1936 Election (The Hearse at Monticello)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The failed impeachment and subsequent assassination of President Huey Long in 1935 has torn a rift in the Populist Party. Despite the efforts of the Long faction, incumbent President Eleanor Roosevelt - who as Long's vice president was among several high-ranking officials to reveal the president's corrupt management of the executive branch - was nominated by the Populist National Convention with over 75% of the delegate vote; the "Longites" promptly stalked out and nominated former Attorney General William Lemke on a radical populist "Union" ticket calling for the continuation and expansion of "Share Our Wealth". Speaking at the party's first National Convention in Baton Rouge, Father Charles Coughlin - one of the foremost members in the new party - accused President Roosevelt of colluding with the Jews to lengthen the Great Depression and casting his party as the voice of the "true populists of America." In reality, the Union Party is mainly a vehicle for discontented former Long allies, but has enough support in the South and parts of the West to deny Roosevelt a majority amongst progressives.

The American Party has sought to make the best of this division, hoping to at long last oust the Populists from power. At their National Convention in Cincinnati, the party nominated progressive Senator Earl Warren for president and fellow Senator Robert La Follette, Jr. for vice president. Running on a moderate recovery plan that combines more popular elements of the Long program with calls for anti-corruption measures and pledges to root out "unnecessary" expenses, the ticket is considered by professional pundits to be the front-runner in the race. Likewise, the Democrats are attempting to return to major party status and have nominated Olympian athlete and conservative idol Henry Breckenridge for president, with former Virginian governor John Garner as his running mate.

Have at it!

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

It seems the Democrats have a penchant for candidates with no experience in national politics. I suppose it makes sense given the other options are all left-of-center, but still...

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Wow, the sitting president is doing worse than two other parties? And only a few votes better than corrupt lunatics?

In a way, this is a repeat of the 1920 Election, which also saw a no-name Democrat exceed expectations and the Populists drop down to third despite a reasonably popular candidate. Considering the corruption of the last four years and the divisions within the Populist Party, it makes sense for the Americans to be pulling ahead here.

But yes, I too was surprised that the candidate who chose a racist for his VP and was endorsed by an anti-semite is doing so well.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

1936 Presidential Election

Senator Earl Warren (American-California)/ Senator Robert M. La Follette, Jr. (American-Wisconsin): 290 Electoral Votes; 35.9% popular votes
Mr. Henry S. Breckinridge (Democratic-New York)/ Fmr. Governor John N. Garner (Democratic-Virginia): 152 Electoral Votes; 28.2% popular votes
President Eleanor Roosevelt (People's-New York)/ Secretary of the Treasury Burton K. Wheeler (People's-Montana): 79 Electoral Votes; 23.1% popular votes
Fmr. Attorney General William Lemke (Union-North Dakota)/ Senator Hattie Caraway (Union-Arkansas): 10 Electoral Votes; 12.8% popular votes

With her party divided and the memory of the Long years still fresh in the minds of the American electorate, President Eleanor Roosevelt was unable to win reelection in 1936. Instead, the presidency would go to Senator Earl Warren, the first American Party president since Hiram Johnson (who, oddly enough, was also a Californian). Also noteworthy was the performance of political novice Henry S. Breckinridge, who in the face of three competing progressive candidates was able to win the Democratic Party its largest electoral vote total in years.