Prof Kruse, can you address Kurt Lash’s (and thus Lessig’s) claim that “When Congress passed the 14th Amendment, there wasn’t a person in the Senate or House who worried about loyal Americans electing a former rebel like Jefferson Davis as president”? Seems weird that just yrs after the war they /1

It's probably significant that the Democratic Convention in 1868 didn't have a single presidential candidate from the South (and there were a LOT of candidates) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1868_De... The nomination went to the guy from New York. (Davis was in Canada looking for money opportunities.)

Well, Davis was in prison for part of the time. They did prevent electors from being traitors. That seems important

Afraid that’s not my era but maybe @adamrothman.bsky.social@hcrichardson.bsky.social@kevinlevin.bsky.social might know?

Wouldn’t have that concern but his claim sounds certain. I’d think there’s a historical record one way or the other. /end