Early on the morning of March 4, 1801, John Adams quietly left the White House. He had lost the presidential election of the previous year to Thomas Jefferson and Adams decided to leave the White House just prior to the inauguration.
Historians point out that Adams was humiliated by the loss to his political rival following a bitter campaign, and he wanted nothing to do with Jefferson’s ceremonial ascension to power. However, it is also true that Adams set the standard for a peaceful transition of power.
That precedent has been followed ever since. Through war and peace, acrimonious campaigns and razor tight elections, the defeated candidate has chosen to put the country first, accept the outcome and hand over power to the victor.
That protocol has also set the standard for the country. We may not be happy with the outcome, but we abide by the decision. However, it feels as though that custom is in danger.
It is quite possible that the outcome of this presidential election will not be known tonight, perhaps not the following day, and maybe not even for weeks, depending on the closeness of the race and the number of mail-in ballots left to be counted.
If that is the case, it would be understandable that the candidate who is behind would not concede. However, that trailing candidate would also have the responsibility to urge calm among his supporters.
We are seeing and hearing alarming reports of possible violence following the election. Peaceful demonstrations would be one thing, but riots and destruction generated by the outcome of the vote would shake this country to its core.
Frankly, President Donald Trump has raised the level of anxiety by questioning the legitimacy of mail-in ballots and suggesting that he may not accept the outcome of the election. At these times, we must be reminded of the words of Ronald Reagan.
Reagan, in his first inaugural address, stressed the importance of what we have always done after an election.
“The orderly transfer of authority as called for in the Constitution routinely takes place, as it has for almost two centuries, and few of us stop to think how unique we really are, in the eyes of many in the world, this every 4-year ceremony we accept as normal is nothing less than a miracle,” Reagan said.
That miracle must be carefully guarded because once we lose it, how would we get it back? Would each election become an endless legal battle that inflames the passions of supporters, spilling out into the streets?
If so, then the losing side will refuse to accept the legitimacy of the outcome, making governance even more difficult while extending us farther into the cycle of a perpetual campaign.
Yes, we badly need a definitive outcome to this presidential election, one that is marked not only by the magnanimity of the winner, but also the willingness of the loser to abide by the outcome and, if necessary, accept with grace and humility the peaceful transition of power.