Along with their large family. There have been 21 families who have called the blaine house their home from the millikins in 1920 to currently Governor Paul Lepage and his wife first Lady Ann Lepage beginning in 2011. Today when we think of james g. Blaine in maine, i think we think primarily of the blaine house. It really is a symbol of both the maine governorship. And also of the state of maine as a whole. I think it is probably as well known a house as any in the state, and thus the equating of the name blaine with the Governors Mansion really keeps his name alive and in the public today. The cspan radio app makes it easy to follow the 2016 election wherever you are. It is free to download from the Apple App Store or google play. Get audio coverage and up to the minute Schedule Information for cspan radio and cspan television, plus podcast times for our popular public affairs, book and history programs. Stay up to date on all the election coverage. Cspans radio app means you always
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
Ho you are looking at some of the images from the 1884 president ial electionthey discud his time. 1884 against cleveland. Ironically, in 1876, it was b laine who prevented Ulysses Grant from making a comeback and winning a third term. Besides being secretary of state for James Garfield and Chester Arthur he was secretary of state under three president s. What else did he do . He was a speaker of the house. He was a governor. He changed some of the rules in the house. The speakers are always changing the rules somewhat to their advantage is. This was after the civil war when congress was much more central, much more potent than it had been. Their reaction against the strong executive said in. To be the secret the speaker of the house, to be a power in congress meant a lot more fun than it would today. Do you have anything to say . What do you think would have happened if he won . I think he would be regarded as the best president between lincoln and tr. He was assertive, he had intelle
I know exactly the year, with then congressman Dick Gephardt who was running for president. And i knew dick quite well and i was chatting with him and i asked him, do you know the last member of the house who was elected from the house to become president . And he said no. I said, well, let me give you a hint. Do you know who the only member of the house who was elected straight from the house to be president . And he still said no. And i said garfield. And he said they shot him. And i said youre running for the job, im not. But garfield, as well see, in a brief period was president elect, senatorelect from ohio and sitting congressman all at the same time. Fascinating, fascinating guy. At the time he was elected president , he was by far the youngest president we had had in American History to that date. Only two american president s in our history died before reaching the age of 50, kennedy and garfield. Obviously both for sad reasons. But hes the only house member, and im trying to