(Mental Floss ) -- Negative campaigning in America was sired by two lifelong friends, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Back in 1776, the dynamic duo combined powers to help claim America's independence, and they had nothing but love and respect for one another. But by 1800, party politics had so distanced the pair that, for the first and last time in U.S. history, a president found himself running against his vice president. Despite their bruising campaign, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams became friends again. Things got ugly fast. Jefferson's camp accused President Adams of having a "hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman."
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John Adams and Thomas Jefferson ran negative presidential campaigns
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Adams was labeled a fool, a hypocrite, a criminal, and a tyrant,
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Jefferson was branded a weakling, an atheist, a libertine, and a coward
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Many historians say John Quincy Adams/Andrew Jackson contest the nastiest
John Adams
John Adams
Adams
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@placeholder, on the other hand, considered himself above such tactics.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
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Although the claim was completely untrue, voters bought it, and @placeholder stole the election.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
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@placeholder paid a price for his dirty campaign tactics, though.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
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The story plagued @placeholder for the rest of his career.
John Adams
John Adams
Adams
John Adams
Adams
@placeholder lived long enough to see his son become president in 1825, but he died before John Quincy Adams lost the presidency to Andrew Jackson in 1828.
John Quincy Adams
John Adams lived long enough to see his son become president in 1825, but he died before @placeholder lost the presidency to Andrew Jackson in 1828.
John Adams
John Adams
Adams
John Adams
Adams
And though his lack of education and political experience terrified many @placeholder supporters, that argument didn't hold water for the throngs who lined up to cast their votes for "Old Hickory."