U.S. Presidential Election 1940

[PBrunsel]

No hindsight.

War was on the horizon for America. Adolph Hitler and his Nazi Party had been able to build a war machine that had conquered like nothing since the days of Julius Caesar. In Italy Mussolini backed Hitler as did Tojo and the mighty Eastern power of Japan. In Spain Franco ruled with an iron fist, Oswald Mosley’s National Party was preaching corporatism” in the streets of London, Fascism seemed to be closing in on the world as the 1940 Presidential Election rolled around.

The Democrats were split in 1940 between pro- and anti- third term for Franklin Roosevelt factions. FDR himself had not declared that he was to be a candidate, but he expected a quick re-nomination. The anti-third term faction had two candidates: Vice-President John “Cactus Jack” Gardner, and Postmaster General James A. Farley, FDR’s campaign manager in 1936 and 1940. FDR was re-nominated on the first ballot, but caused a great deal of fuss when he chose Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace as his running mate. Wallace was confirmed when Eleanor started throwing her sway over liberal delegates around. The Democratic Platform praised the New Deal and promised to not get involved in World War II, but continue the Lend Lease Act to the fullest.

The Republicans were starved for a victory in 1940, but they had lost their best candidate in famed aviator Charles A. Lindbergh when he made openly anti-Semitic remarks on September 11th, 1939, in Des Moines, Iowa, over the air. The front-runner for the nomination was the crime busting, young, handsome, and progressive New York District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey. The isolationist wing backed two men, Senators Robert Taft of Ohio and Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan. A little known former utilities owner and New Dealer from Indiana named Wendell Lewis Wilkie was an afterthought for the GOP. He was a man angry over how the TVA had closed down his power plants along the Ohio River, and he wanted revenge on FDR. With ballot after ballot not nominating anyone, Wilkie was nominated amongst cries of “We want Wilkie!” His running-mate was Senate Minority Leader Charles McNarry of Oregon. Before being nominated McNarry had spoken with Wilkie. Wilkie had said he wanted the GOP Nomination badly, but McNarry had this to day. “It is true you have converted from the wrong side to the Republicans, but its like when the town prostitute converts to Christianity and joins a church,” McNarry said, “The parson wouldn’t have her conduct the orchestra her second night at that church.” “Aw Chuck,” Wilkie replied dryly, “You can go to hell.” The GOP Platform called for an end of most New Deal policies (especially the TVA) and decried the attempts of Roosevelt to throw the U.S.A. into WWII.   

[True Democrat]

The only election with Roosevelt where I definately would have voted against him.

[PBrunsel]

I would have voted for Babson because I would have been an isolationist, anti-War, pacificst Quaker from rural Iowa. I would be frightened that both candidates would plunge the nation into a European War.

[Frodo]

As a die-hard New Deal Democrat from Virginia, who else but FDR would I have voted for? 

[A18]

Wilkie. FDR was a tyrant who deserved to be shot, not elected to a third term.

[AkSaber]

Probably the GOP candidate.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Wilkie, but again I'm not an FDR-hater.

[Dr. Cynic]

FDR, although Wilkie would've been a good alternative.

[MasterJedi]

FDR, although Wilkie would've been a good alternative.

Probably like this.

[Virginian87]

Roosevelt.  Onward with the Lend-Lease Act to help our British allies! 

And let me note that, for John Garner, "Cactus Jack" is one of the coolest nicknames ever.

[Wakie]

FDR

[Redefeatbush04]

FDR deserved to be shot

Dude that's not chill

[WalterMitty]

wilkie (normal)

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

FDR deserved to be shot

Dude that's not chill

A18 is just a typical "compassionate" conservative.

[Emsworth]

Willkie. Franklin Roosevelt did not deserve a single additional moment in office after he proposed the court packing plan or the NIRA.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Willkie. Franklin Roosevelt did not deserve a single additional moment in office after he proposed the court packing plan or the NIRA.

Anyone who hates FDR and Lincoln as much as you is an extremist.

[Emsworth]

Willkie. Franklin Roosevelt did not deserve a single additional moment in office after he proposed the court packing plan or the NIRA.

Anyone who hates FDR and Lincoln as much as you is an extremist.

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Willkie. Franklin Roosevelt did not deserve a single additional moment in office after he proposed the court packing plan or the NIRA.

Anyone who hates FDR and Lincoln as much as you is an extremist.

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.

So that's why you oppose the man who freed the slaves?

[A18]

He doesn't oppose him for having 'freed the slaves' (which he didn't do).

[Emsworth]

So that's why you oppose the man who freed the slaves?

Lincoln did not free the slaves. He did, however, shut down newspapers that criticized his policies, arrest or exile his political opponents, close a state legislature, and order the arrest of a judge who made a ruling he happened to disagree with.

[Dr. Cynic]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Remember, "In your guts, you know he's nuts!"

[jokerman]

FDR, obviously

[Virginian87]

Willkie. Franklin Roosevelt did not deserve a single additional moment in office after he proposed the court packing plan or the NIRA.

Do you mean the NRA, the National Recovery Administration that was struck down in the 1935 Schecter case?

[Emsworth]

Willkie. Franklin Roosevelt did not deserve a single additional moment in office after he proposed the court packing plan or the NIRA.

Do you mean the NRA, the National Recovery Administration that was struck down in the 1935 Schecter case?

Yes. (NIRA stands for National Industrial Recovery Act, the law that set up the National Recovery Administration.)