Transition of Power: The Presidency Page #4

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was not brokered,

Richard Nixon was elected,

and the war dragged on

and on for many years.

(chanting indistinctly)

You would think that the

transition from Johnson to Nixon

would be a bitter

and chaotic one.

Ironically, it turns out

to be one of the smoothest

in history.

I don't think Johnson wanted

to see the transition

become a point of contention.

And you're dealing with two

incredibly astute politicians.

You know, probably

the most astute politicians

of the last hundred years,

one could argue.

NARRATOR:

Before you can transfer power

to a new president,

the country first has

to choose one.

(bell tolling)

The 2016 election

between Hillary Clinton

and Donald Trump

marks only the fifth time

that the winner

of the popular vote

loses the presidency,

a result

that has renewed debate

about the Electoral College.

The peaceful transition

of power depends on a free

and fair electoral system,

a process that can be thrown

into a tailspin

when the margin is too slim.

In 1800,

the election

is as close as it gets.

Four men, including the sitting

president, John Adams,

are battling

to claim a majority

of the electoral votes.

LICHTMAN:

Two candidates tied.

Thomas Jefferson

and Aaron Burr.

And so the House

had to pick the president.

NARRATOR:

The Constitution mandates

that in the event of a tie

in the Electoral College,

the House of Representatives

must break the tie by a vote.

The House is deadlocked

for a week.

Finally, on the 36th round

of voting,

Vice President Thomas Jefferson

is elected

the third president

of the United States

just 15 days

before the inauguration.

BRANDS:

That transition

could have gone badly.

If there had been resistance,

then the American experiment

itself

would have taken

a different route.

When that one went peacefully,

it set the model for everything

that followed.

NARRATOR:
200 years later,

another divided election result

and a closely contested race

ends with the most

controversial transfer of power

in recent history.

ANCHOR:

It's been a nerve-racking night

for both candidates.

NARRATOR:

November 7, 2000.

As the returns

begin to roll in,

America learns a new

Election Night catch phrase:

"Too close to call."

Vice President Al Gore

is narrowly ahead

of George W. Bush

in the popular vote,

but the two are tied

in the Electoral College.

It all comes down

to Florida, where 25 electoral

votes will decide the election.

-ANCHOR:
We are now

projecting... -After 2:00 a.m.,

network projections

call Florida

a win for George W. Bush.

SECRETARY ANDREW CARD:

Bush won Florida,

and then Al Gore conceded,

and then Al Gore didn't concede

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