It was such a ridiculous ruling. We even have the literal discussions from congress when it passed. Someone asked what about president, and another senator replied hey look we said all offices, how much more clear could it be.
From the congressional record at that time:
“Why did you omit to exclude them?” asked Maryland Democratic Sen. Reverdy Johnson. [in reference to president and vice president]
Maine’s Lot Morrill jumped in to clarify.
“Let me call the Senator’s attention to the words ‘or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States,’” Morrill said, ending the discussion on that point.
It was such a ridiculous ruling. We even have the literal discussions from congress when it passed. Someone asked what about president, and another senator replied hey look we said all offices, how much more clear could it be.
From the congressional record at that time:
“Why did you omit to exclude them?” asked Maryland Democratic Sen. Reverdy Johnson. [in reference to president and vice president]
Maine’s Lot Morrill jumped in to clarify.
“Let me call the Senator’s attention to the words ‘or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States,’” Morrill said, ending the discussion on that point.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/what-the-framers-said-about-the-14th-amendments-disqualification-clause-analysis/ar-AA1mduxW