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 Vice President Martin Van Buren in 1836 so that the latter could continue the Jackson administration 's policies . Van Buren had emerged as Jackson 's preferred successor during the Petticoat affair , and he had been elected vice president in 1832 . With Jackson 's support , Van Buren won the presidential nomination of the Democratic 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 , along with Van Buren , strongly preferred Rives , while Jackson 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
Democratic Convention
1835 Democratic National Convention
Presidency of Martin Van Buren