Final answer:
In the early U.S. presidential elections, notably 1796 and 1800, opposing political party candidates won the offices of president and vice president due to the original electoral process, but this changed with the ratification of the Twelfth Amendment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historically, candidates from opposing political parties won the offices of president and vice president due to the original Constitutional process of election. In 1796, Federalist John Adams and Republican Thomas Jefferson became president and vice president respectively, because the person with the second-highest number of votes became the vice president, regardless of his party affiliation. This system, detailed in the Electoral College provisions, led to political difficulty as these leaders from rival parties were forced to work together. The problematic nature of this dynamic was highlighted when Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr tied in the Electoral College in 1800, requiring the House of Representatives to resolve the impasse.
Consequently, the Twelfth Amendment was ratified, creating a system where presidential candidates would be coupled with their vice presidential running mates on a unified ticket, ensuring that both president and vice president would come from the same party.