The Almost Presidents Lyrics

In '89, John Adams ran against George Washington

He tried again in the next election, Washington still won

In '96, Adams won, and Jefferson, not quite

Then, Aaron Burr, the almost Prez to Jefferson's delight

In '04, Pinckney came in second, Jefferson was first

Tried a second time against Madison, he did worse

DeWitt Clinton fought Madison, but, he, too felt the sting

In '16, James Monroe won prez, the loser, Rufus King

In '20, Monroe ran and won, since he was unopposed

Next, Jackson lost to Adams, Andrew's animosity rose

In '28, they raced again, this time, Adams was down

Henry Clay challenged Jackson, next, Clay maintained his frown

In '36, Van Buren, Harrison's bubble, he burst

Next election, the same pair ran, but the results were reversed

In '44, it was Polk and Clay, Clay came in second place

Then Lewis Cass lost to Taylor in this presidential race

In politics and sports,

it's such a disgrace

That we know those who came in first, but not second place

In '52, Winfield Scott got fewer votes than Franklin Pierce

Buchanan foiled John Fremont's desire to be prez four years

In '60, Stephen Douglas and Lincoln spared, Abraham won

The next one, George McClellan could not beat out Abe Lincoln

In '68, Grant could be prez, Horatio Seymour could not

Horace Greeley challenged Grant next, but a second term, Grant got

Then, Hayes beat Sam Tilden, who won the popular vote

In '80, Garfield bested Hancock, an officer of note

'84, Grover Cleveland won, though James Blaine also ran

But Ben Harrison stopped Cleveland's re-election plan

Head to head, again in '92 they ran, Cleveland, ahead

William Jennings Bryan tried, but McKinley won instead

Bryan and McKinley once more, Bryan failed to win the race

In '04, Alton Parker competed but Ted got first place

Persistent, Bryan challenged Taft this time, to no avail

In '12, Wilson and Taft, the runners, Taft, the one to fail

In politics and sports,

it's such a disgrace

That we know those who came in first, but not second place

In '16, Wilson beat out Charles Hughes for the president slot

James Cox vied for president but Harding was in the right spot

In '24, Coolidge surpassed John Davis, slipped on the climb

Then, Hoover made president, leaving Al Smith hoping 'next time'

In '32, FDR beat Hoover, the Depression's why

Against FDR, Alf Landon failed, but made a good try

Wendel Wilkie put on the gloves, FDR knocked him flat

Tom Dewey tried, but in the White House chair, Franklin still sat

In '48, Dewey ran against Truman and lost

Adlai Stevenson raced Ike, but the finish line, last to cross

Adlai tried again in '56, but couldn't beat Ike

Nixon went after JFK, but John's who people liked

LBJ, the incumbent, Goldwater tried and went

In '68, Nixon and Humphrey raced, Nixon, president

In '72, George McGovern ran against Nixon, no go

Then, Carter and Ford raced to lead the country, Ford was too slow

In politics and sports,

it's such a disgrace

That we know those who came in first, but not second place

In '80, Carter's bad economy put Ron in the seat

Walter Mondale tried to push out Reagan, but couldn't beat

George Bush Sr. against Mike Dukakis, Mike had to give up

In '92, Bill Clinton challenged Bush, Bill won the gold cup

In '96, Bob Dole and Clinton squared off, Bob conceded

Then, Al Gore took on Bush Junior, was close, but more, Al needed

In '04, Bush faced John Kerry, but John was over and done

Then, it was Barack Obama and John McCain, Barack won

In '12, Obama's vote count was much higher than Romney's

Next, Hillary faced Trump, seemed hers, but the prize not Hillary's

Last, Trump and Biden, Joe's the choice, Don reevaluates

These were the 'Almost Presidents' of the United States