We should expect the nastiness witnessed in the Republican presidential debates. After all, savaging political opponents began with our Founding Fathers in the first partisan presidential elections in 1796.
While neither John Adams nor Thomas Jefferson actively campaigned for the presidency, their respective followers destroyed the character of their opponents.
Republicans branded Adams a monarchist, a friend of the rich and well-born, intent on establishing an American aristocracy and a hereditary line to the presidency. Federalists labeled Jefferson an atheist and worse, branding him a coward for fleeing approaching British troops while governor of Virginia in 1781.
The 1800 presidential campaign proved similarly rancorous. Federalists resurfaced criticism of Jefferson as a nonbeliever and hinted that bizarre rituals had been performed at Jefferson’s estate at Monticello. Republicans again linked Adams with a plot to create a political dynasty, suggesting that he planned to marry his son to the daughter of King George III. In an act that will seem familiar, Alexander Hamilton, an influential member of Adams’ own Federalist Party, moved against Adams, declaring him unbalanced and unfit to serve as president. Some believe this caused Adams to lose his re-election.
The field of Republican presidential candidates has been fond of embracing the Founding Fathers. Rather than chastise candidates for their maliciousness, perhaps we should praise their firm grasp of American political history.
