Timing is everything

Timing is everything in politics, and American political history might have changed dramatically if the Lieutenant Governor of New York had not suffered from diabetes.

Edward Corning, the scion of a wealthy and politically powerful family (his father, a Civil War era Congressman, founded the New York Central Railroad), was elected Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1926, running on a ticket with Alfred E. Smith.  Smith and Corning beat Republicans Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. and Seymour Lowman, who was the incumbent Lt. Governor, by a 50%-47% margin.

When Smith ran for President in 1928, Democrats initially looked to Corning to run for Governor.  But when the 45-year-old Lt. Governor’s diabetes forced him out of the race, party leaders turned to Franklin D. Roosevelt to run.

Corning died six years later during surgery for his second leg amputation.  He was 51.  His son, Erastus Corning 2nd, spent 41 years as the Mayor of Albany.