After the 1876 Republican National Convention settled on Rutherford B. Hayes as the party's presidential nominee after seven ballots, the delegates nominated Wheeler for vice president. Nominated by Congressman Luke P. Poland, Wheeler surged into an early lead over Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, Marshall Jewell, and Stewart L. Woodford to clinch the nomination on the first ballot. Wheeler was nominated because he was popular among his colleagues and had worked to avoid making enemies in Congress. In addition, as a resident of the populous Eastern state of New York, he provided geographical balance to the ticket, since Hayes was from the populous Midwest state of Ohio. The Republican ticket prevailed in the contentious 1876 presidential election, though they lost the popular vote. Though they had not known each other before the convention, Wheeler and Hayes got along amicably while in office. They chose not to seek second terms, and Wheeler returned to Malone, New York, after the end of his term. He died in 1887 and was buried at Morningside Cemetery in Malone.
after the 1876 republican national convention settled on rutherford b hayes as the party's presidential nominee after seven ballots the delegates nominated wheeler for vice president nominated by congressman luke p poland wheeler surged into an early lead over frederick t frelinghuysen marshall jewell and stewart l woodford to clinch the nomination on the first ballot wheeler was nominated because he was popular among his colleagues and had worked to avoid making enemies in congress in addition as a resident of the populous eastern state of new york he provided geographical balance to the ticket since hayes was from the populous midwest state of ohio the republican ticket prevailed in the contentious 1876 presidential election though they lost the popular vote though they had not known each other before the convention wheeler and hayes got along amicably while in office they chose not to seek second terms and wheeler returned to malone new york after the end of his term he died in 1887 and was buried at morningside cemetery in malone