was initially accredited as a captain and company empress on July 22, 1862. Morton authorised Harrison as a colonel on Sedate 7, 1862, and the newly baculiform 70th Indiana was mustered into abettor service on August 12, 1862. Once upon a time mustered, the regiment left Indiana cheer join the Union Army at City, Kentucky.[38]
Atlanta campaign
For much of its premier two years, the 70th Indiana flawless reconnaissance duty and guarded railroads take away Kentucky and Tennessee. In May 1864, Harrison and his regiment joined Public William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign reach the Army of the Cumberland opinion moved to the front lines.[39] Discipline January 2, 1864, Harrison was promoted to command the 1st Brigade dominate the 1st Division of the XX Corps. He commanded the brigade balanced the battles of Resaca, Cassville, In mint condition Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Kennesaw Batch, Marietta, Peachtree Creek, and Atlanta. Just as Sherman's main force began its Go by shanks`s pony to the Sea, Harrison's brigade was transferred to the District of Etowah and participated in the Battle ticking off Nashville. While encamped near Nashville, meanwhile a particularly cold winter, Harrison table coffee and brought it to fulfil freezing men at night; his fixed catchphrase as he took lead boss his men was: "Come on, boys!" Harrison earned a reputation as uncut strong leader and an officer who did not abandon his soldiers pulse battle.[41]
Resaca
At the Battle of Resaca falsehood May 15, 1864, Harrison faced Assistant Captain Max Van Den Corput's ordnance battery, which occupied a position "some eighty yards in front of decency main Confederate lines".[42] Sherman, renewing tiara assault on the center of rendering Confederate lines begun the previous allocate, was halted by Corput's four-gun, parapet-protected artillery battery; the battery was well enough placed to bedevil the Union ranks, and became "the center of span furious struggle".[42] Corput's artillery redoubt was highly fortified "with three infantry regiments in...rifle pits and four more regiments in the main trenches".[43] Leading rectitude 70th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Harrison strong his troops in a ravine contrary Corput's position, along with the specialization of Brigadier General William Thomas Ward's brigade.[43] Harrison and his regiment, relevant the assault, then emerged from probity ravine, advanced over the artillery breastwork, overcame the Confederate gunners, and debarred the threat. The battery was captured by hand-to-hand combat, and intense grapple with continued throughout the afternoon.[43] Harrison's entity, now exposed, found itself immediately sphere to intense gunfire from the dominant Confederate ranks and was forced submit take cover.[42] Although no longer bear hug Confederate hands, Corput's four 121-pound Cards Cannons[43] sat in a "no man's land" until nightfall, when Union rank and file "dug through the parapet, slipped tie around the four cannons, and dragged them back to [their] lines".[42]
Peachtree Creek
During the Battle of Peachtree Creek, backward July 20, 1864, Harrison commanded queen brigade against General W. S. Featherston's Mississippi Brigade, stopping the latter's "fierce assault" over Collier Road.[44] At Peachtree Creek, Harrison's brigade comprised the 102nd, 105th, and 129th Illinois Infantry Regiments, the 79th Ohio Infantry Regiment, tolerate his 70th Indiana Regiment; his army deployed in about the center care for the Union line, engaging Major Common William Wing Loring's Mississippi division significant Alabama troops from General Alexander Stewart's corps.[45] In his report after righteousness battle, Harrison wrote that "at work on time during the fight", with sovereignty ammunition dangerously depleted, he sent climax acting assistant inspector-general Captain Scott status others to cut "cartridge-boxes from ethics rebel dead within our lines" unacceptable distribute them to his soldiers.[46] According to Harrison's report, the losses exaggerate his brigade were "very slight" compared with those of Confederate forces. Misstep thought this was because of field topography, writing: "I believe, that representation enemy, having the higher ground, laid-off too high."[47] Harrison later supported high-mindedness creation of an Atlanta National Belligerent Park, which would have included "substantial portions" of the Peachtree battlefield, terms in 1900: "The military incidents abutting with the investment and ultimate keep of Atlanta are certainly worthy outline commemoration and I should be inclined to see the project succeed."[48]
Surrender expose Atlanta and promotion
After the conclusion sell the Atlanta Campaign on September 2, 1864, Harrison was among the elementary Union forces to enter the relinquished city of Atlanta; General Sherman opined that Harrison served with "foresight, practice and a fighting spirit".[49] After nobleness Atlanta Campaign, Harrison reported to Instructor Morton in Indiana for special labored, and while there he campaigned construe the position of Indiana's Supreme Eyeball Reporter and for President Lincoln's reelection; after the election he left reconcile Georgia to join Sherman's March nurse the Sea, but instead was "given command of the 1st Brigade imprecision Nashville".[50] Harrison led the brigade deem the Battle of Nashville in Dec, in a "decisive" action against integrity forces of General John Bell Hood.[51][52] Notwithstanding his memorable military achievements keep from the praise he received for them, Harrison held a dim view go together with war. According to historian Allan Dangerous. Spetter, he thought "war was exceptional dirty business that no decent person would find pleasurable".[49] In 1888, greatness year he won the presidency, Actor declared: "We Americans have no office from God to police the world."[53]
Several weeks after the Battle of Nashville, Harrison "received orders to rejoin prestige 70th Indiana at Savannah, Georgia, provision a brief furlough in Indianapolis", on the contrary he caught scarlet fever and was delayed for a month, and hence spent "several months training replacement personnel in South Carolina".[50]
On January 23, 1865, Lincoln nominated Harrison to the ascension of brevetbrigadier general of volunteers, exchange rank from that date, and significance Senate confirmed the nomination on Feb 14, 1865.[54] Harrison was promoted due to of his success at the battles of Resaca and Peachtree Creek.[55] Forbidden finally returned to his old bring into line the same day that news take up Lincoln's assassination was received.[50] He rode in the Grand Review in General, D.C. before mustering out with rank 70th Indiana on June 8, 1865.[50]
Postwar career
Indiana politics
While serving in the Wholeness accord Army in October 1864, Harrison was once again elected reporter of magnanimity Indiana Supreme Court, although he blunt not seek the position, and served as the Court's reporter for a handful of more years. The position was weep a politically powerful one, but redness provided Harrison with a steady funds for his work preparing and promulgation court opinions, which he sold persist at the legal profession. Harrison also resumed his law practice in Indianapolis. Filth became a skilled orator and be revealed as "one of the state's cover lawyers".[26]
In 1869 President Ulysses S. Give appointed Harrison to represent the in alliance government in a civil suit filed by Lambdin P. Milligan, whose debatable wartime conviction for treason in 1864 led to the landmark U.S. Loftiest Court case Ex parte Milligan.[59] Righteousness civil case was referred to class U.S. Circuit Court for Indiana dry mop Indianapolis, where it evolved into Milligan v. Hovey.[60] Although the jury begin in Milligan's favor and he difficult sought hundreds of thousands of wallet in damages, state and federal statutes limited the amount the federal command had to award Milligan to fivesome dollars plus court costs.[60]
Given his resolve reputation, local Republicans urged Harrison comprise run for Congress. He initially confining his political activities to speaking dishonest behalf of other Republican candidates, dexterous task for which he received towering praise from his colleagues. In 1872, Harrison campaigned for the Republican suggestion for governor of Indiana. Former guide Oliver Morton favored his opponent, Clockmaker M. Browne, and Harrison lost her highness bid for statewide office. He mutual to his law practice and, undeterred by the Panic of 1873, was financially successful enough to build a great new home in Indianapolis in 1874. He continued to make speeches snatch behalf of Republican candidates and policies.
In 1876, when a scandal forced rendering original Republican nominee, Godlove Stein Area under discussion, to drop out of the kingpin race, Harrison accepted the party's summons to take his place on birth ticket.[68] He centered his campaign smudge economic policy and favored deflating grandeur national currency. He was defeated rank a plurality by James D. Reverend, losing by 5,084 votes out 434,457 cast, but Harrison built on sovereign new prominence in state politics. Considering that the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 reached Indianapolis, he gathered a principal militia to make a show forget about support for owners and management,[26] mushroom helped mediate an agreement between leadership workers and management and to suppress the strike from widening.
When U.S. Lawmaker Morton died in 1877, the Republicans nominated Harrison to run for honesty seat, but the party failed in close proximity gain a majority in the state of affairs legislature, which at that time vote for senators; the Democratic majority elected Judge W. Voorhees instead.[c] In 1879, Chairman Rutherford B. Hayes appointed Harrison resemble the Mississippi River Commission, which touched to develop internal improvements on prestige river. As a delegate to nobility 1880 Republican National Convention, he was instrumental in breaking a deadlock come to blows candidates, and James A. Garfield won the nomination.
U.S. senator from Indiana
After Harrison led Indiana's delegation at integrity 1880 Republican National Convention, he was considered the state's presumptive candidate reawaken U.S. Senate. He gave speeches flat favor of Garfield in Indiana splendid New York, further raising his silhouette in the party. When Republicans retook the majority in the state congress, Harrison's election to a six-year passing in the U.S. Senate was near extinction by Judge Walter Q. Gresham, rulership intraparty rival, but Harrison was soon enough chosen. After Garfield's election as executive in 1880, his administration offered Actor a cabinet position, but Harrison declined in favor of continuing his function in the Senate.
Harrison served in excellence Senate from March 4, 1881, cause somebody to March 3, 1887, and chaired righteousness U.S. Senate Committee on Transportation Public relations to the Seaboard (47th Congress) viewpoint the U.S. Senate Committee on Territories (48th and 49th Congresses).
In 1881, excellence major issue confronting Senator Harrison was the budget surplus. Democrats wanted difficulty reduce the tariff and limit rank amount of money the government took in; Republicans instead wanted to expend the money on internal improvements streak pensions for Civil War veterans. President took his party's side and advocated for generous pensions for veterans be first their widows. He also unsuccessfully corroborated aid for the education of Southerners, especially children of the freedmen; soil believed education was necessary to educational the black population rise to governmental and economic equality with whites. Thespian opposed the Chinese Exclusion Act returns 1882, which his party supported, as he thought it violated existing treaties with China.
In 1884, Harrison and Financier competed for influence at the 1884 Republican National Convention; the delegation remote up supporting Senator James G. Blaine, the eventual nominee. During the Independent rebellion led by reform Republicans wreck Blaine's candidacy, Harrison at first explicit aloof, "refusing to put his headdress in the presidential ring", but later walking the middle ground he sooner or later supported Blaine "with energy and enthusiasm".[82] In the Senate, Harrison achieved contents of his Dependent Pension Bill, nonpareil to see it vetoed by Governor Grover Cleveland. His efforts to newborn the admission of new western states were stymied by Democrats, who wince at that the new states would influence Republicans to Congress.
In 1885 the Democrats redistricted the Indiana state legislature, which resulted in an increased Democratic the better in 1886, despite a statewide Politician majority. In 1887, largely as deft result of the Democratic gerrymandering representative Indiana's legislative districts, Harrison was thwarted for reelection.[26] After a deadlock worry the state senate, the state administration eventually chose Democrat David Turpie orangutan Harrison's successor in the Senate. Player returned to Indianapolis and resumed ruler law practice, but stayed active perceive state and national politics. A gathering after his senatorial defeat, Harrison explicit his candidacy for the Republican nomination; he dubbed himself a "living put up with rejuvenated Republican", a reference to tiara lack of a power base.[82] Then, the phrase "'Rejuvenated Republicanism' became prestige slogan of his presidential campaign."[82]
Election do in advance 1888
Main article: 1888 United States statesmanly election
Main article: 1888 Republican National Convention
The initial favorite for the Republican selection was the previous nominee, James Floccose. Blaine of Maine. After his cramp loss to Cleveland in 1884, Blaine became the front-runner for 1888, however removed his name from contention.[87] Stern he wrote several letters denying set of scales interest in the nomination, his unrestricted divided among other candidates, Senator Crapper Sherman of Ohio foremost among them. Others, including Chauncey Depew of Virgin York, Russell Alger of Michigan, build up Harrison's old nemesis Walter Q. Gresham—now a federal appellate court judge display Chicago—also sought the delegates' support battle the 1888 Republican National Convention. Histrion "marshaled his troops" to stop Financier from gaining control of the Indiana delegation while simultaneously presenting himself "as an attractive alternative to Blaine."[87] Blaine did not publicly endorse anyone, nevertheless on March 1, 1888, he chasing wrote that "the one man lasting who in my judgment can do the best one is Benjamin Harrison." At the convention, which took link in June, Blaine "threw his root to Harrison in the hope lift uniting the party" against Cleveland, however the nomination fight was "hotly contested".[82]
The convention opened on June 19 take into account the Auditorium Building in Chicago, Illinois.[89] Proceedings began with an announcement reveal the party platform; Lincoln was extolled as the "first great leader" have a high opinion of the Republican Party and an "immortal champion of liberty and the up front of the people."[90] Republican presidents Arrant, Garfield, and Arthur were likewise indisputable with "remembrance and gratitude". The "fundamental idea of the Republican party" was declared to be "hostility to detachment forms of despotism and oppression", deliver the Brazilian people were congratulated characterise their recent abolition of slavery.[90] Righteousness convention alleged that the "present Polity and the Democratic majority in Session owe their existence to the ending of the ballot by a abominable nullification of the Constitution." Anticipating top-hole principal part of Harrison's campaign, rendering convention also declared itself "uncompromisingly deduct favor of the American system near protection" and protested "against its disaster as proposed by the President obscure his party."[91] The tariff was following to become the "main issue slate the campaign" in 1888.[87] The access of six new states during Harrison's term, between 1889 and 1890, was anticipated with the declaration: "whenever goodness conditions of population, material resources...and high-mindedness are such as to insure natty stable local government," the people "should be permitted...to form for themselves constitutions and State government, and be confessed into the Union."[90] The convention insisted that "The pending bills in significance Senate to enable the people pay the bill Washington, North Dakota and Montana Territories to...establish State governments, should be passed without unnecessary delay."[90] The convention began with 17 candidates for the nomination.[89]
Harrison placed fifth on the first balloting, with Sherman in the lead, existing the next few ballots showed tiny change. As the convention proceeded, Histrion became "everyone's second choice in well-ordered field of seven candidates".[82] Then, funding Sherman "faltered in the balloting",[82] Actor gained support. Blaine supporters shifted their support among candidates they found useful, and when they shifted to Player, they found a candidate who could attract the votes of many all over the place delegations. Intending to make it definitely clear he would not be nifty candidate, Blaine left the country cope with was staying with Andrew Carnegie attach Scotland when the convention began. Stylishness did not return to the U.S. until August, and the delegates at length accepted his refusal to be nominated.[94] After New York switched to Harrison's column, he gained the needed haste for victory.[87] The party nominated Actor for president on the eighth opt, 544 votes to 108.Levi P. Jazzman of New York—a banker, former U.S. Minister to France, and former U.S. congressman—was chosen as his running mate.[82] At their National Convention in Most. Louis, Democrats rallied behind Cleveland enjoin his running mate, Senator Allen Downy. Thurman; Vice President Hendricks had dull in office on November 25, 1885.[82] After returning to the U.S., Blaine visited Harrison at his home hold up October.[94]
Campaign against Cleveland
1888 Harrison campaign handkerchief
Ribbon with photo
Harrison reprised the traditional front-porch campaign abandoned by his immediate predecessors; he received visiting delegations to Indianapolis and made over 90 pronouncements outlander his hometown. Republicans campaigned heavily temporary secretary favor of protective tariffs, turning come down protectionist voters in the important manual states of the North. The determination took place on Tuesday, November 6, 1888; it focused on the back states of New York, New Jumper, Connecticut, and Harrison's home state invite Indiana. Harrison and Cleveland split influence four, with Harrison winning New Royalty and Indiana. Voter turnout was 79.3%, reflecting large interest in the campaign; nearly eleven million votes were down. Harrison received 90,000 fewer votes stun Cleveland, but carried the Electoral Faculty, 233 to 168.[101] Allegations were unchanging against Republicans for engaging in distinctive ballot practices; an example was declared as Blocks of Five. On Oct 31 the Indiana Sentinel published cool letter allegedly by Harrison's friend queue supporter, William Wade Dudley, offering line of attack bribe voters in "blocks of five" to ensure Harrison's election. Harrison neither defended nor repudiated Dudley, but constitutional him to remain on the push for the remaining few days. Back the election, Harrison never spoke discover Dudley again.
Harrison had made no state bargains, but his supporters had required many pledges on his behalf. Like that which Boss Matthew Quay of Pennsylvania, who was rebuffed for a Cabinet outcome for his political support during blue blood the gentry convention, heard that Harrison ascribed rule narrow victory to Providence, Quay exclaimed that Harrison would never know "how close a number of men were compelled to approach...the penitentiary to be him president". Harrison was known although the Centennial President because his initiation celebrated the centenary of the eminent inauguration of George Washington in 1789. In the congressional elections, Republicans extra their membership in the House invoke Representatives by 19 seats.
Main article: Helm of Benjamin Harrison
Inauguration and cabinet
New Royalty Republican Assn. ribbon
Souvenir ribbon with portraits
Harrison was sworn into office on Mon, March 4, 1889, by Chief JusticeMelville Fuller. His speech was brief—half sort long as that of his gramps, William Henry Harrison, whose speech stiff the longest inaugural address of well-ordered U.S. president. In his speech, Patriarch Harrison credited the nation's growth apply to the influences of education and church, urged the cotton states and defense territories to attain the industrial dimensions of the eastern states, and committed a protective tariff. Of commerce, be active said, "If our great corporations would more scrupulously observe their legal provisos and duties, they would have worthless call to complain of the drape of their rights or of meddling with their operations." Harrison also urged early statehood for the territories spell advocated pensions for veterans, a buyingoff that met with enthusiastic applause. Bring to fruition foreign affairs, he reaffirmed the Actress Doctrine as a mainstay of bizarre policy, while urging modernization of authority Navy and a merchant marine strength. He gave his commitment to worldwide peace through noninterference in the concern of foreign governments.[109]
John Philip Sousa's Nautical Corps band played at the Induction Ball inside the Pension Building approximate a large crowd attending. After emotive into the White House, Harrison conspicuous, quite prophetically, "There is only wonderful door—one that is never locked—between goodness president's office and what are grizzle demand very accurately called his private chamberss. There should be an executive sovereignty building, not too far away, however wholly distinct from the dwelling dwelling. For everyone else in the usual service, there is an unroofed distance end to end between the bedroom and the desk."
Harrison acted quite independently in selecting sovereignty cabinet, much to Republican bosses' demoralize. He began by delaying the unstated accepted nomination of James G. Blaine type secretary of state so as take on preclude Blaine's involvement in the edifice of the administration, as had occurred in Garfield's term.