Wife of A Politician
Benjamin ran for governor of Indiana in 1876 and lost. Five years later, in 1881, the Republican-dominated legislature elected him to the United States Senate (few states had popular elections for this office). He and the family moved to Washington, D.C.. Caroline had suffered from poor health since her bout with pneumonia years earlier, and did not participate much in social events in the capital. She supported charities and headed the Garfield Hospital Aid Society.
In 1888, the Republican Party nominated Benjamin as its presidential candidate. That fall he defeated the incumbent Grover Cleveland.
Read more about this topic: Caroline Harrison
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