1936 Conventions (The Hearse at Monticello)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Sworn into office on March 4, 1933, President Huey Long wasted no time in making good on his promise to radically alter the nation's longstanding laissez faire economic policy. The first 100 days of his term were a whirlwind of legislation, with Congress quickly approving measures establishing numerous new government agencies, including the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the National Business Recovery Service (NBRS). Congress also passed, after what Long's critics would later contend was an inadequate debate, the Share Our Wealth Act, a wealth redistribution scheme of which Long said, "If my name ever goes down in history, it will be for this act".

Long's name did go down in history, but not as the savior of American capitalism. While Long's policies did herald a modest decrease in unemployment (from 16% in 1933 to 14% in 1935) and an equally slight increase in per-capita income, the dishonesty of his Administration would obscure his other accomplishments. The corruption of the Long government was epitomized in the NBRS, whose public purpose was to provide aid to struggling business sectors, but which in reality dolled out government funds to those who supported Long and his agenda and punished those who dared to oppose him. Journalists, government investigators, and businessmen were paid to keep quiet about the Administration's less-than-scrupulous handling of the situation, all of which was overseen by the "Kingfish" himself.

Long might have gotten away with it had he been able to cultivate a better relationship with his cabinet. Upon taking office, Long had attempted to unite the Populist Party by appointing distinguished Populist leaders (and potential rivals) to important positions within his Administration. Idaho Senator William Borah became Secretary of State; former Vice President Burton K. Wheeler became Secretary of the Treasury; Charles W. Bryan, brother of former President and Chief Justice William J. Bryan, stayed on as head of the War Department. Despite this magnanimous gesture, it soon became clear that Long had no intention of consulting the cabinet, or even allowing them to run their own departments. A born micro-manager, Long soon assumed de facto leadership of the Departments of State, Treasury, War, and Justice, leaving the sidelined Secretaries to "stew in their own bile."

Angered by Long's lack of respect for them, the cabinet revolted. In the Summer of 1934, Borah, Bryan, Wheeler, and Vice President Roosevelt issued a public letter exposing the corruption of the Long Administration, condemning the president for his "heavy-handed corruption" and calling on Congress to launch an investigation. Articles of Impeachment were filed against Long, and for a time it looked like the president was sunk. That Autumn, the Americans retook both houses of Congress and made gains in several traditional Populist states, vowing to "clean up" the corrupt Long government. But Long's sway in the Senate was too great - many Senators stood to benefit from Long's corruption, or were too frightened to oppose him openly - and Long was let off by the slimmest of margins. In protest, most of the cabinet, with the exception of Attorney General William Lemke, resigned en masse, vowing to fight Long to the bitter end even if it meant an American victory in 1936.

Then, in September 1935, Long was assassinated by the nephew of one of his political rivals. The presidency thus fell to Vice President Eleanor Roosevelt, who vowed at once to restore public faith in the government. Quickly reappointing Borah, Bryan, and Wheeler - whose replacements had not yet been confirmed by the Senate - she attempted to role back the excesses of the Long years. The result was the temporary deconstruction of many of the anti-Depression agencies, causing unemployment to rise to 17% by the Spring of 1936.

At the Populist National Convention in 1936, Roosevelt faces former Attorney General and Long protege William Lemke for the nomination. Accusing Roosevelt of sabotaging Long and thus prolonging the Depression, Lemke has the support of most of Long's principle allies, including Father Charles Coughlin, a noted anti-semite, and Senator Hattie Caraway, the leader of the Long faction in the Senate who saved the "Kingfish" from impeachment last year. Roosevelt has promised for a "Fair Deal for every American," calling for anti-corruption and anti-poverty measures, and has dismissed Lemke's proposals as "self-interested pseudo-reformism" that benefit only the political elite.

The Americans, meanwhile, are attempting to capitalize on the division within the People's Party and the continued anger over the Long Scandal. A number of moderate-to-progressive leaders have stepped forward to contest the nomination, including Senator Earl Warren of California (who has been endorsed by former Senator Herbert Hoover), Governor Alf Landon of Kansas (the first American governor from his state ever), and Governor Fiorello La Guardia of New York (who has the potential to swing Populist voters). For the Democrats, former Governor John N. Garner of Virginia is considered to be the front-runner for the nomination, and is facing conservative former Olympic athlete Henry Breckinridge.

This should be interesting. Have at it!

[Mr. Smith]

Warren

[VPH]

La Guardia

[NeverAgain]

Warren.

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

Roosevelt.

[Zioneer]

Roosevelt.

[Türkisblau]

Get rid of the People's Enemy Roosevelt! Vote Lemke!

Those dastardly so called "populists" got rid of our best President in US history.

[PPT Spiral]

Breckinridge/Garner

Also, Truman, how is the state of the Democratic Party at this point? Did Al Smith's significantly better performance in 1928 do anything to boost their clout these last few years? I imagine too that Long's radical policies have prompted more conservatives to be politically active, but I'll leave it up to you to explain what's happened.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Also, Truman, how is the state of the Democratic Party at this point? Did Al Smith's significantly better performance in 1928 do anything to boost their clout these last few years?

In terms of numbers, the Democrats are doing much better than they were immediately after the turn of the century. Smith's near-victory in 1920 and his strong (for a third party) showing in 1932 have boosted the party's prospects in the short term, allowing them to significantly increase their presence in Congress and to take and keep control of state governments in Virginia, New Jersey, Arkansas, and elsewhere. Despite this, the party is suffering from a lack of leadership that prevents it from becoming a major party once again. Ever since Al Smith's defeat in 1932, Governor Garner has been the de facto leader of the party, but his impending defeat at the convention may lead him to follow Smith into retirement.

I imagine too that Long's radical policies have prompted more conservatives to be politically active, but I'll leave it up to you to explain what's happened.

The continued controversy surrounding Long's administration makes it difficult to answer your question succinctly, but I'll try. When Long took office in 1933, most Americans were either supportive of his policies or willing to give them a try. "Desperate times call for desperate measures" was the motto of the day, and even some within the American Party thought that Long might have the right idea with "Share Our Wealth". During the period from the Spring of 1933 to the Summer of 1934, Long remained immensely popular with the public at large, and conservative attempts to roll back his more radical policies, while fervently supported by a segment of the population, were largely failing miserably.

Then came the Cabinet Revolt and the subsequent attempt to impeach Long in the Summer of 1934. Because the popularity of Long's program was tied to his personal charisma, and because the president had played such a central part in running every aspect of his Administration, allegations of large-scale corruption led to a sharp decrease in support for "Share Our Wealth." Long's populism became tied with corruption in the public eye, allowing conservatives to paint their ideology as the "Church of Honesty" and Populism as naturally conductive of unscrupulousness.

The perception of conservatism as the "Church of Honesty" allowed conservative Americans and Democrats to retake Congress in the 1934 midterms and reached the peak of its popularity following the failure of the impeachment proceedings. Long's assassination in September of 1935, however, led to another, less dramatic shift in public opinion. Long's disciples have cast the Kingfish as a martyr, struck down by his envious political opponents, and have begun to work of refurbishing his legacy as that of an untiring champion of the people. This effort has not been wholly successful - an overwhelming majority of Americans still view Long with contempt - but has gained popularity amongst Southern Populists. The ascension of Eleanor Roosevelt to the presidency and men like Earl Warren and Fiorello La Guardia to the leadership of the American Party has also sparked a sympathy for "Good Progressivism". The term was coined by Senator Warren and quickly adopted by left-leaning politicians in the Populist and American Parties, seeking to distinguish their own ideology from that of Long. In a certain sense, "Good Progressivism" is mostly rhetoric, but it has allowed figures like Warren and Roosevelt to cast themselves as a more moderate alternative to Long's radicalism by contrasting their own policies against those of the Longites. This was particularly useful for the Americans, who needed to find a way to capitalize on Long's unpopularity without driving away men like Warren and La Guardia. Accordingly, conservatives - who made noteworthy gains in traditionally Populists states in 1934 - have altered their strategy, and have now singled out Long and his supporters - rather than the left as a whole - as the focus of their assault.

Summary: As Long's popularity rises and falls, so has the fate of conservatism. Conservatives have capitalized on the corruption of the Long Administration to cast their ideology as the more naturally honest persuasion, and have accordingly made gains in traditionally Populist strongholds. The left has attempted to respond to this line of attack by distinguishing between "Good Progressives" like Eleanor Roosevelt and Earl Warren and the corrupt populism of Huey Long.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Roosevelt/Wheeler!

[Mr. Smith]

As for who with Warren, LaFollette Jr methinks.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

LaGuardia/Warren

[TDAS04]

Roosevelt/Wheeler!

[Antonio the Sixth]

OMG, Eleanor Roosevelt is President now? That's awesome!