chance of Conkling's re-election was likely ended, and his political career with it, when President Garfield was shot on July 2 by Charles Guiteau, a fellow Stalwart who had cited the Blaine appointment in threats to the President. Though he was still alive when the election finally concluded on July 22, he died on September 19. Conkling's long-time protégé, Chester Arthur, succeeded to the presidency. Presidential politics As a Senator and the boss of the New York Republicans, Conkling was a kingmaker at multiple Republican Conventions. After supporting President Ulysses S. Grant in 1868 and 1872, Conkling ran an unsuccessful campaign of his own in 1876. In 1880, he supported the nomination of Grant for a third term. Though his preferred candidate was not nominated for president in either case, he was successful in preventing the nomination of an outright reformer. Chester A. Arthur's nomination as vice president in 1880 was designed to appease Conkling (though Arthur accepted over Conkling's objection) and led to Arthur's succession as president after the assassination of James Garfield. 1868 and 1872 Conkling was an active supporter of Ulysses S. Grant's three presidential campaigns. In 1868, he actively campaigned for Grant against his own brother-in-law, Horatio Seymour. As the 1872 campaign shaped up, Conkling established himself as one of the foremost defenders of the Grant administration. When Charles Sumner introduced a constitutional amendment to limit the presidency to one term in 1871, Conkling spoke against its passage. Conkling led a barnstorming tour across New York state, beginning in Manhattan on July 23. His speech there was issued, in abridged form, by the state party as a central piece of the Republican campaign in the state. Conkling spoke against Horace Greeley in personal terms, drawing criticism from the Democratic and Liberal Republican press. His next speech was on August 8, after which he hosted a meet-and-greet with President Grant at his mansion in Utica. Grant won the election over Greeley easily, and the Republican ticket swept New York. 1876 campaign Soon after his re-election to the Senate, Conkling became a leading choice to succeed President Grant. He had the support of Grant and the unanimous backing of the New York Republicans. A public meeting was held in Utica on March 2 to endorse his candidacy, and the Republican state convention on March 22 endorsed Conkling for president. Conkling named as his own second choice Governor Rutherford