Vice Presidents - # 22 – Levi Morton

Grave of Levi Morton (21 June 2021)

Served under Benjamin Harrison

4 March 1889 – 4 March 1893

Preceded by # 21 – Thomas A. Hendricks

Succeeded by # 23 – Adlai Stevenson

Born – 16 May 1824

Died – 16 May 1920 (age 96)

Buried – Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, NY

Date Visited – 21 June 2021

As we dwell on the Empire State, let’s consider the outsized impact New York and its leaders have had on our nation’s history. From the colonial period on, New York State and City have stood as industrial-commercial-financial centers for the country. While California, Texas and Florida now have greater populations and federal representation, they will need much time to catch the New Yorkers who have served in the nation’s top government positions.

New York gave us seven presidents and ten vice presidents. Of the 56 men who have been governor, four became president and two became chief justice of the United States.

Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, NY (21 June 2021)

After paying my respects to VP # 4, George Clinton, it took less than thirty minutes to cross the Hudson River from Kingston to the town of Rhinebeck where VP # 22 currently resides.

Levi Parsons Morton was born in Vermont, the son of a minister. After his education in New England, he became a successful merchant and banker in New York. This led to a political career that included a brief stint in Congress and time as our ambassador to France. It was Ambassador Morton who ceremoniously installed the first rivet in the Statue of Liberty and formally accepted the iconic gift from France.

In 1880, he could have been VP # 20 with James Garfield but upon the advice of the villainous Republican Stalwart leader and Patron Saint of Patronage, Roscoe Conkling, Morton turned down the offer…thus also missing the chance to become president given Garfield’s unfortunately short tenure.

Levi P. Morton, early in his political career

(From Google Images)

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Indiana gave us four vice presidents. It was a time when the state’s electoral votes were too important to ignore if you wanted to be president. In the General Election of 1888, Morton was the running mate of Benjamin Harrison. Since the presidential candidate was from Indiana, he broadened his appeal by picking someone from the most populous state. Grover Cleveland was the incumbent and although he won the popular vote, the Harrison-Morton ticket had the electoral vote majority.

Inscriptions for Anna Livingston, Levi Morton’s Second Wife

Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, NY (21 June 2021)

Morton did not have much of a relationship with Harrison and failed as the Senate President to secure passage of legislation that mattered to the Republicans. By the time of the next election in 1892, he was replaced on the Harrison ticket. Cleveland won again and become our only two-time (vs. two-term) president.

Not done with politics, Morton returned to New York and was elected the state’s 31st governor in 1894. In his single term, he worked to reform civil service and the awful patronage spoils system that was so popular then. True to form, this ticked off the party bosses and they nominated someone else for the next election.

Inscriptions for Lucy Kimball, Levi Morton’s First Wife

Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, NY (21 June 2021)

Done with politics after that, he settled in New York City and upstate Rhinebeck. He was active in business and the high society philanthropic scene including being president of the New York Zoological Society for thirteen years. Pneumonia took him out on his 96th birthday. He was the longest-living VP until FDR’s John Nance Garner made it to 98 in 1964.

Levi Morton’s Grave, Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, NY (21 June 2021)