Figure 1.-- The Republican Party was the stronghold of the Isolationists. Several Republican senators were outspoken critics of President Roosevelt's efforts to contain the NAZIs. Hitler gambeled that the Isolationists would prevent America from intervening until he had compkleted the conquest of Europe. The NAZI conquest of France (June 1940) shocked many Americans. The first actual political impact was the Republican Convention's decesion to nominate Wendel Wilkie. He was an internationalist with basically the same international outlook as President Roosevelt. His domination dashed Hitler's hopes that an Isolationist might be elected president.

The 1940 presidential election is arguably the most important election in American history. The first American President, George Washington, retired after two 4-year terms. This set a precedent that every other president had followed. FDR because of the international crisis decided to run for a third term which became a campaign issue. The national debate over neutrality and isolationism that had been raging since the mid-1930s reached its height. There were powerful spokesmen on both sides. Isolationist groups, such as the American Fist Committee, opposed any risks that could lead to war and shaply attacked the President's policies. International groups and an increasing number of average citizens demanded more active aid to Britain. His Republican opponent was a surprise choice, Wendell Willkie, a wealty busniessman who had swept the Republican primaries. Willkie did not crticise FDR's support for the democracies, by the time of the camapign only England. His nomination was an indication of the shift in public opinion toward intervention. Willkie instead pledged "all aid to the Democracies short of war". He attacked the New Deal on domestic issues, what he referred to as the socialistic policies of the Administration. Roosevelt's foreign policy was, however, an issue in the campaign. The isolationists led by the American First Committee accused FDR of trying to drag America into the war. Speaking in Boston on October 30, the President assured his audinence, "I have said this before, but I shall say it again, and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars." Usually the phrase was "foreign wars" and usually the President added, "unless we are attacked". The election was another victory for FDR, but not the landslide of previous camapigns. Still FDR carried 39 of the 48 states. The election, however, was much closer than suggested by the results. FDR saw his re-election as strong pupblic support for a program of military preparedness and aid to Britain.

Importance

The 1940 presidential election is arguably the most important election in American history. The election of 1860 was also a critical election, but no less than the future of western civilization was at stake in 1940. Hitler had succeeded in conquering most of central and Western Europe. This includecFrance which had been the vulwark against the Germans in World War I. Many now qestioned Britain's ability to hold out. I Britain fell, with it would go the Royal Navy and America would have no capability to bring its power to bear against the NAZIs. Most Americans saw Hitler as evil, but the full barbarity of the NAZIs was not yet understood. Europe's future would be either the NAZIs or Soviets--a frigtening prospect.

Two Term Tradition

The Constitution places no limit on the number of terms a preident can serve. Many precedents were set by the first American President, George Washington. He retired after two 4-year terms. This set a precedent that every other president had followed. The issue was particularly touchy for President Roosevelt as tghe Reoublicans including President Hoover had been charging that he was absusung power and trying to undermine the American democratic system. Here the President's iladvised court packing attempt had given them fodder.

President Roosevelt

President Roosevelt presided over one of the most productive period of reform in American historty. He did not end the Depression. Somde modern economists criticize his ecconomic policies. But he did adopt policies wjhich helped many mericans cope with the Depression. Is aid to unions helped lay the foundation for a vibrant economy after the War. Other ptograms like the Social Security, bank and security reforms, the Civilian Construction Corps, the Tennssee Valley Authority, Rural Electrification, and the Works Progress Administration, profoundly shape a more inclisive and just American system. Just when the President decided to run for a third is not known. At the beginning of the year he appears to have begun planning for life after the presidency. He signed a contract to write editorials. Elenor in prticular was looking forward to leaving the White House. He spoke with his cabintet officers about their presidential prospects. He seems to have favored Secretary of State Cordell Hull. Postmaster General Jim Farley seems to have thought he had good prospects. The President does not seem to have even confided with Elenor. The President was probably undecided for some time. The German successes in the West (April-June 1940) must have decided the issue for him. Until just before the Democratic Convention, there was no word frpm the President on his intentions. A week before the Convention, the President indicated to Party leaders that because of the critical international situation, he would accept the Democratic nomination. Some of the President's inimtes were suprised when he decided to run for the third term.

The Isolationists

The isolation movement in America was still very strong, The national debate over neutrality and isolationism that had been raging since the mid-1930s reached its height during the 1940 election. The isolationists persisted after the election, bu the 1940 election was their best chance of defeating the President and reshaping American foreign policy. There were powerful spokesmen on both sides. Isolationist groups, such as the American Fist Committee, opposed any risks that could lead to war and shaply attacked the President's policies. International groups and an increasing number of average citizens demanded more active aid to Britain. When the year began, the merican public were still strongly isolationist. After the NAZI victories in the West, first Denmark and Norway (April); then the Netherlands, Luxenboutg, and Belgium (May); and finally France (June)--American public opinion began to significantly shift. Americans were not prepared to enter the War yet, but measures to strengthen national defense and aid Britain thatt the isolaionists had opposed were now being viewed much more favorably.

Fall of France (June 1940)

The NAZIs victory in the West fundamentally changed the world ballance of power. The isolationists were still a poweful force in America after the fall of France. But the debacle began to change public opinion. Important elements of the Republican Party were strongly isolationist. Willkie in an act of considerable political courage broke with the isolantionists and condemned Hitler. He also supported the draft (conscription) bill which despite the fall of France was still very controversial.

Republican Convention: Philadelphia (June 24 to 28, 1940)

Most notable Republicans were isolatioinists, especially the Congressional wing of the Party. Given the Republican gains in 1938, it is likely that the Reublicans would have won in 1940 had President Rooselvely not decided to run for relection. And until the Convention met, it looked like they would nominate a isolatiinist. Most political observers thought that the Republicans would nominate either staunchly isolaionist Senator Robert Taft (Ohio) or Disrtrict Attorney Thomas E Dewey (New York). Taft was the rising Republican star in the Senate. Dewey made a name for himself fighting crime in New York. There was also dark horse Senator Arthur Vandenberg. They were all isolationists, especially Taft and Vanenberg who were outspoken about their objections to President Roosevelt's sympathy with the Allies. Corporate attorney Wendel Wilkie was an even darker dark horse. Wilkie was not an isolantist which made his nomination even more unlikely. Few believed that the Republicans would nominate an internationalist. The Convention was held, however, only days after the fall of France which had shocked most Americans. American public opinion as a result was shiting, NAZI successes in Europe had begun to show how misguided the isolations were. The Republican delegates in Philadelphia were as shocked as other Americans. There was only one notable Republican that had internationalist views. The Luce papers had been promoting a utility executive that was virtually unknown at the beginning of the year--Wendel Wilkie. He had entered and swept the Republican primaries. (Only a few states at the times had primaries, however, so Dewey had the most delegates. ) Wilkie unlike the other major candidates, upported the President's efforts to aid Britain. When the balloting began, Dewey led for the first three ballots, but he could not achieve a majority. The galleries at the Convention strongly favored Wilkie and erupted in chants, "We want Wilkie." Wilkie took the lead on the forth ballot, but Taft was still very close to him. Finally on the sixth ballot, Wilkie won. The President when he learned of Wilkie's nomination commented, "That's good news for the country, but may be tough for me." [Peters] He was right. Wilkie was the only one of the four Republicans that he ran against that was a real threat. But more importantly it was the definitive turning point in his fight with the Isolationists. The President could move ahead with aiding Britain and because of Wilkie, the isoltionists in Congress could not make a major issue of it. The immediate result was the "Bases for Destroyers" deal.

Democratic Convention: Chicago (July 15 to 18, 1940)

There were no surprises at the Democraric Convention. Once it was known that the President would accept the nomination, the Democrats did not need much urging. President Roosevelt deftly orcestrated the Democrats in Chicago to draft him for renomination. Politucally he could not be seen as wanting a precedent-shatering third term. He thus had his political operatives stage a draft Rossevelt movement at the Chicago Convention. A "spontaneous" demonstration occurred in favor of the President's nomination. He was nominated on the first ballot. There was no other Democrat that had near the appeal of the President. There was, however, considerable resistance to Roosevelt's choice of vice president, the liberal Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace. Some delegated may have resisted the Wallace nomination to protest Roosevelt's manipulation of the Convention, but there was also oposition to Wallace's liberal views. There was the beginning of a revolt, but Elenor rushed to the convention and helped convince the delegates that the President should have the running mate of his choice.

Wendel Wilkie

The President's Republican opponent was a surprise choice. Wilkie grew up in humble circumstance in small town Indiana. Many Americans saw him as cut in the Will Rogers mold. His rumpeled dress stood in sharp contrast to that of Tom Dewey. He was a captain during World War I. Wilkie as late as 1924 had been a Democrat and had even supported the League of Nation. He also fought against the Klan--a poweful force in Indiana during the 1920s. He had made a name for himself by opposing the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). TVA was a regional development project based in part on government power production. It was one of the most notable New Deal agencies. Wilkie's criticism of the New Deal was more reasoned than many Republicans who after two drubbings by the President had developed a pathological hatred of Roosevelt, Elenor, and the New Deal. He actually favored several important NewcDeal programs. TVA of course was not one of them. Willkie was a wealty busniessman who had swept the Republican primaries. Wilkie proved to be a charismatic campigner and his down to earth approach resonated with many Americans. Willkie did not crticise FDR's support for the democracies, by the time of the camapign only England. He criticized details, but not the principal commitment to aid Britain. His nomination was an indication of the shift in public opinion toward intervention.

The Draft (September 1940)

The United States in 1940 was still largely unarmed. In particular the U.S. army except for a small professional core practically did not exist. There were still calvalry units and the force that did eist was not armed with modern weapons. The United States in 1940 despite the wars raging in Europe and Asia had an army smaller than that of several small European countries. The American army was smaller than that of Romania. At the Admistration's urging, Congress after an intensive debate, approved the first peacetime draft in American history. President Roosevelt on September 16 signed the Selective Service Act. The first draft had been during the Civil War. The draft envolved men from 21-35 years of age and involved only 1 year of training a military service. The votes in Congress were comfortable majorities as most Democrats and about half the Republicans supported it despite of the upcoming election November election. Undoubtedly the radio bradcasts and newsreel images of London burning under the NAZI Blitz were making an impression on the American people. The passage of such a controversial measure in the middle of a hotly contested presidential campaign is a marvel of presidential courage amd leadership. Here had Wilkie not supported the measure, the President might have had real difficulty securing pasage. [Peters]

War Backdrop

The election was fought during the NAZI Blitz on Britain. President Roosevelt responding to plans from Prime Miniser Churchill increasingly desperate pleas for assistance. In another act of political courage, President Roosevelt announced plans to turn over 50 World War I destroyers and other supplies to Britain in exchange for bases in the Caribbean. Wilkie supported the deal, but criticized Roosevelt for not first obtaining Congressional approval.

The Campaign

The 1940 campaign was not what the isolationists and most Republicans had expected. The Republican party had been strongly isolationist, but Willkie broke with Party leaders. His foreign policy was essentially the same as that of the President. Both hated Hitler and advocated suppofrt for Britain. Willkie pledged "all aid to the Democracies short of war" which was essentially the President's position. He also supported the peave time draft which could have been an effective campaign issue. Wilkie attacked the President on domestic issues. He criticized the New Deal's shift toward socialism. He also attacked the President's decession to break the third term precedent. He was supported by most newspapers, which was always the case for Republican candidates during the Roosevelt years. While Wilkie and Roosevelt generally agreed on foreign policy, the isolations still entered the fray. They accused the President of attempting to drag America into the war. In October Roosevelt announced Lend Lease a plan to turn over 50 destroyers and other supplies to Britain. Wilkie supported the action but attacked Roosevelt for not obtaining Congressional support for his actions. Wilike towards the end of the campaign escalted his attacks and charged that Roosevelt if reelected would lead America to war. By this time Wilkie had closed much of the emense gap between him and Roosevelt in the polls. As is so often the case in elections, feeling that victory was actually within his grasp, began to claim that Roosevelt was dragging the United States into War. Roosevelt felt the pressure. Speaking in Boston on October 30, the President assured his audinence, "I have said this before, but I shall say it again, and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars." Usually the phrase was "foreign wars" and usually the President added, "unless we are attacked". He told aides that it was obvious.

Election Results

The election was another victory for FDR, but not the landslide of previous camapigns. Still FDR carried 39 of the 48 states. The election, however, was much closer than suggested by the results. Roosevelt won with 27 million votes, Wilkie had 22 million. While this was a substantial vote for Roosevelt, it was 5 million more votes than the two previous Republican candidates. Wilkie's victories were primarily in the Mid-West, notably states with important German-American populations, and New England. He carried 10 states. While that mnay not seem impressive, it was much better than the two previous Republican nominees did against Roosevelt. And even nore importantly, the vote in several key states such as New York was very close, within 1-3 percent. Roosevelt became the only American president to serve more than two terms. Over coming the no third term convention was a major step in American political life. Most isolationists voted against Roosevelt, despite the fact that Wilkie was no isolationist. Other Americans voted for Roosevelt, preferring a trusted leader to address arising from the war in Europe. While the campaign had become bitter. After the election, Wilkie decided to use his influence to help President Roosevelt save Britain.

Significance

President Roosdevelt saw his re-election as strong pupblic support for a program of military preparedness and aid to Britain. Clearly the election of Taft or Dewey would have been disastrous for America. Taft and the other isolationists had opposed the draft as well as military spending. Had they won, America essentially would have entered World war II without an army. Some have argued that Wilkie would have pursued the same policies as the President. This is perhaps true. We think he would have tried, although we are not at all sure he would have gone as far as the President. The United States under Rosssevelt's direction by late 1941 was engaged in an undeclared naval campign in the North Atlantic. But the greatest difference between Wilkie and Rooevelt was the Republican Party. President Roosevelt could rely on the support of most of the Congressional Democrats for his efforts to rearm and aid Britain. The leadership of the Republican Party was, however, strongly isoltionist. Thus Wilkie could not have counted on the support of his own party. Wilkie after the election visited embattled Britain and at Secretary Hull's request, returned to testify before Congress for Lend Lease. He may have well been the decisive voice in winning Congressikonal passage.

Personal Experperiences

The election of 1940 essentially assured Britain's survival in the face of NAZI aggression. A British reader who was evacuated to America remembers the election, but was not aware at age 10 years that the fate of his country was being determined. He tells us, "The American 1940 Presidential election was my first introduction to politics. I was just 10 years old and in my first month of 6th Grade school in America. As soon as the campaign hotted up, probably around October, there was a buzz in the playground and the boys, in particular, started sporting Roosevelt or Willkie campaign lapel badges. There were more Willkie supporters than Roosevelt, I remember, but I had no idea about the beliefs of the two parties. The family that fostered me were Republicans. They told me that the Republicans were a bit like the Conservative Party in England. That didn't mean much to me. I knew Churchill was Prime Minister, but that was about all. As a 10 years old I was not a political animal. Maybe nowadays with all the media attention given to polital campaigns it means more to today's 10 year olds." Alan has provided us a fascinating account of his and hus brother's evacuation and exploits in America Alan and Grahan.

Sources

Peters, Charles. Five Days in Philadelphia: The Amazing "We Want Willkie!" Convention of 1940 and How It Freed FDR to Save the Western World (2005), 256p.

Created: 2:53 AM 1/20/2006
Last updated: 7:21 AM 11/13/2009