Difference between revisions of "United States presidential election, 1940"
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In the 1940 campaign, Republican opponent [[Wendell Willkie]] charged that Roosevelt had boasted of his part in the [[appeasement]] of German Chancellor [[Adolf Hitler]] in the [[Treaty of Munich]]. Secretary of State [[Cordell Hull]] denied this at the time however Hull later admitted <ref>Cordell Hull, ''Memoirs,'' New York Times, January 26 to March 6, 1948.</ref> that Roosevelt did indeed send a "message to Mussolini" <ref> | In the 1940 campaign, Republican opponent [[Wendell Willkie]] charged that Roosevelt had boasted of his part in the [[appeasement]] of German Chancellor [[Adolf Hitler]] in the [[Treaty of Munich]]. Secretary of State [[Cordell Hull]] denied this at the time however Hull later admitted <ref>Cordell Hull, ''Memoirs,'' New York Times, January 26 to March 6, 1948.</ref> that Roosevelt did indeed send a "message to Mussolini" <ref> | ||
[http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/interwar/fdr13.htm President Roosevelt to the Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) with a Message to Mussolini], Telegram, September 27 1938, U.S., Department of State, Publication 1983, ''Peace and War: United States Foreign Policy, 1931-1941'' (Washington, D.C.: U.S., Government Printing Office, 1943, pp. 427).</ref> and one to Hitler <ref>[http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/interwar/fdr14.htm President Roosevelt to the Chancellor of Germany (Hitler)], Telegram, September 27 1938, U.S., Department of State, Publication 1983, ''Peace and War: United States Foreign Policy, 1931-1941'' (Washington, D.C.: U.S., Government Printing Office, 1943, pp. 427-428).</ref> encouraging negotiation over confrontation. | [http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/interwar/fdr13.htm President Roosevelt to the Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) with a Message to Mussolini], Telegram, September 27 1938, U.S., Department of State, Publication 1983, ''Peace and War: United States Foreign Policy, 1931-1941'' (Washington, D.C.: U.S., Government Printing Office, 1943, pp. 427).</ref> and one to Hitler <ref>[http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/interwar/fdr14.htm President Roosevelt to the Chancellor of Germany (Hitler)], Telegram, September 27 1938, U.S., Department of State, Publication 1983, ''Peace and War: United States Foreign Policy, 1931-1941'' (Washington, D.C.: U.S., Government Printing Office, 1943, pp. 427-428).</ref> encouraging negotiation over confrontation. | ||
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| + | ==Republican convention== | ||
| + | On June 21, while French officials were meeting with Hitler in the [[Compiegne Forest]] in the same dining car which [[Marshal Foch]] signed the [[Armistice]] with Germany in 1918, Republicans were gathering for their nominating convention in Philadelphia. The war was the looming issue. The government had appropriated billions for defense and unemployment from the 1937 Crash was beginning to move down. The Gallup poll showed overwhelming opposition to war. Former President [[Herbert Hoover]] addressed the Convention: | ||
| + | {{Cquote|In every single case before the rise of totalitarian governments there has been a period dominated by [[economic planners]]. Each of these nations had an era under starry-eyed men who believed that they could plan and force the economic life of the people. They believed that was the way to correct abuse or to meet emergencies in systems of free enterprise. They exalted the State as the solvent of all economic problems. | ||
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| + | "These men are not Communists or Fascists. But they mixed these ideas into free systems. It is true that Communists and Fascists were round about. They formed [[popular front]]s and gave the applause. These men shifted the relation of government to free enterprise from that of umpire to controller. Directly or indirectly they politically controlled credit, prices, production or industry, farmer and laborer. They devalued, [[pump-prime]]d and deflated. They controlled private business by government competition, by regulation and by taxes. They met every failure with demands for more and more power and control ... When it was too late they discovered that every time they stretched the arm of government into private enterprise, except to correct abuse, then somehow, somewhere, men's minds became confused. At once men became fearful and hesitant. Initiative slackened, industry slowed down production. <ref>http://www.threeworldwars.com/world-war-2/ww2-background.htm </ref>}} | ||
Roosevelt won the Democratic nomination for a third term and the general election. <ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt]], by Alice Osinski, Children's Press, 1987, pp. 58-61. </ref> | Roosevelt won the Democratic nomination for a third term and the general election. <ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt]], by Alice Osinski, Children's Press, 1987, pp. 58-61. </ref> | ||
Revision as of 20:10, July 27, 2007
President Franklin Roosevelt was not as popular as he was four years ago. During his term he had tried to amend the Constitution so that he could actually appoint judges in the US Supreme Court that agreed with him. However, Congress rejected his plan and the number remained nine. Also, his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, was very outspoken and didn't fit the usual first lady role. Conservatives tended to disapprove of her actions.
In the 1940 campaign, Republican opponent Wendell Willkie charged that Roosevelt had boasted of his part in the appeasement of German Chancellor Adolf Hitler in the Treaty of Munich. Secretary of State Cordell Hull denied this at the time however Hull later admitted [1] that Roosevelt did indeed send a "message to Mussolini" [2] and one to Hitler [3] encouraging negotiation over confrontation.
Republican convention
On June 21, while French officials were meeting with Hitler in the Compiegne Forest in the same dining car which Marshal Foch signed the Armistice with Germany in 1918, Republicans were gathering for their nominating convention in Philadelphia. The war was the looming issue. The government had appropriated billions for defense and unemployment from the 1937 Crash was beginning to move down. The Gallup poll showed overwhelming opposition to war. Former President Herbert Hoover addressed the Convention:
| “ | In every single case before the rise of totalitarian governments there has been a period dominated by economic planners. Each of these nations had an era under starry-eyed men who believed that they could plan and force the economic life of the people. They believed that was the way to correct abuse or to meet emergencies in systems of free enterprise. They exalted the State as the solvent of all economic problems.
"These men are not Communists or Fascists. But they mixed these ideas into free systems. It is true that Communists and Fascists were round about. They formed popular fronts and gave the applause. These men shifted the relation of government to free enterprise from that of umpire to controller. Directly or indirectly they politically controlled credit, prices, production or industry, farmer and laborer. They devalued, pump-primed and deflated. They controlled private business by government competition, by regulation and by taxes. They met every failure with demands for more and more power and control ... When it was too late they discovered that every time they stretched the arm of government into private enterprise, except to correct abuse, then somehow, somewhere, men's minds became confused. At once men became fearful and hesitant. Initiative slackened, industry slowed down production. [4] |
” |
Roosevelt won the Democratic nomination for a third term and the general election. [5]
| candidates | popular vote | electoral vote |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Roosevelt | 27, 307, 819 | 449 |
| Wendell L. Wilkie | 22, 321, 018 | 82 |
| Norman Thomas | 99, 557 | 0 |
| Roger W. Babson | 57, 812 | 0 |
| Earl Browder | 46, 251 | 0 |
| John W. Aiken | 14, 892 | 0 |
References
- ↑ Cordell Hull, Memoirs, New York Times, January 26 to March 6, 1948.
- ↑ President Roosevelt to the Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) with a Message to Mussolini, Telegram, September 27 1938, U.S., Department of State, Publication 1983, Peace and War: United States Foreign Policy, 1931-1941 (Washington, D.C.: U.S., Government Printing Office, 1943, pp. 427).
- ↑ President Roosevelt to the Chancellor of Germany (Hitler), Telegram, September 27 1938, U.S., Department of State, Publication 1983, Peace and War: United States Foreign Policy, 1931-1941 (Washington, D.C.: U.S., Government Printing Office, 1943, pp. 427-428).
- ↑ http://www.threeworldwars.com/world-war-2/ww2-background.htm
- ↑ Encyclopedia of Presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt, by Alice Osinski, Children's Press, 1987, pp. 58-61.
- ↑ A Pictoral History of the U.S. Presidents, by Clare Gibson, Gramercy Books, 2001, p. 124.
