The other main contender for the Republican nomination was James G. Blaine . Blaine , a senator from Maine who had also served in the United States House of Representatives , including holding the Speaker of the House position from 1869 to 1875 , was in the competition to prevent Grant 's nomination . Four years earlier Blaine had campaigned for the party 's nomination ; in the weeks prior to the 1876 convention , he was accused of committing fraudulent activities involving railroad stocks . The specifics of Blaine 's involvement were detailed in the Mulligan letters . Blaine pleaded his own defense on the floor of the House of Representatives , and he read aloud selected , edited portions of the letter that were not incriminating . Despite his attempt to clear his name , Blaine was tarnished by the scandal throughout the rest of his political career . On the Sunday before balloting was to begin in Cincinnati , Ohio , Blaine collapsed at the steps of Washington Congregational Church . He was unconscious for two days , and as a result , he lost supporters who were doubtful over his health and whether he was capable of handling the presidency . Blaine was also ridiculed by opponents , who accused him of faking illness to gain sympathy ; the '' New York Sun '' headlined " Blaine Feigns a Faint " . On the first ballot of the 1876 convention , Blaine received 285 votes , while his political enemy , Roscoe Conkling , was in second place with only 99 votes . Blaine and Conkling had a long-standing political feud that started at a debate on the floor of the House of Representatives in 1866 . After six more ballots resulted in no consensus , Conkling switched his support to Rutherford B. Hayes , who ultimately beat Blaine for the nomination
1876 convention
1876 Republican National Convention
1880 Republican National Convention