 The 1874 House elections produced a Democratic majority for the 44th Congress , and Blaine 's time as Speaker was at an end . This gave Blaine more time to concentrate on his presidential ambitions , and to develop new policy ideas . One result was a foray into education policy . In late 1875 , President Grant made several speeches on the importance of the separation of church and state and the duty of the states to provide free public education . Blaine saw in this an issue that would distract from the Grant administration scandals and let the Republican party regain the high moral ground . In December 1875 , he proposed a joint resolution that became known as the Blaine Amendment . 
