We Soda Go Together

The battle to win the Republican nomination for the presidential election of 1860 was one of the most bizarre and contentious races in American history.  In addition to Abraham Lincoln, the slate of candidates included many distant relatives of modern-day politicians, like Reginald Remington Trump, Hector Granville Cruz, and more.
 
Numerous debates and forums for the candidates were planned around the country by Rupert Skevritt Fox. However, just before the Iowa caucuses, Reginal Trump withdrew from the final debate citing irrevocable differences with one of the debate’s moderators, Kelly O’Meegan (besides, Trump said he hated the Irish and wanted to build a wall along the Atlantic seaboard).  Instead, Trump planned his own event to honor veterans from the War of 1812.
 
Fox pleaded with Trump to rejoin the concluding debate.  He even tried to “Hire” Trump back by having one of his minions, Riley O’Williams, pose in an advertising campaign for Hire’s Rootbeer.  Fox promised Trump a case of the beverage if agreed to debate because “We soda go together.”  Ultimately, Trump held his own event – and he lost the bid for the Republican nomination.

Below: 
Media mogul
Rupert Skevritt Fox

Below: 
Debate moderator Kelly O'Meegan

Below: 
Trump's 4th wife Meleena supported his decision

Below:
The "We soda go together" advertising campaign.

Click the images above to enlarge.

Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) wrote about the debate kerfuffle in his now-classic poem "The absent Donald on the Air" (below on the left).  His poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "The pungent atom in the air" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
 
The absent Donald on the Air
Admits of no debate –
All he has named of “For the Vets”
Relinquished Fox’s Slate –
 
For his Departure of Delight
As negative as he
No Limit of Opinion
His Dreams – of Victory –

By Emily Dickinson:
 
The pungent atom in the Air
Admits of no debate –
All that is named of Summer Days
Relinquished our Estate –

For what Department of Delight
As positive are we
As Limit of Dominion
Or Dams – of Ecstasy –

For more posts about the election of 1860, click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.