resulted in his subsequent defeat. Garfield's nomination of Robertson forced the junior senator to remain loyal to his vows and buck Conkling, or affirm his Stalwart politics and break the promise. Contrary to narratives both in Platt's time and the contemporary era which suggest the resignations were an encouragement by Conkling which Platt eagerly concurred, it was Platt who suggested the strategy. However, the general perception of Platt as an acolyte of Conkling resulted in his portrayal as a "Me too," "Echo," and "Dromio" of his mentor. A cartoon published by Thomas Nast in Harper's Weekly portrayed the pair as having "lost their heads," with former president Ulysses S. Grant struggling to resurrect Conkling. Half-Breeds outmaneuver Platt The reasoning for the resignations, Platt articulated, functioned as a "desperate remedy" to prevent him from being forced to vote on confirming Robertson to the collector position. He thus would not betray the vows made towards Depew, nor would it act as a direct affront to Conkling. Platt and Conkling ran in the special election to fill the vacancies created by their own resignations but lost. Anticipations were made that Governor Cornell would alert the state legislature in a prompt announcement of their resignations, although a maneuvering by two Half-Breeds in the state Senate resulted in the chamber's adjourning before the message could be received. The Half-Breed ranks in the state legislature thus gave more time for themselves to devise a strategy that would thwart efforts to re-elect Platt and Conkling; Platt's adviser Louis F. Payn predicted their defeats following the results of the first ballot that fueled pessimism. The Half-Breeds in the legislature did not look upon Platt as having demonstrated loyalty to his promise, and steadfastly worked to prevent his re-election. A majority in the chambers viewed that Garfield's promotion of Robertson at the opposition of the "regular" machine were not "dishonest" nor "dishonorable." Allies of Conkling bitterly fought to reinstate them to their seats, including Vice President Chester Arthur, although Platt would withdraw his name from the special election following a month of balloting. The assassination of Garfield resulted in subsequent suspicions toward Stalwarts, and an alliance between Half-Breed and Independents thwarted the "Old Guard" by nominating Warner Miller and Elbridge G. Lapham to succeed Platt and Conkling respectively. The inability of Platt to ensure a successful strategy that only resulted in the self-ousting of the senatorial pair ended his