Oh, Franklin Roosevelt. What potential he had: No FDR in politics

[Peter the Lefty]

1919: An investigation into the Newport Sex Scandal finds complicity on the part of Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin Delano Roosevelt, forcing him to resign in shame.  Democratic Presidential candidate James Cox, who is on the verge of choosing Roosevelt as his running-mate, suddenly changes his mind and chooses New York Governor Al Smith instead.  Roosevelt's chances of a political career are shattered.  Smith calls his complicity a "tragic dismissal of what could be tremendous potential."

1920: James Cox and his running mate, New York governor Al Smith, loose the presidential election to the Republican Harding/Coolidge ticket.  

Same as OTL until 1928

1928: Herbert Lehman is elected governor of New York state.  Smith looses the presidential election to Hoover same as RL.  

Same as OTL until 1932.  

1932: The presidential election appears to be a shoe-in for the Democrats.  The only major candidates appear to be former New York governor and 1928 nominee Al Smith and Texan Speaker of the House John Nance Garner.  Due to Tammany Hall-related scandals that rock Smith, Garner wins the nomination, but makes Smith his running mate.  He runs to the right of Hoover in the general election, calling for corporate tax cuts, looser labor laws, and lower tariffs.  In the end, Garner wins with 45% of the vote, compared 42% for Hoover, and 12% for Socialist Norman Thomas.  Turnout is also very low.  Without being appointed Secretary of Agriculture, Henry A. Wallace runs for Governor of Iowa and wins.

[Peter the Lefty]

...And the depression continues....

So...same as OTL?

Nope.  Stay tuned...

[Peter the Lefty]

1933-1936: Garner's deregulations and corporate tax cuts cause even more unemployment.  His military break-ups of strikes cause massive public outcry.  Meanwhile, Iowa governor Henry A. Wallace defies the federal government by putting high taxes on the wealthy and on corporations, increasing social spending dramatically, and putting a state-wide minimum wage of $1.50/hour in place.  Agriculture co-operatives are encouraged throughout the state.  Many are already calling for Wallace to challenge Garner in the 1936 election for the Democratic nomination. 

[Peter the Lefty]

        On the 12th of August, 1935, Governor Wallace finds himself beaten to the position of challenging President Garner by Louisiana Senator and former Governor Huey Long.  Long makes the announcement in Baton Rouge:
        "My friends, I have watched for two and a half disastrous years as President Garner has given more and more wealth to those at the very top, on Wall Street, and elsewhere, the people who caused this catastrophe, while the poor, who have suffered horrendously, have had the few ounces of wealth which they hold taken away.  And I have fought these as hard as I could.  But the only way for this to stop is for change at the top.  Therefore, I am announcing that I will stand against the rich-lovin' bastard Garner for the Democratic nomination for President of this country.  Join me, so we can share our wealth, and bring true prosperity to those who so desperately need it!".
        Socialist front-man Norman Thomas dismisses Long as a "phony, a utilitarianist attempting to bait the working classes to save capitalism, and a dictator." Immediately, Garner points out the authoritarian tendencies of his challenger with this statement:
        "If you are a Democrat, and you want a Hitler, a Stalin, or a Mussolini taking over this land of liberty, then be my guest and vote for Senator Long in next year's primary.  If you want to see what this man can do, look at the way he still controls his state.  He submits bills to the legislature easily in spite of being a federal senator, and has Governor Allen taking his orders like a loyal pet.  And consider, my fellow Democrats, the way in which he usurped all the powers from the Louisianian municipalities and gave them all to himself.  If he is ever president, he will take powers up to the next level above that in a similar fashion.  My friends, if this is what you want, Long is your man."
        August 16th: Father Charles Coughlin endorses Senator Long for President.  Immediately, cartoons appear in newspapers showing Long as President, in the oval office, bowing down to the Pope.  Long calls it a "desperate attempt to play on bigoted attitudes against our fellow God-fearing Christians."
        August 23rd: A Gallup poll is released showing that among registered Democrats, Long is preferred 63-37.  Cartoons appear in newspapers lamenting the fact that the two candidates are an unfettered free-market capitalist incumbent and a dictator.  When asked if he will be the "dream candidate" that many Democrats hope for on the 25th, Iowa Governor Henry A. Wallace says the following:
        "We are more than a year from the election and more than half a year from the convention.  I'm not ruling anything out.  But that doesn't yet mean I'm running."

[Peter the Lefty]

        September 3rd: Long returns to Baton Rouge for political business, in particular the gerrymandering of boundaries for district courts to eliminate his long-time rival, Benjamin Pavy.  President Garner immediately takes advantage of this. 
        "Anyone who is in doubt that Long is a dictator need only look at his current business.  If he's president, anyone who represents you who dares to oppose him will no longer have a place.  He'll just remove 'em."

[Peter the Lefty]

September 8th, 1935: Huey Long is assassinated by the son-in-law of Judge Pavy, Carl Weiss.  Immediately, outrage sweeps the nation.  Many suspect that Long's assassin was motivated by more than just dedication to his father in law, and many even quietly whisper that Garner may have put him up to it, yet few speak of these suspicions to more than just family for a few days.  
        September 11th, 1935: In his Sunday radio sermon, Father Coughlin eulogizes Long and says "the nation has lost a great, and courageous leader, who had the potential to bring about salvation to this country." He then goes on to say that "The American people all have a feeling, in their gut, in their mind, that there is more to this tragedy than what we are being told.  This feeling whirls around through their heads, yet never escapes their lips.  Well, today, it'll escape mine.  Does anyone truly believe that Mr. Weiss killed Mr. Long simply because he was angry about his father-in-law being redistricted out of the district court?  Brothers and sisters, men are sinful.  Some men, a few of them, are sinful to the point where they may commit murder.  But I know of few who would commit murder because their father-in-law had his district carved up.  Let us think about this.  Who most feared Mr. Long.  Judge Pavy?  No.  He only had the position of district court judge to loose to him.  The President of the United States and his Wall Street allies all knew that their power and wealth was at stake because of him.  Mr. Weiss was put up to it by the the federal government.  You know, brothers and sisters, that feeling in your gut is telling you it's true.  That feeling in your gut is the voice of God telling you it's true.  Let them do a federal, impartial investigation into this event if they want to prove to us that it's not.  Let them try!"

[Peter the Lefty]

Very interesting, but I see one problem.

Henry Wallace was a Republican and did not join the Democratic Party before after he joined FDR cabinet. Why would he became a Democrat after Garner, a man who as more conservative candidate than freaking Herbert Hoover, became President?

I think more plausible would be to have Wallace remaining a Republican and the GOP as whole becoming more liberal party.

Oh wait, I forgot to mention that.  I think Wallace would've left the Republicans 'cause of Hoover anyway.  He might've regretted it when they'd have picked Garner, but to go back again would be kinda pointless.  But yeah, overall, the Republicans become the more liberal of the two main parties.   

[Peter the Lefty]

        September 12th: President Garner pays a rare tribute to Long, calling him "a fighter for the underprivelleged, and a man who did what he believed to be right." He also vehemently denies any hand in his death, and announces that an independent investigation into the murder will be conducted.  Socialist forebearer Norman Thomas calls Long "a man with honorable aims and intentions, if dishonorable methods, in many respects."
        September 18th: In is radio sermon, Father Coughlin predicts the investigation will be rigged.  "Make no mistake, the President will ensure that nothing substantial is found linking him to the murder, but we all have.  With a name like Weiss, is there any doubt that the assassin was a servant of Wall Street, a member of the wealthy, filthy elite?" The clear anti-Semitism of the remark leads to the discrediting of the conspiracy theories.  

[Peter the Lefty]

        October 7th, 1935: Senator William Borah announces his candidacy for the Republican Nomination for President.  With an incredibly progressive platform, he wins a massive following.
        October 16th, 1935: Kansas Govornor William E. Borah announces his candidacy for President, calling for social welfare programs, greater education and infrastructure funding, but also maintaining tough laws against labor unions.  
        December 3rd, 1935: After waiting for what seemed like an eternity (due to not wanting to be perceived as winning political capital from Long's death), Iowa Governor Henry A. Wallace announces his candidacy for President as a Democrat.  Having been preparing his campaign for some time, he enjoys a lead of 70%-30% against Garner in the beginning.  He begins to prepare for the New Hampshire primary (since the Iowa caucuses came after New Hampshire back then, plus he'd have Iowa in the bag.)  Many in the SPA's right-wing are keen to support Wallace.  Old guard faction bigwig Louis Waldman remarks that as Governor, Wallace is in the process of "re-creating Iowa as an agrarian socialist paradise in the middle of a capitalist hell." However, a few of the "militant" Marxists oppose any endorsement of Wallace by the party.  

[Peter the Lefty]

        Early 1936: Borah consistently beats Landon in nearly every Republican primary/caucus.  Wallace also consistently beats Garner, in almost every state.  
        June 9-June 12, 1936: At the RNC, with the party's electorate having solidly chosen Borah, the conservative party bosses, unwilling to have him as their candidate, are afraid of the backlash that will occur if they pick Landon.  Senate minority leader Charles McNary, of Oregon, is picked as a compromise candidate due to his support among both conservatives and progressives.  
        July 23-July 27th: At the DNC, a similar dilemma is faced.  However, a big stigma for the party bosses is not only Wallace's social democratic views, or even his religious beliefs, but the fact that nominating him would require stabbing an incumbent, who they liked personally, in spite of his massive unpopularity, made them re-nominate Garner and Smith.  Outraged, Wallace and his supporters walk out of the convention.  
        July 31st: Wallace announces his departure from the Democratic Party, and the formation of the new party.  
        "Ladies and gentlemen, I speak to you today, not angry, but disappointed, in the decision of the dictators of our Undemocratic Party to deny the decision of the people and renominate a rejected President.  I am disappointed for all the Democrats who desired a change at the top, who wanted something other than a repeat of the last four years.  I am disappointed for the worker, struggling to earn enough money to survive.  I am disappointed for the child, who can't go to school and go on to make something of himself because his parents don't have the financial means to do so.  I am disappointed for the farmer, struggling just to sell enough food to survive.  The decision of the so-called Democratic party's bosses to renominate a man who has caused devastation to all three of these people proves that the interests of the worker, the farmer, and the child, cannot be advanced within either of the two establishment parties.  For this reason, I am forming a Progressive Party, and I invite fellow progressives in both main parties to join me."  
        September 17th: A proposal for a merger between the two parties is announced on a platform shared by both Thomas and Wallace.  
        September 26th: At a snap convention of the Socialist Party, a resolution in favor of a merger with the Progressives is passed after an impassioned speech by Norman Thomas:
        "Comrades, shall we not ally with our fellow enemies of the capitalist system which has destroyed this country, and the world?  How many more children must starve to death before we put aside our tribal differences over party and work with other socialist comrades?  How many more must die before we welcome new people who can be of use to our cause?"
        The resolution is passed by a 70%-30% margin.  
        September 28th: A snap convention of the Progressive Party is held.  The resolution in favor of the merger is passed 67%-37%.  
        September 30th: A founding convention of the new Socialist Party of America (which keeps this name temporarily to maintain ballot access) is held.  The rules of the new party are made, and they decide to nominate their tickets all at once.  For this election, it is decided that Wallace is to be nominated for President, and Thomas for VP.  

[Peter the Lefty]

      November 3rd, 1936: President Garner is re-elected in what is the most exciting election since at least 1912.  Garner wins 39% of the vote, while Wallace gets 33%.  McNary gets 28%.  Garner's electoral college victory is far more convincing, however, with Garner getting 438 of 531 votes.  Wallace wins 56, while McNary gets 37.  
Garner's victory speech:
Thank you, ladies and gentleman!  
      We are in the midst of a crisis which has caused devastation left and right.  And it is one which we knew would get worse before it got better, even if we enacted the right measures, which our administration has done.  But I want the American people tonight, not only for their strong endurance throughout these difficult years, but for making a smart decision in a time when less sensible options were fare more appealing to them.  But Americans have once again shown their commitment to sanity, even as a tide of extremism sweeps Europe.  Today, Americans have chosen moderation over radicalism!  Today, Americans have chosen reason over madness!  Today, Americans have said that allthough we are suffering as a nation, we will stick with the policies that made us great before, and will make us great again!  We are in it for the long haul!  Thank you very much!  May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America!" (*dodges rotten tomato)*.  
      

[Peter the Lefty]

Red is Garner, blue is McNary, green is Wallace.  I suppose that I should change the color scheme since red was the socialist party's color...

[Peter the Lefty]

Interview with Wallace after his speech:
Reporter: Congratulations on your showing, Governor!
Wallace: Thank you very much!
Reporter: Do you interpret this result as a victory or a defeat?
Wallace: I interpret it as a victory without question.  We were very late getting started, and were dealing with two other candidates who both had the backing of money from the big businesses and Wall Street.  And, more obviously, we were running as a third party against two much-better-established parties' candidates.  So this is a victory for us, the fact that we broke the two party system.  And it's a victory which will lead to greater ones in the future.  
Reporter: You've said that you've broken the two-party system as a third party candidate.  I'm sure that you know this of course, but Theodore Roosevelt broke it too in 1912, but nothing came out of it.
Wallace: Well, that was because he rejoined the Republicans.  And I know for certain that I will not be rejoining the Democrats, and none of the other people in this party who came from either the Democrats or Republicans will rejoin their old homes.  Instead, I'm very sure that our movement will continue to grow, instead.  
Reporter: How is the party getting along?  Are the two factions blending together well?
Wallace: It's very good.  Those who were in the Socialist Party before the Progressives came have been incredibly welcoming to us.
Reporter: Is their any conflict between various factions?  For instance, between supporters of yourself and Mr. Thomas, who lost to you in the primary?
Wallace: None whatsoever.  We are united as a party, and Mr. Thomas and I, as well as our supporters, are proud to be part of the same socialist, social democratic, and progressive movement.  
Reporter: Lastly, Governor, I realize you probably don't particularly wish to answer this question, but do you plan to run again in 1940?
Wallace: I'm not making any decisions with regards to four years from now.  
Reporter: Thank you for your time, Governor.
Wallace: Thank you.  
Wallace:

[Peter the Lefty]

1936 version...
Though I'd recommend giving Oregon and Maine to McNary, Ohio to Garner (unless the Mid-West as a whole is revolting), and MA to either McNary or Garner.

I figured that being a swing state, Ohio would go for the moderate candidate.  And MA had a large working-class population even then, didn't it?

[Peter the Lefty]

1936 version...
Though I'd recommend giving Oregon and Maine to McNary, Ohio to Garner (unless the Mid-West as a whole is revolting), and MA to either McNary or Garner.

I figured that being a swing state, Ohio would go for the moderate candidate.  And MA had a large working-class population even then, didn't it?

OH is a big state though, so unless you're a big national presence, (which this timeline's Republicans aren't), it'd be hard to take. It'd be really close to say the least. And MA was only beginning to start voting Democratic (after decades of voting for Republicans since 1856, interrupted only by the 1912 election), and from what I've understood, that was thanks mostly to the Catholic working class and the progressive/activist/intellectual types consolidating under one party (and even then, Republicans could still take MA, see Ike's victories). It'd be split in this election, me thinks. Overall, I see Republicans taking New England and maybe a few Mid-Western states and maybe Oregon. Wallace might take large swaths of the West. I'm thinking that MT, WY, ID, states that today vote heavily Republican, back then might cast their votes for Wallace. But hey, it's your timeline.

I know, but you do seem to know more than me about the demographics of that time.  The Catholic working class is why I think MA would go that way.  And I'm figuring that Oregon would've been very progressive at the time anyway, but I could be wrong.  If NYC were a state, Wallace would win it big time, but I'm guessing the upstate part of it would've balanced it out enough that Garner still would've won. 

[Peter the Lefty]

1937: With unemployment rising and more and more deaths occurring as a result of starvation, the Socialists appear to have bright prospects in the midterm elections.  Fiorello La Guardia, a former Republican and member of the "Progressive" faction of the party, is elected mayor of New York City on the Socialist ticket.  Garner suddenly begins to turn left, partially reversing his corporate and top-rate income tax cuts.  He also abruptly announces a number of new public works projects.  It is widely seen as a bad attempt at gaining political points.  
1938: In the midterm elections, the SPA scores a fantastic victory across the board.  They are especially strong in the Northeastern cities (with the exceptions of the ones in Vermont and New Hampshire), the rural Progressive midwestern states, the Northwest and in the major cities of California.  They become the largest faction in the House of Representatives, earning a total of 192 seats, compared to 165 for the Democrats, and 78 for the Republicans.  They also become a significant senate faction in the Senate with 21 seats.  Socialist candidate Upton Sinclair is elected Governor of California in his third bid for the office.  In addition, the Socialist Charles Solomon is narrowly elected Governor of New York against Republican incumbent (and former Democrat) Herbert Lehman, who refused to join the Progressives and then the Socialists due to their mistrust of big banks, such as his own.  Philip La Follette, who has joined the Socialists, is re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin.  Norman Thomas is elected as a Senator for New York as well.  In the new Congress, the Socialists manage to work with a number of left-leaning Republicans to pass labor legislation, civil rights bills, and agriculture programs (having to compromise in many areas), but some of this is vetoed by Garner.  However, he does sign a bill that creates a small agriculture subsidy program and some big business regulations.  His slight left turn continues to be seen by many as an attempt to make it possible for Smith to be elected in 1940, though it appears to be to no avail.  

[Peter the Lefty]

      September-October 1939: Former Iowa Governor and 1936 nominee Henry A. Wallace and New York Senator Norman Thomas both announce their candidacies for the Socialist nomination for President.  Surprising many, Vice-President Smith announces that he will not contest the presidency in 1940.  
      "To be frank, I've had enough of politics in my life.  It's been a pleasure to serve as Vice-President, but it's the last office I'll ever hold.  I know that we Democrats have a strong field of potential candidates for President next year, and I am sure that we will pick the right one, and that whoever he is, he'll be in the White House in a little over a year from now."
      North Dakota Senator Gerald Nye announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination, as does Manhattan District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey.  Wall Street industrialist Wendell Wilkie, a former Democrat, also announces his candidacy.  All three campaign as "non-radical progressives."
      Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenburg is the first Democrat to announce his candidacy, while conservative Senate icon Robert Taft remains silent, privately believing it to be unwise to run in an election which seems unwinnable for a Democrat.  Senator Richard Russel also announces his candidacy.  Virginia Senator Robert Byrd also declares his candidacy, appearing to be the most moderate of the four candidates, he openly criticizes some of Garner's measures, though he praises his recent turnarounds.  Many Democrats perceive Bird as the only one with even a snowball's chance in hell.  

[Peter the Lefty]

November 1939: As the Socialist primary heats up, Wallace and Thomas make their positions known yet again.  Wallace favors the state setting up co-operatives (and nationalization of large utilities) which will employ workers until they abandon big businesses, while Thomas favors nationalization of all industries.  Wallace also wants to prepare the US for war should it come to that, while the pacifist Thomas opposes any involvement in the newly-begun war in Europe (or Asia).  Due to the urgency of the Depression, the general belief of the American public is on the side of Thomas, and that achieving social and economic justice at home is more important than a war in Europe.  While few in the Socialist rank-and-file are bothered by it themselves, many fear that recent revelations about Wallace's New Age spiritual beliefs may Play into the hands of the Democratic and Republican candidates.  In addition, some now feel that the nation has now been radicalized enough that either Wallace or Thomas could win, and that therefore it'd be safe to opt for Thomas.  While many believe that California governor Upton Sinclair, Wisconsin Governor Phillip La Follette, or New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia, but none jump in.  
December 4th, 1939: A key figure from the right-wing "Old Guard" of the pre-1936 Socialist Party, Louis Waldman, endorses Wallace, saying he wants a "socialism that can win." However, many perceive the move as an attempt at revenge against Thomas, who, by allying with the "Militants" at the 1934 SPA convention in Detroit, ended the Old Guard's long-standing dominance of the party, and the endorsement has a neutral-to-negative effect on Wallace's chances.  

[Peter the Lefty]

How did Vandenberg and Taft become Democrats? Even if Republicans were heading off in a progressive direction, they still wouldn't up and switch parties.

Well, given that Wallace switched parties in OTL, I think that they would have switched because of the rapidly changing nature of the two main parties. 

[Peter the Lefty]

Early 1940: Thomas manages to unite with anti-war Socialists in the "Progressive" faction that joined the party in 1936, now commonly referred to as the "36ers." Wisconsin Governor Phillip La Follette, for example, endorses him resoundingly in spite of preferring Wallace in 1936.  This proves to be decisive, giving Thomas's campaign not only a key 36er component, but also a key mid-Western component, which he desperately needs when facing an Iowan.  And it is perceived as heartfelt and sincere, whereas Waldman's endorsement of Wallace is perceived as having been made out of bitterness and a desire for factional revenge.  Thomas wins nearly every major primary and caucus (except for Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, California, Vermont, and New Hampshire), even though many are by narrow margins.  He clinches the nomination soon afterward.  La Follette appears to be the likely running-mate, and it is well known that Thomas wants to give him the spot.  However, it is clear that such a move would alienate the pro-war factions of the party.  Some suggest La Guardia, but having only been mayor of New York City for less than three years, he would need more experience.  It soon becomes clear that there is only one "pro-war" 36er with the name recognition, the charisma, and popular appeal to be Thomas's running mate: Henry A. Wallace.  While it appears bizarre to name a former nominee as a running mate, it also appears to be the only option to keep the SPA's fragile coalition together.  So Thomas is named the Socialist nominee for President, and Wallace is named the nominee for Vice-President.  At the convention, Milwaukee mayor  Daniel Hoan makes a passionate plea for pan-factional unity and comradery among the party's members. 
"We are so close.  We have waited so long for the moment at which we can achieve a revolution at the ballot box and make Socialism a reality in this country.  Through the blood, sweat, and tears of Eugene V. Debs, Morris Hilquit, Samuel Gompers, and our allies, Robert La Follette, Floyd B. Olson, and Hiram Johnson, and so many others, and so much of our own, we have managed to get to a point where we have a Socialist administration can become a reality in the United States!  WE MUST NOT allow it all to go to waste because of petty factional wars! WE MUST NOT throw all of their hard work to waste!"
The convention unites and Thomas and Wallace are both applauded after their speeches.  The convention ends very united. 

[Peter the Lefty]

Now for the Democrats:
Byrd wins massive victories in almost every state, due to massive anger at President Garner's administration.  Taft and Russell win only in their home states.  By early April, it is clear that Byrd will be the Democratic nominee.  At the convention, he is chosen overwhelmingly, and he chooses the even-more-left-leaning businessman-turned-diplomat William Averell Harriman as his running mate.  

Republicans:
Nye's anti-big business tirades make him popular among the Republican grassroots, but cause many in the middle-class to consider him too left-wing and socialistic.  He wins in the Midwestern primaries/caucuses, but Dewey gains the upper hand virtually everywhere else.  Wilkie's Wall Street background fatally handicaps his campaign throughout.  Dewey takes the nomination, promising the "sanity, competence, and level-headed-ness that has made this party great in the past and will again this year." He chooses Washington Governor Clarence D. Martin as his running-mate.  

[Peter the Lefty]

Great TL, keep it coming Peter!

Thanks! 

[Peter the Lefty]

      November 5, 1940: New York Senator Norman Thomas is elected the first Socialist President of the United States, with 45% of the vote.  Virginia Senator Robert Byrd, the Democratic nominee, comes in a very distant second place with only 27%, just a sliver ahead of the Republican nominee, Manhattan district attorney Thomas E. Dewey's 25%.  In the electoral college, Thomas wins 307 votes.  Byrd takes 180, while Dewey takes 44 (all thanks largely to strong regional variation between the candidates).  

Snippet from Thomas's speech:
"Ladies and gentlemen, comrades, and fellow citizens,
      Today, we have made history!  The American people have chosen to take the path which we so desperately must take, and I will be honored to be carrying out the tasks of this journey for our nation as the first Socialist to achieve the office of President of the United States!
      Before anything else, it is incumbent upon me to thank my wonderful wife Violet for her support.  She is the source of so much of my energy, and so much of my resolve, and I cannot thank her sufficiently.  I must also thank all six of my children for their incredible support.  I am so proud of each of them, and it is also my hope for them that has motivated me throughout the years!
      Of course, I am also obliged by morality to thank all those, dead and alive, on whose shoulders the Socialist Party and I now stand.  Mr. Eugene V. Debs is no longer with us.  But I know that somewhere, he is watching, and without his work, the Socialist Party would be nothing, so I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his blood, sweat, and tears, and his hand in making this historic day a reality.  Morris Hillquit, whose leadership kept the party from destruction after Debs left us, is also no longer with us, but he also deserves our heartfelt thanks.  To those who weren't members of the Socialist Party in the days of Hillquit and Debs, but have fought for the same principles throughout the years and their forerunners, Robert La Follette, Burton Wheeler, and so many others, I thank them wholeheartedly, as all as everyone who brought their movement into our party and gave us the lifeblood to make this day possible!  And my running mate, my partner in the mission of our shared vision, Governor Wallace, has fought with every ounce of his energy to bring a socialist revolution at the ballot box a reality, and has worked every step of the way since the convention to help me, and I thank him sincerely for that!  And I know that I will be able to rely on him at every moment as my Vice-President!
      We have fought long and hard for this day.  So many have had to give up so much of what little they had to bring democratic socialism to this country.  So many have died, given dinner table money, and worked tirelessly, to bring us to this point.  I want to tell them now that I do not take their trust lightly, and I vow to them that their sacrifices have not been in vein.  I know that salvation will not come easily, but I promise, to the worker, struggling to earn a living for his family, the farmer, struggling to sell enough food to survive, the child, with so much potential so easily lost through the lack of an education, the person of color, subjected to discrimination and humiliation daily because of his the color of his skin, and the woman, who in spite of having the vote, still struggles to be heard, and to have the opportunities of a man, that their hopes for a better future, for equality, for better democracy, for peace, for social and economic justice, and a fair future for all, will come true!  
Thank you, may God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America!"

The Socialists also make massive gains in Congress, taking 202 seats in the House (compared to 149 for the Democrats and 84 for the Republicans,) and 41 seats in the Senate (compared to 32 for the Democrats and 27 for the Republicans.)  

[Peter the Lefty]

Oh and yeah, the Democrats have changed their color to yellow by this point. 

[Peter the Lefty]

Ah, nevermind my complaint. I'd assumed the GOP nominated Nye. Eh, my new complaint about the GOP nominee would be that he's too inexperienced. But interesting. Wonder how this affects WWII. Was Thomas isolationist?

He was at first, but when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor he supported the war.  He did oppose the use of the atomic bombs, though.