19th Century Political Campaigns
1828
Opponents of Andrew Jackson, for example, accused him of murder, while Old Hickory's men whispered that his rival John Quincy Adams had been, while U.S. minister to Russia, a pimp for the tsar.
1876
Democrats focused on the scandals of the outgoing Grant administration, painting all Republicans as crooks and calling Grant "the Mephistopheles [devil] of American politics."
“Opponents of Andrew Jackson, for example, accused him of murder”
Credibly, to be fair.
During the nation's first contested presidential election in 1796, supporters of Vice President John Adams charged his challenger, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, with atheism, sexual improprieties, and dangerous revolutionary intentions. For their part, Jefferson backers accused Adams of plotting to establish a monarchy, crown himself king, and ally the country with its foe, Great Britain.
LOL! What a start!
Thanks for the link, very interesting. The more things change...