Vidal Gore — Eighteen Seventy [2754]

I should note here that thus far Hewitt has proved to be a disaster as party chairman. Tilden selected Hewitt because he himself intended to administer the campaign, which he did with perfect success. But no one foresaw that in the aftermath Tilden would be forced to rely upon a party chairman who was elected to the House of Representatives less than two years ago, after a career in metallurgy. I suspect that the only true bond between him and Tilden is dyspepsia: he, too, belches, breaks wind, suffers. — Vidal Gore, Eighteen Seventy, 2754

Note

The description of Hewitt’s character enriches the narrative, providing humor that contrasts with the tense atmosphere and highlighting his inadequacy by using a metaphor comparing their shared dyspepsia to a bond.