Post Civil War

Reconstruction period, former Confederates were removed from political office or prevented from running. This was enforcement of the occupying US Army, which was the enforcement authority during that time period. There were no civil authorities (courts). All this was overseen and run by General Grant.

Post 14th Amendment, Congressional removal of "disabilities" were needed to run for office. Apparently these were granted several times in laws and amnesties that dated into the early 20th century. Former Confederates couldn't just run for office, they needed approval.

Now that's been flipped on its head. No one's responsible, no one knows who to turn to, no one wants the responsibility, no clear precedent was set, and it would be a terrible tragedy to apply the Constitution to Trump.

Trump has said he's at war with American democracy. Is that good enough? If he's at war with the government, he shouldn't run the government.