Hoover!

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

Hoover!

The story about how one of the most unpopular Presidents in American history restored his reputation, and changed the political landscape of America forever.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

Background:

After Hebert Hoover’s humiliating electoral loss to Franklin Roosevelt in 1932, he had always wanted a sort of “revenge”. He had always wanted to take back the Presidency with a comeback campaign. He wanted the convention to come to him in 1936, and 1940, but the Republican Party never really considered the idea seriously.

Hebert Hoover decided that the 1944 Presidential Election was his last chance at re-living the dream of what it was like to be President. However, he believed God had other plans. His beloved wife, Lou Henry Hoover died in January 1944. This sucked the heart and soul out of Hoover, and he just didn’t feel the energy to run. In his heart, he felt he would lose if he tried again also.

However, for the past few years, President Hoover had toured the nation, encouraging donations to U.S troops overseas, he was just getting his name in the public spotlight as much as he could to restore his name- his brand.

Then, on June 24th, 1944, the world would change forever.

[MycroftCZ]

Go on.

[MR DARK BRANDON]

Go on.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

The Death of an Icon:


The popular President whom many Americans had known for most of their lives had died, and a period of mourning was announced for the late President.

The troops overseas fighting to break out of Normandy heard devastating news. The president many of them had known for most of their lives had died. Newly sworn in President Henry Wallace declared a period of mourning for the late President, and immediately contacted allied leaders of the situation.

President Wallace addressed the nation and troops overseas on June 25th, 1944.

The newly minted President gave a heavily publicized and emotional speech to American troops overseas, encouraging them to “keep fighting for freedom”. Hitler and the Axis Powers were using the death of Roosevelt for propaganda purposes.

Former President Hoover announced his candidacy in front of a few thousand people just outside of Chicago Stadium.

As soon as former President Hoover was informed of the situation, he wrote a speech. He was soon going to declare that he was a candidate for the 1944 Presidential Election. He felt like it wasn’t just about him, that Wallace wasn’t fit to be President, and had little foreign policy experience.

The day before the Republican convention, Hoover had assembled the team that he would use to win the Republican Nomination. He had declared his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States outside of Chicago Stadium, where New York Governor Thomas Dewey was expected to be nominated.

The people of the crowd seemed like hey had forgotten all the negative thoughts they most likely had of the former President before, Hoover’s words of how he was experienced, how he’s a reformed man, more experienced through his electoral loss, he had a crowd of Northern Democrats who voted for Roosevelt 3 times cheering him on. The comeback tour across the United States that Hoover had been on had worked. The former President and his crew started making promises to delegates and office holders before the Convention.

Secretary of State Cordell Hull was a very popular potential candidate, and it was rumored that he would wait to declare just a couple days before the Democratic Convention.

Many Democratic delegates had already been rumored to try to nominate a Southerner in place of Vice President Wallace, to dump him from the ticket. When President Wallace declared he would run for election in his own right, he immediately received challengers. Secretary of State Cordell Hull seemed to be the consensus most popular candidate, although publicly he declared he was staying on as Secretary of State.

Senator Alben Barkley, a friend of Roosevelt’s declared he would challenge Wallace. Former Vice President Garner also declared, as well as Former Governor Paul McNutt. Director of the Office of War Mobilization James Byrnes also declared he would challenge Wallace.

President Wallace declared he would support Puerto Rico Governor Rexford Tugwell to be his Vice Presidential running mate.

What the world didn’t know, was that one of the greatest political stories in history was about to take place.

[LabourJersey]

You have my attention.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

The Republican Convention:

Former President Hoover arrived in Chicago Stadium with tremendous applause, a sign of things that were going to come.

Former President Hoover entered Chicago Stadium with rounding applause, with many delegates swayed by his announcement speech. It seemed like he was welcome.

New York Governor Thomas Dewey was once the favorite for the Presidential Nomination going into the 1944 Republican Convention, but he would find his way onto the Republican ticket.

The Governor of New York, Thomas Dewey, was heavily favored to win the Republican Presidential Nomination heading into the Convention. However, Hoover’s expert team had taken enough votes away from Dewey, and Governor John Bricker to win over several state delegations.

By the time of the third ballot, Governor Dewey came to Hoover with a proposition. Either they could keep battling it out via delegates, or Thomas Dewey could drop out and endorse Hoover, giving him the nomination. Dewey just had a simple demand: that he would be the running mate of the former President.

When the move was announced, the Convention was in uproar. The halls were filled with applause, with some boos, with some jaws dropping in disbelief.

Former President Hoover accepting the Republican Presidential Nomination.

In what was a widely listened to speech over the radio, Former President Herbert Hoover had already pulled off an amazing comeback. The stigma of him seemed like it hadn’t left him just a few years before, but now it appeared gone. His words of inspiration and unity traveled through more than just the radio. The American people felt like they had a glimmer of hope, for the first time in a while.

[CookieDamage]

Hoover would never win. People starved and homeless called their shanty villages Hoovervilles. You don't come back from having your name be synonymous with destitution and misery.

[Sirius_]

Hoover would never win. People starved and homeless called their shanty villages Hoovervilles. You don't come back from having your name be synonymous with destitution and misery.

That isn't the point of this.

[Continential]

It will be close for Sure

[David T]

The Republicans are not going to nominate Hoover in 1944, especially if the Democratic candidate is Wallace.  The more the election looks winnable for the GOP, the less likely it would be to give the nomination to someone with Hoover's baggage (above all the memory of the Great Depression and "Hoovervillles" but also isolationism in foreign policy).

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

Hoover would never win. People starved and homeless called their shanty villages Hoovervilles. You don't come back from having your name be synonymous with destitution and misery.

I actually have something written that sort of looks back on that and how he’s changed his image. You’ll see what happens.

Hoover would never win. People starved and homeless called their shanty villages Hoovervilles. You don't come back from having your name be synonymous with destitution and misery.

That isn't the point of this.

It will be close for Sure

Yep!

The Republicans are not going to nominate Hoover in 1944, especially if the Democratic candidate is Wallace.  The more the election looks winnable for the GOP, the less likely it would be to give the nomination to someone with Hoover's baggage (above all the memory of the Great Depression and "Hoovervillles" but also isolationism in foreign policy).

He’s sort of rehabilitated his image, but Wallace’s Nomination isn’t set in stone