Presidents Quit – A History

President Lyndon B. Johnson is shown during his nationwide television broadcast from the White House on March 31, 1968. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive

Three Presidents have decided to withdraw from running for second terms since WWII, all Democrats. Their party conventions were in Chicago and two replacement nominees lost their elections; Stevenson in 1952 and Humphrey in 1968.

The losses reflected the difficult political circumstances the incumbents had fallen into. Both Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson were managing difficult wars and dealing with chaotic domestic politics with strikes, investigations, demonstrations and riots. Biden is dealing with wars (in Europe and the Middle East), inflation and a troublesome southern border.

All three had approval ratings below 40 percent. Both Truman and LBJ either lost or did poorly in the New Hampshire primary (early March at a time with few primaries) and doubted their nominations much less reelection.

Biden had secured his nomination in spite of doubts about his age and campaign ability. But a devastating bad debate performance reinforced by weak polls caused a revolt among top party leaders, elected officials and donors. Twenty-four days later he withdrew and endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris. Even though she is competing against a polarizing, controversial ex-president, she begins her campaign about where he was in the polls.

Will she be the exception and extend the Democrats hold on the presidency or follow the pattern?

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