[originaltext] Ben Johnson was the name of the candidate defeated by George

Ben Johnson was the name of the candidate defeated by George Washington in the 1780 presidential race. Nick-named "The Giant of a Man, ’ Johnson was massive in stature and he had a large head in proportion to his body. Despite his physical appearance, Johnson was an alarming candidate.
    It was only a few years prior that Johnson had defeated some of Washington’s attempts to change the territorial areas of Virginia. During that political contest, the Washington-Johnson debates were popular throughout the whole country. At the time, the issue of state self-government was foremost in the minds of many citizens.
    One reason Johnson was defeated in his bid for presidency was the stand he took on the issue of federalism. The people of the incorporated states, angry over his position, voted almost completely for Washington. If Johnson had been willing to change some of his positions on the issue, he may have won the presidency.
    Although he lost the election, Johnson continued to serve the government. Soon after the election of 1780, the Mexican Independence War began. Johnson offered his services to the president that had defeated him and he died from illness during the middle of the war. Even though Johnson never did become president, he will always be remembered as a great early American.