The Presidential Nominations of 1940

Abstract

The presidential nominations of 1940 exemplify the actions and reactions of the political campaign to World War II. The cataclysmic events in Europe influenced greatly the other issues, such as the third term and the unusual personalities involved. Both issues and events, however, were largely determined by two of the most colorful men who had appeared on the American political scene -- Franklin D. Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie. William Allen White had called Roosevelt "the most unaccountable President this country has seen." Certainly he was breaking precedent in running for a third term. FDR was very ambitious and some of his opponents felt that this conceit made the third term inevitable. It would be difficult, however, to explain his nomination apart from the war. . . . It is not as easy to explain the "unaccountable" rise of Wendell Willkie and how he was forced or forced himself on the Republican Party, including the traditional bosses. This newcomer , at first, rankled some politicians. When he asked support from Senator James Watson of his native state of Indiana, Watson replied, "No Wendell, you have only been a Republican for two years." Willkie then responded, "Jim, you are a good Methodist, don't you believe in conversion?" At which point Watson replied, "If a whore repented and wanted to join the Church, I'd personally welcome her and lead her up the aisle to a front row pew. But by the eternal, I'd not ask her to lead the choir on the first night out." [From Introduction]