1940 Democratic National Convention
Results (vice president) | Wallace (IA): 626 (59.3%) Bankhead (AL): 329 (31.17%) McNutt (IN): 68 (6.44%) Others: 32.5 (3.07%) |
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The 1940 Democratic National Convention was held at the
.Despite the unprecedented bid for a third term, Roosevelt was nominated on the first ballot. Roosevelt's most formidable challengers were his former campaign manager James Farley and Vice President John Nance Garner. Both had sought the nomination for the presidency and soundly lost to Roosevelt who would be "drafted" at the convention. Henry Wallace was Roosevelt's preferred choice for the vice presidency. His candidacy was opposed vehemently by some delegates, particularly the conservative wing of the party which had been unenthusiastic about Wallace's liberal positions. Nonetheless, Wallace was ultimately nominated with the votes of 59% of the delegates, on the first ballot.[1]
Background
By late 1939 President
Throughout the winter of 1939, and the spring and summer of 1940, whether Roosevelt would run again remained unknown. The "two-term" tradition, although not yet enshrined in the
Roosevelt told others of his plans not to run, including Cordell Hull, Frances Perkins, and Daniel J. Tobin. His wife Eleanor was opposed to a third term. Perhaps the most definitive evidence of Roosevelt's intention to not run for a third term is that in January 1940 he signed a contract to write 26 articles a year for Collier's for three years after leaving the presidency in January 1941. However, as Nazi Germany defeated France and threatened Britain in the summer of 1940, Roosevelt decided that only he had the necessary experience and skills to see the nation safely through the Nazi threat. His belief that no other Democrat who would continue the New Deal could win was likely also a reason.[4] He was aided by the party's political bosses, who feared that no Democrat except Roosevelt could defeat the charismatic Wendell Willkie, the Republican candidate.[6]
Presidential nomination
Presidential candidates
By the convention Farley and Vice President
The President has never had, and has not today, any desire or purpose to continue in the office of President, to be a candidate for that office, or to be nominated by the convention for that office. He wishes in earnestness and sincerity to make it clear that all of the delegates in this convention are free to vote for any candidate.[4]
John Gunther later wrote that Barkley's message "can scarcely be said to have conveyed the whole or literal truth".[4]
The "Voice from the Sewers"
After the reading of Roosevelt's message, the convention sat in shocked silence for a moment. The silence was then broken by a voice thundering over the stadium loudspeakers: "We want Roosevelt! We want Roosevelt!" The voice was Thomas D. Garry, Superintendent of Chicago's Department of Sanitation (the sewers department), a trusted henchman of Chicago Mayor Ed Kelly. Garry was stationed in a basement room with a microphone, waiting for that moment. Kelly had posted hundreds of Chicago city workers and precinct captains around the hall; other Democratic bosses had brought followers from their home territories. All of them joined Garry's chant. Within a few seconds, hundreds of delegates joined in. Many poured into the aisles, carrying state delegation standards for impromptu demonstrations. Whenever the chant began to die down, state chairmen, who also had microphones connected to the speakers, added their own endorsements: "New Jersey wants Roosevelt! Arizona wants Roosevelt! Iowa wants Roosevelt!"[7][8]
Life wrote the following week that "the shabby pretense ... fooled nobody", describing it as a "cynical, end-justifies-the-means alliance of New Deal reformers with self-seeking city bosses to engineer the 'draft'" and "one of the shoddiest and most hypocritical spectacles in [US] history".[9] The effect of the "voice from the sewers" was overwhelming. The next day Roosevelt was nominated by an 86% majority.
Balloting
Roosevelt was nominated on the first ballot:
Presidential Balloting[10] | |
---|---|
Candidate | 1st |
Roosevelt | 946.43 |
Farley | 72.90 |
Garner | 61 |
Tydings | 9.50 |
Hull | 5.67 |
Absent | 3.50 |
Not Voting | 1 |
Presidential Balloting / 3rd Day of Convention (July 17, 1940)
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1st Presidential Ballot
Vice presidential nomination
Because Garner had opposed Roosevelt's re-election, the party had to choose a new vice presidential nominee.
Roosevelt chose Wallace because of Wallace's positions on the New Deal and aid to Britain, and because he hoped that Wallace would appeal to agricultural voters.[12] Eleanor Roosevelt had flown to Chicago to campaign;[16] after her husband's nomination, she gave what came to be known as her "No Ordinary Time" speech in support of Wallace.[13][17] Though many Democrats regarded Wallace as a mystic or an intellectual, the delegates acquiesced; Wallace won the nomination on the first ballot over Bankhead.[15]
The Roosevelt–Wallace ticket defeated the Republican ticket to win the 1940 presidential election. Roosevelt's decision to select his own running mate set a powerful precedent, and presidential candidates after 1940 became much more influential in the choice of their running mate.[12]
Balloting
Wallace was nominated on the first ballot:
Vice Presidential Balloting[18] | ||
---|---|---|
Candidate | 1st (Before Shifts) | 1st (After Shifts) |
Wallace | 627.70 | 681.20 |
Bankhead | 327.27 | 286.27 |
McNutt | 66.63 | 63.13 |
Adams | 11.50 | 11.50 |
Farley
|
8 | 5 |
Jones | 5.90 | 5.90 |
O'Mahoney | 3 | 3 |
Barkley | 2 | 2 |
Brown | 1 | 0 |
Johnson | 1 | 1 |
Lucas | 1 | 1 |
Timmons | 1 | 0 |
Walsh | 0.50 | 0.50 |
Absent / Not Voting | 43.50 | 39.50 |
Vice Presidential Balloting / 4th Day of Convention (July 18, 1940)
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1st Vice Presidential Ballot (Before Shifts)
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1st Vice Presidential Ballot (After Shifts)
Roosevelt's acceptance speech
Franklin D. Roosevelt, playing coy about his intentions to seek a third term, did not attend the convention himself, instead sending his wife Eleanor there on his behalf.[19]
Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted his party's nomination after the convention had closed. Shortly after midnight Eastern time on July 19, 1940, Roosevelt delivered his acceptance speech from the White House in front of news radio microphones and newsreel cameras.[19]
Later that morning, the American Pathé sent footage of his speech to New York City, where it was developed and had a portion aired on television at 3:30 Eastern time, making Roosevelt the first incumbent president to be shown on television accepting his party's nomination.[19]
See also
- 1940 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- List of Democratic National Conventions
- U.S. presidential nomination convention
- 1940 Republican National Convention
- 22nd Amendment
References
- ^ a b "The 1940 Democratic National Convention". Chicago Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ Kaltenborn, H. V. (1939-09-22). CBS H. V. Kaltenborn Commentary (Radio). Event occurs at 8:45.
- ^ "Farley Dies -- Jun 10, 1976 -- NBC -- Vanderbilt Television News Archive". Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
- ^ a b c d e Gunther, John (1950). Roosevelt in Retrospect. Harper & Brothers. pp. 308–309.
- ^ Lawrence, David (August 4, 1939). "Favorite Son Groups Will be Numerous at 1940 Convention of Democrats". The Day (New London). p. 4. Retrieved 2023-09-28 – via Google News Archive Search.
- ISBN 978-0-5254-2790-2 – via Google Books.
- ^ "President Roosevelt Answerd a Call to Run for a Third Term". Life. 1940-07-29. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ^ Edward Joseph Kelly obituary, Time
- ^ "New Deal Reformers and City Bosses Engineered the Third-Term "Draft"". Life. 1940-07-29. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ^ "The Only Ballot". The New York Times. July 18, 1940.
- ^ "VP John Garner". US Senate. US Senate. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ^ ISBN 9780199981939. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ^ ISBN 9780195167160.
- ^ JSTOR 2952169.
- ^ ISBN 9780300190861. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ISBN 978-0684804484.
- FDR Library Archives. Accessed 2016-01-01
- ^ "For Vice President". The New York Times. July 19, 1940.
- ^ a b c "Television, FDR and the 1940 Presidential Conventions". fdr.blogs.archives.gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum/National Archives. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
Further reading
- Donahoe, Bernard F. Private Plans and Public Dangers: The Story of FDR's Third Nomination (University of Notre Dame Press, 1965).
External links
- Democratic Party Platform of 1940 at The American Presidency Project
- Roosevelt Nomination Acceptance Speech for President at DNC (transcript) at The American Presidency Project
Preceded by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Democratic National Conventions | Succeeded by Chicago, Illinois
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