Changes

==Presidential candidate==

==Presidential candidate==

Smith was defeated in 1924 for the Democratic Party's nomination for president, but won the nomination easily in 1928. He was the first [[Catholic]] to win a presidential nomination<ref> John F. Kennedy was the second, in 1960. John F. Kerry, a Catholic, was the Democratic nominee in 2004, but lost.</ref>, Smith's was a highly visible Catholic and religion rallied millions of new Catholic voters, while alienating Southern Baptists and German Lutherans.  

Smith was defeated in 1924 for the Democratic Party's nomination for president, but won the nomination easily in 1928. He was the first [[Catholic]] to win a presidential nomination,<ref>John F. Kennedy was the second, in 1960. John F. Kerry, a Catholic, was the Democratic nominee in 2004, but lost.</ref> Smith's was a highly visible Catholic and religion rallied millions of new Catholic voters, while alienating Southern Baptists and German Lutherans.  

Smith lost the 1928 election to Republican [[Herbert Hoover]] because of national prosperity, and Smith's leadership of Catholics and wet opponents of Prohibition. Although he was personally honest, people distrusted his close ties with the notoriously corrupt [[Tammany Hall]] Democratic machine in Manhattan.    Smith was a model [[Progressive Era|Progressive]] reformer in his ability to master the technical details of government as an expert, and pursue constitutional, statutory, and administrative changes to make government more efficient. Smith reached out to Republicans including Charles Evans Hughes, Elihu Root, Joseph Proskauer, John Raskob, and others when it furthered these goals, and he won their genuine admiration for his intellectual ability.  He broke with [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] after 1928, lost the Democratic nomination to Roosevelt in 1932, and helped form the [[American Liberty League]] to rally conservative Democrats in opposition to the [[New Deal]] and in favor of [[Jeffersonian Democracy]].   

Smith lost the 1928 election to Republican [[Herbert Hoover]] because of national prosperity, and Smith's leadership of Catholics and wet opponents of Prohibition. Although he was personally honest, people distrusted his close ties with the notoriously corrupt [[Tammany Hall]] Democratic machine in Manhattan.    Smith was a model [[Progressive Era|Progressive]] reformer in his ability to master the technical details of government as an expert, and pursue constitutional, statutory, and administrative changes to make government more efficient. Smith reached out to Republicans including Charles Evans Hughes, Elihu Root, Joseph Proskauer, John Raskob, and others when it furthered these goals, and he won their genuine admiration for his intellectual ability.  He broke with [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] after 1928, lost the Democratic nomination to Roosevelt in 1932, and helped form the [[American Liberty League]] to rally conservative Democrats in opposition to the [[New Deal]] and in favor of [[Jeffersonian Democracy]].   

The Republican Party was riding high on the economic boom of the 1920s, which their presidential candidate [[Herbert Hoover]] pledged to continue.   

The Republican Party was riding high on the economic boom of the 1920s, which their presidential candidate [[Herbert Hoover]] pledged to continue.   

Smith finally secured the Democratic presidential nomination in 1928.  He was the first Catholic to win a major-party presidential nomination.<ref> Compare [[John F. Kennedy]], who in 1960 was the first and only Catholic elected U.S. President.</ref>  A major controversial issue was the continuation of [[Prohibition]]. Smith was personally in favor of relaxation or repeal of Prohibition laws, which were embedded in the nation's Constitution, but the Democratic Party split north and south on the issue. During the campaign Smith tried to duck the issue with noncommittal statements.

Smith finally secured the Democratic presidential nomination in 1928.  He was the first Catholic to win a major-party presidential nomination.<ref>Compare [[John F. Kennedy]], who in 1960 was the first and only Catholic elected U.S. President.</ref>  A major controversial issue was the continuation of [[Prohibition]]. Smith was personally in favor of relaxation or repeal of Prohibition laws, which were embedded in the nation's Constitution, but the Democratic Party split north and south on the issue. During the campaign Smith tried to duck the issue with noncommittal statements.

Smith was an articulate exponent of good government and efficiency— and so was Hoover.  But as Smith became known for saying in his campaign, "Let's look at the record." Smith swept the entire Catholic vote, which had been split in 1920 and 1924, and brought millions of Catholic ethnics to the polls for the first time, especially women.  He lost important Democratic constituencies in the rural north and in southern cities and suburbs.  He did carry the Deep South, thanks in part to his running mate, Senator [[Joseph Robinson]] of Arkansas. Part of Smith's losses can be attributed to Protestant fear that as president, Smith would answer to the Pope rather than to the Constitution, to fears of the power of New York City, to distaste for the long history of corruption associated with [[Tammany Hall]], and to Smith's own mediocre campaigning.  Smith's campaign theme song, "The Sidewalks of New York", was not likely to appeal to rural folk, and his city accent on the "raddio" seemed a bit foreign.  Although Smith lost New York state, his ticket-mate Roosevelt was elected to replace him as governor of New York. Historians agree that the prosperity made Hoover's election inevitable, as he was a national symbol of efficiency and prosperity. He defeated Smith by a landslide in the 1928 election, the third consecutive GOP landslide.

Smith was an articulate exponent of good government and efficiency— and so was Hoover.  But as Smith became known for saying in his campaign, "Let's look at the record." Smith swept the entire Catholic vote, which had been split in 1920 and 1924, and brought millions of Catholic ethnics to the polls for the first time, especially women.  He lost important Democratic constituencies in the rural north and in southern cities and suburbs.  He did carry the Deep South, thanks in part to his running mate, Senator [[Joseph Robinson]] of Arkansas. Part of Smith's losses can be attributed to Protestant fear that as president, Smith would answer to the Pope rather than to the Constitution, to fears of the power of New York City, to distaste for the long history of corruption associated with [[Tammany Hall]], and to Smith's own mediocre campaigning.  Smith's campaign theme song, "The Sidewalks of New York", was not likely to appeal to rural folk, and his city accent on the "raddio" seemed a bit foreign.  Although Smith lost New York state, his ticket-mate Roosevelt was elected to replace him as governor of New York. Historians agree that the prosperity made Hoover's election inevitable, as he was a national symbol of efficiency and prosperity. He defeated Smith by a landslide in the 1928 election, the third consecutive GOP landslide.

===Opposition to Roosevelt===

===Opposition to Roosevelt===

Smith felt slighted by Roosevelt during Roosevelt's governorship. They became rivals for the 1932 Democratic presidential nomination, but Smith's old enemy Hearst used his influence to help swing the nomination in favor of Roosevelt. After losing the nomination, Smith begrudgingly campaigned for Roosevelt in 1932 but was not offered any post in the new administration.  When President Roosevelt began pursuing the liberal policies of his [[New Deal]], Smith began to work with the conservative opposition. Roosevelt's heavy spending was a betrayal of Smith's good-government Progressive ideals, and ran counter to the goal of close cooperation with business.  Above Smith was committed to a society with unlimited opportunity and he feared Roosevelt was putting a ceiling on that opportunity. He had warned in 1932, against the "Demagogic appeal to the masses of the working people of the country to destroy themselves  

Smith felt slighted by Roosevelt during Roosevelt's governorship. They became rivals for the 1932 Democratic presidential nomination, but Smith's old enemy Hearst used his influence to help swing the nomination in favor of Roosevelt. After losing the nomination, Smith begrudgingly campaigned for Roosevelt in 1932 but was not offered any post in the new administration.  When President Roosevelt began pursuing the liberal policies of his [[New Deal]], Smith began to work with the conservative opposition. Roosevelt's heavy spending was a betrayal of Smith's good-government Progressive ideals, and ran counter to the goal of close cooperation with business.  Above Smith was committed to a society with unlimited opportunity and he feared Roosevelt was putting a ceiling on that opportunity. He had warned in 1932, against the "Demagogic appeal to the masses of the working people of the country to destroy themselves  

by setting class against class and rich against poor."<ref> Raymond Moley, ''27 Masters of Politics'' (1949) p. 22 </ref>  He joined other prominent conservative Democrats in 1934 to form the [[American Liberty League]], the focus of political opposition to Roosevelt's [[New Deal]]. Smith supported the Republican presidential candidates, [[Alfred M. Landon]] in the 1936 election and [[Wendell Willkie]] in the 1940 election.

by setting class against class and rich against poor."<ref>Raymond Moley, ''27 Masters of Politics'' (1949) p. 22</ref>  He joined other prominent conservative Democrats in 1934 to form the [[American Liberty League]], the focus of political opposition to Roosevelt's [[New Deal]]. Smith supported the Republican presidential candidates, [[Alfred M. Landon]] in the 1936 election and [[Wendell Willkie]] in the 1940 election.

Although personal resentment was a motivating factor in Smith's break with Roosevelt and the New Deal, Smith was consistent in his beliefs and politics. Finan (2003) argues Smith always believed in social mobility, economic opportunity, religious tolerance, and individualism

Although personal resentment was a motivating factor in Smith's break with Roosevelt and the New Deal, Smith was consistent in his beliefs and politics. Finan (2003) argues Smith always believed in social mobility, economic opportunity, religious tolerance, and individualism

* Burner, David. ''The Politics of Provincialism: The Democratic Party in Transition, 1918--1932'' (1968).

* Burner, David. ''The Politics of Provincialism: The Democratic Party in Transition, 1918--1932'' (1968).

*  Craig, Douglas B. ''After Wilson: The Struggle for Control of the Democratic Party, 1920-1934'' (1992) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=10806989 online edition] see Chap. 6 "The Problem of Al Smith" and Chap. 8 "'Wall Street Likes Al Smith': The Election of 1928"

*  Craig, Douglas B. ''After Wilson: The Struggle for Control of the Democratic Party, 1920-1934'' (1992) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=10806989 online edition] see Chap. 6 "The Problem of Al Smith" and Chap. 8 "'Wall Street Likes Al Smith': The Election of 1928"

* Degler, Carl N. "American Political Parties and the Rise of the City: An Interpretation," ''Journal of American History,'' 1964 51:1 pp 41-59. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0021-8723(196406)51:1%3C41:APPATR%3E2.0.CO;2-%23&origin=historycoop in JSTOR]  

* Degler, Carl N. "American Political Parties and the Rise of the City: An Interpretation," ''Journal of American History,'' 1964 51:1 pp 41–59. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0021-8723(196406)51:1%3C41:APPATR%3E2.0.CO;2-%23&origin=historycoop in JSTOR]  

* Eldot, Paula. ''Governor Alfred E. Smith: The Politician as Reformer,'' (1983)

* Eldot, Paula. ''Governor Alfred E. Smith: The Politician as Reformer,'' (1983)

* Finan, Christopher M. ''Alfred E. Smith: The Happy Warrior.'' (2003) [http://www.amazon.com/Alfred-E-Smith-Happy-Warrior/dp/080901632X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196821904&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Finan, Christopher M. ''Alfred E. Smith: The Happy Warrior.'' (2003) [http://www.amazon.com/Alfred-E-Smith-Happy-Warrior/dp/080901632X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196821904&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Moore, Edmund A. ''A Catholic Runs for President: The Campaign of 1928'' (1956) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=94966769 online edition]

* Moore, Edmund A. ''A Catholic Runs for President: The Campaign of 1928'' (1956) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=94966769 online edition]

* Neal, Donn C. ''The World beyond the Hudson: Alfred E. Smith and National Politics, 1918-1928,'' (1983)

* Neal, Donn C. ''The World beyond the Hudson: Alfred E. Smith and National Politics, 1918-1928,'' (1983)

* Neal, Donn C. "What If Al Smith Had Been Elected?" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' (1984) 14#2 pp 242-248

* Neal, Donn C. "What If Al Smith Had Been Elected?" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' (1984) 14#2 pp 242–248

* Pietrusza, David ''1932: The Rise of Hitler & FDR: Two Tales of Politics, Betrayal & Unlikely Destiny'' (2015)

* Pietrusza, David ''1932: The Rise of Hitler & FDR: Two Tales of Politics, Betrayal & Unlikely Destiny'' (2015)

* Pringle, Henry F. ''Alfred E. Smith: A Critical Study'' (1927) [http://www.questia.com/read/3926153?title=Alfred%20E.%20Smith%3a%20A%20Critical%20Study online edition]

* Pringle, Henry F. ''Alfred E. Smith: A Critical Study'' (1927) [http://www.questia.com/read/3926153?title=Alfred%20E.%20Smith%3a%20A%20Critical%20Study online edition]

[[Category:Religion and Politics]]

[[Category:Religion and Politics]]

[[Category:Former Liberals]]

[[Category:Former Liberals]]

[[category:Conservative Democrats]]

[[Category:Conservative Democrats]]

[[Category:Failed Presidential Candidates]]

[[Category:Failed Presidential Candidates]]