The Dissenting Vote

George Washington, Alexandria Lodge 22, and James Monroe, Williamsburgh Lodge 6, both in Virginia, were the only two United States Presidents elected essentially without opposition. In 1820, all members of the Electoral College were obligated to cast a vote for Monroe but New Hampshire representative William Plumer instead voted for John Quincy Adams. A popular story is that Plumer cast the renegade vote against Monroe because he felt no president except Washington should garner a unanimous vote in the Electoral College. While this is a nice sentiment, it's probably not true. Plumer was not a supporter of Monroe. More than that, however, Plumer was also charged to vote for Brother Monroe's Vice Presidential candidate. Monroe's pick for Vice President was Daniel Tompkins, a member of Hiram Lodge 72, Mt. Pleasant, NY who later served as that state's Grand Master. Plumer detested Tompkins, describing him as as "grossly intemperate" and having "not that weight of character which his office requires." It is more likely it was Monroe's association with Brother Tompkins, rather than Plumer's admiration of Washington, that cost Monroe a unanimous election.