banks made a serious bid for the republican presidential nomination in 1860, but dislike of him by the radicals in the state party harmed him. his failure to secure a majority in the state delegation prompted him to skip the national convention, where he received first-ballot votes as a nominee for vice president. his attempt to promote henry l. dawes, another moderate republican, as his successor in the governor's chair also failed: the party nominated the radical andrew, who went on to win the general election. banks's farewell speech, given with civil war looming, was an appeal for moderation and union.