More about Culpeper’s voting record

Zann Miner
Published: November 2, 2008

My Dad always advised that “people will vote their pocketbooks.”

As stated last week, there have been numerous financial crises throughout U.S. history coinciding with a presidential election and heavily impacting the outcome. Prior to the 1930’s, critical economic setbacks were known as “financial panics.”

A review of these in regard to Culpeper’s vote may provide an indication of how Culpeper will vote on Nov. 4, 2008. See side bar.

Perhaps, you will find it interesting to read what these same presidents had to say about government, politics and leadership.

James Monroe (Democratic Republican): 1817-1825:

“National honor is the national property of the highest value.”

William H. Harrison (Whig): 1841 (died in office within the 1st month)

“There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power.”

Abraham Lincoln (Republican): 1861- 1865:

“I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside me.”

Rutherford B. Hayes (R): 1877- 1881:

“Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. Men of good character and impulses are betrayed by it into all sorts of meanness.”

Wm. McKinley (R): 1897- 1901:

“Our differences are politics. Our agreements are principles.”

Wm. Taft (R): 1909- 1913:

“Failure to accord credit to anyone for what he may have done is a great weakness in any man.”

Woodrow Wilson (D): 1913-1921:

“If you will think about what you ought to do for other people, your character will take care of itself.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt (D): 1933- 1945:

“Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

Regardless of the outcome on Nov. 4, we will have our work cut out for us during the next several years.

Until next week, be well.

Zann Miner, former director of the Museum of Culpeper History, can be reached at or send her mail at the Star-Exponent, 471 James Madison Highway, Culpeper Va., 22701.

Panic of 1819
The first major American depression, in part was attributed to the War of 1812.

Banks were forced to call in loans resulting in foreclosures of farms and subsequent bank failures

Election of 1820: James Monroe (D/R) v John Q. Adams (I/R)

Nation: Monroe

Virginia: Monroe

Culpeper: Monroe

Culpeper supported the same party (Democratic-Republican) until the parties were redefined as Democrat or Republican in 1828 and Andrew Jackson ran as a Democrat.

Panic of 1837

Triggered by among other factors a collapse in cotton prices, economic problems overseas and escalating land speculation.

Brokerage firms and state-chartered banks failed accompanied by a collapse of real estate prices.

The policies of Andrew Jackson, (D) were blamed and his VP, Van Buren, lost the 1840 election as a result.

Election of 1840: Wm. H. Harrison (W) v Martin Van Buren (D)

Nation: Harrison

Virginia: Van Buren

Culpeper: Van Buren

The nation threw out the incumbent party and Culpeper supported the change.

Panic of 1857
Caused by the failure of the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company, conducting its business as a bank headquartered in New York City. Reckless speculation in railroads led the company into trouble and ultimate collapse. Stock prices plummeted. Recovery began in early 1859. Election of 1860 cannot be defined as anyone’s norm.

Candidates: Lincoln (R), Douglas (D), Breckinridge (So. Dem.), Bell (Constitutional Union)

Nation: Lincoln

Virginia: Bell by 156 votes to Breckinridge

Culpeper: Bell by one vote to Breckinridge

Panic of 1873
The investment firm of Jay Cooke and Company went bankrupt in September 1873 as a result of rampant speculation in railroads.

The stock market dropped sharply and caused numerous businesses to fail.

An estimated three million Americans lost their jobs. Election of 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (R ) v Samuel J. Tilden (D)

Nation: Hayes

Virginia: Tilden

Culpeper: Tilden

Nation held with the same party, Culpeper supported a change

Panic of 1893

The New York stock market dropped sharply, and in late June panic selling caused the stock market to crash. A severe credit crisis resulted, more than 16,000 businesses failed including 156 railroads and nearly 500 banks. One in six American men lost their jobs.

Election of 1896: Wm. McKinley (R ) v Wm. J. Bryan (D)

Nation: McKinley

Virginia: Bryan

Culpeper: Bryan

Nation supported a change of party, Culpeper supported the incumbent party.

Panic of 1907

The stock market fell nearly 50% from its peak in 1906, resulting in numerous runs on banks and trust companies.

A retraction of loans by banks spread across the nation, leading to the closings of banks and businesses.

Election of 1908: Wm. Taft (R) v Wm. J. Bryan (D)

Nation: Taft

Virginia: Bryan

Culpeper: Bryan

Nation supported the incumbent party, while Culpeper supported a change.

Election of 1912: Woodrow Wilson (D) v Wm. H. Taft (R)

Nation: Wilson

Virginia: Wilson

Culpeper: Wilson

Nation and Culpeper supported a change of party.

Great Depression of 1930

Stock Market crash of ’29, Bank failures,Severe unemployment

Elections of 1932,’36,’40,’44

Nation: FDR,(D) v Hoover (R), Landon (R), Wilkie (R), Dewey (R) 

Virginia: FDR

Culpeper: FDR

Nation and Culpeper supported a change of party.