1880
- January 17th: Vice President William A. Wheeler announces his candidacy for the Presidency.
- June 5th: Wheeler wins the Republican nomination and chooses John Sherman as his running mate.
- November 2nd: Wheeler/Sherman (219) win Hancock/English (150).
1881:
- March 4th: William A. Wheeler is sworn in as the 20th President of the United States.
- March: Wheeler appoints Robert Todd Lincoln as Secretary of State.
- July: An offer is sent to the Kingdom of Spain to buy the Island of Cuba, the message is rejected.
- August: Former President Ulysses S. Grant, Former President Rutherford Birchard Hayes and President William A. Wheeler meet up and discuss Cuba.