Monday, June 2, 2025

Question: What derisive nickname did political opponents give John Tyler after he became president in 1841?

Answer: “His Accidency.” Tyler was the first vice president to become president upon the death of the elected leader—William Henry Harrison—so it was not clear what powers he had under the Constitution. He initially sought re-election in 1844 as a third-party candidate but lagged so far behind that he dropped out of the race before election day.