Youre looking at some of the images from the 1884 election and listening to songs in support of james g. Blaine of maine and his running mate, john logan. Tonight our series continues and were live in the home of james g. Blaine, and since 1920, the official residence of maines governor. Were inside the blaine house with governor page. Welcome to maine and welcome to the peoples house. Mr. Blaine is here every day and we see his spirit every evening, because we always say good night to him. What is your sense of living the house was built many years ago, many people have lived in it over the years, but he really is president in a lot of ways. What have you come to learn about the man by living in his midst . He not only was a very strong supporter and founder of the Republican Party in maine but a national leader, and started maine on its course to where we are now. And very, very influential both in the press, in state government, federal government. The man was a powerhouse, bigtime
If you missed any part of this program, well air it again tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern right here on cspan3. Cspan is touring cities across the country exploring American History. Next, a look at our visit to the blaine house in augusta, maine. Youre watching American History tv, all weekend, every weekend, on cspan3. I want to welcome you to the blaine house, since 1919, the home of maines governors and their families. The house was actually built in 1833, by a captain james hall from bath, maine, for those of you who know maine, bath is a major ship building and seaport town. And captain hall decided in 1830 to retire from the sea, he bought this very strategically located piece of land, right across from the state house that year, 1830, and in 1833 he finished construction on a very handsome twostory, hipped roof federal house, which was to be his retirement home. One of the early features that survives in the house from his time is the beautiful winding staircase, and i think it i
Logan was very well known the veterans vote was a very powerful force in the postcivil war period in america. Blaine because he was very much involved in an emerging political career when the civil war broke out he was speaker of the house in maine, the maine house of representatives and he was about to run for congress so he did what many men did at the time and he actually bought a substitute. It cost about 300 to have someone else go in your said the. Cleveland had done the same thing so it was a very interesting situation that prior to the 1884 campaign you always had someone in office in the presidency, grant and hayes and garfield who had been civil war officers. But blaine and cleveland were not. So which ever one of them had one it would have been the first generation it would have been a break in that generation, yes. We had a viewer who asked about his death so will you now tell us the story of his death . Yes, well, as has been mentioned, he was a man who was prone to illnes
I would definitely look to neils book to start out with. All right. One more plug for him. And also the state library. Very good reference at the state library. I would like to close. We have just really a minute left and ask you the question. Support our thesis. What was the legacy, whats the importance to America Today of james g. Blaine having been a politician here . I think his influence as secretary of state was very important. Its a great legacy. His desire to build some kind of cohesion between the north american and south american and Central American states. I think theres that, and i think also if you look back across his long career in public life, it is that he is one of the key builder of the Republican Party in the 19th century. Hes there in the beginning in 1854, and hes still there almost 40 years later as probably their most powerful and most identifiable figure. And maine today has a republican governor and two republican senators and congressional delegation here is
I think both real and imagined. There was always mentioned that he might have been more hypochondriac than reality. By the same token by 1892, he was exhausted both physically and mentally and in fact the campaign of 1892 was looming and there was some talk of his being nominated for president. He really wasnt up to it. And he bowed out. He gave only one speech during the campaign on behalf of the reelection of harrison and then early in 1893, he died at his home in washington. Where is he buried . Buried in augusta originally buried in washington as was his wife and then the state of maine brought mr. And mrs. Blaines remains back to augusta and they reside in a beautiful memorial above the cemetery here in augusta. How long did his wife live after him, do you know . Until 1903. She lived another ten years. We have very little time. We have a local caller. Augusta, maine. This is jonathan. Caller yes. This question might be answered by Earle Shettleworth there. What was the relationsh