Wendell Willkie was an unlikely candidate for president in 1940 on the Republican ticket. He was an attorney, a businessman, a Democrat (until 1940) and never before held public office. In his later life he moved to New York City, joined and soon presided over a large electric utility company (Commonwealth and Southern).
Willkie was a Democrat but was a strong opponent to some aspects of the New Deal.
He was especially hostile to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
This was a key element in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs He knew that once this was established it would be a major competitor to companies such as Commonwealth and Southern Corporation. He really began to make headlines and personal converts through his outspoken opposition to TVA and when it went ahead Willkie joined the Republican party. Soon there were 100’s of Willkie clubs springing up during the year of 1940. Stimulated by this Willkie pursued the GOP nomination in the months preceding the party’s convention in Philadelphia in June 1940.
Nominated by Congressman Charles A. Hall eck, Willkie was chosen on the sixth ballot. His running mate was Charles L. McNary of Oregon. Willkie ran a vigorous campaign from headquarters established in Rushville Indiana. While the Republican Party had been strongly isolationist, Willkie abandoned his parties’ position and came out strongly against Hitler and in support of the extension of the draft.
The Essay on American Government Party Republican Categories
American Government The first part of my paper is about the Republican party. Republican control the U. S. Senate, U. S. House, and many key Governorships, including New York and Texas. But the have lost the last two Presidential elections. Most Republicans usually fall into several different categories: the traditional conservatives, the religious right, the Nixon/Rockefeller centrist wing, and ...
The one issue that Willkie attacked Roosevelt for was breaking the tradition of no third term. He showed much opposition to Roosevelt’s domestic programs but supported his foreign policies. Willkie advocated an increase in the amount of aid to Allied forces in Europe, but this caused him to lose favor with many Republican isolationists in the Electoral College. However Willkie’s attempts were lost in the troubled war clouds over Europe. It was unexpected that Willkie did as well as he did. Although defeated in the election, he polled more than 22 million votes (the largest popular vote received by a defeated candidate up to that time).
Roosevelt only beat Willkie by 27, 244, 160 votes to 22, 305, 198. Willkie received 45 percent of the popular vote but carried only nine other states besides Indiana. Willkie was a strong opponent of American isolationism and Franklin Roosevelt had a great deal of respect for him. This is perhaps why in 1941, he appointed him as his special representative.
