Miller Center  American President  A Reference Resource  John
Tyler   Champion of Southern Power     Orderly Transfer of Power
Opponent of Nationalism       Fighting "King Andrew"        The
Campaign and Election of 1840  When the Whigs held their first
convention in late 1839, the attendees reflected a loosely
joined confederation of slave-owners and abolitionists,
nationalists and antinationalists. These individuals were united
by their dislike of Andrew Jackson and his chosen successor,
President Martin Van Buren. Henry Clay made a strong play for
their presidential nomination and was strongly supported by
Tyler, despite Clay's work against him in 1836. Clay's virulent
proslavery stance, however, made support from northern Whigs all
but impossible. Ballot after ballot failed to produce a nominee,
and Clay's lead began to erode. Slowly, steadily, the convention
turned to William Henry Harrison, and finally "Old Tippecanoe"
clinched it.  Tyler quickly became the Whig's choice as
Harrison's running ma