James Gillespie Blaine, His Family, and "Romanism"

In the presidential campaign of 1884, a supporter of Republican nominee James G. Blaine, in Blaine's presence, referred to the Democratic Party as the party of "Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion"—that is, the party of drunkards, Catholics, and rebels. Blaine may not have heard the remark—he publicly repudiated it three days later—but by then the damage had been done. Angry at the infamous association with drunkards and rebels, many Catholics may have switched their allegiance to Democrat Grover Cleveland that fall, thus swinging the election against Blaine. There is strong evidence, however, that Blaine had been baptized a Catholic and, although never practicing, was thus the first baptized Catholic nominated for the presidency, forty-four years before Al Smith in 1928.