President Andrew Jackson declined to seek another term in the 1836 presidential election , but he remained influential within the Democratic Party as his second term came to an end . Jackson was determined to help elect Van Buren in 1836 so that the latter could continue the Jackson administration 's policies . With Jackson 's support , Van Buren won the presidential nomination of the 1835 Democratic National Convention without opposition . Two names were put forward for the vice-presidential nomination : Representative Richard M. Johnson of Kentucky , and former Senator William Cabell Rives of Virginia . Southern Democrats , and Van Buren himself , strongly preferred Rives . Jackson , on the other hand , strongly preferred Johnson . Again , Jackson 's considerable influence prevailed , and Johnson received the required two-thirds vote after New York Senator Silas Wright prevailed upon non-delegate Edward Rucker to cast the 15 votes of the absent Tennessee delegation in Johnson 's favor
1835 Democratic National Convention
1835 Democratic National Convention
Martin Van Buren