Simon Bolivar Buckner, April 1, 1823 (Munfordville, Ky.) – January 8, 1914 (Hart County, Ky.)
VP candidate for National Democratic Party (1896)
Running mate with nominee: John M. Palmer (1817-1900)
Popular vote: 134,645 (0.97%)
Electoral vote: 0/447
The campaign:
Unable to tolerate the presence of William Jennings Bryan at the top of the Democratic Party ticket, some Bourbon Democrats bolted and formed the National Democratic Party. Sen. John Palmer of Illinois was 79, former Kentucky Governor Simon Bolivar Buckner was 73, and together they still hold the record for greatest combined age of any ticket. Palmer was a former Union general and Buckner a well known CSA general.
The Party painted itself as the bastion of Democratic Party traditionalism supporting free trade, limited government, and the gold standard.
Palmer and Buckner were vigorous campaigners but faced a bit of ageist reaction from some quarters. Apparently there was some cooperation with the McKinley campaign, but the long-range goal of the Bourbons was to recapture the Democratic Party. This they did in the 1904 election.
They were on the ballot in over 30 states, with their best showing in New Hampshire (4.21%).
Election history:
1887-1891 - Governor of Kentucky (Democratic)
Other occupations: military officer (US Mexican War, Civil War), real estate manager, CSA Army general, fire insurance company president, newspaper editor, delegate to the Democractic National Convention 1868,
Buried: Frankfort Cemetery (Frankfort, Ky.)
Notes:
If elected, Buckner would have become President upon the death of Palmer Sept. 25, 1900.
Graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1844, 11th in his class.
Wounded in the US Mexican War
Member of the Aztec Club
Surrendered to his old friend US Grant at Fort Donelson in 1862 and was released as part of a prisoner exchange five months later. Wrote poetry while imprisoned.
As Governor of Kentucky he had to deal with the Hatfield-McCoy War.
Endorsed Republican William Howard Taft in 1908.
Was the last surviving CSA Lt. General.
His only son Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. was a Lt. General killed at Okinawa in 1945, the highest ranking US officer to die in battle.
Was a pallbearer for US Grant and helped pay funeral expenses.
Buried in the same cemetery where Daniel Boone may or may not be buried.
Was the first (1862) and one of the last (1865) CSA generals to surrender.
