In 1884 , Sherman again ran for the Republican nomination , but his campaign never gained steam . Blaine was considered the favorite and President Arthur also gathered delegates in an attempt to win the term in his own right . Again , the Ohio delegation failed to unite behind Sherman , and he entered the convention with only 30 total delegates pledged to him . Former Cincinnati judge Joseph B. Foraker gave a speech nominating Sherman , but it drew little attention . Blaine gathered support the next day , and Sherman withdrew after the fourth ballot . Blaine was duly nominated and went on to lose the election to Democrat Grover Cleveland of New York , the Republicans ' first loss in 28 years . Sherman returned to the Senate where , in 1885 , he was elected President pro tempore of the Senate . After the death of Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks later that year , Sherman was next in line to the presidency until February 26 , 1887 , when he resigned the position
the convention
1884 Republican National Convention
John Sherman