In June 1940, Just Days After France Had Fallen to Nazi Germany

In June 1940, just days after France had fallen to Nazi Germany, New York Herald Tribune, residents of the delegates to the Republican Party’s national convention gathered in town “slapped each other on the back, ask ing whether they had ever expected such Philadelphia. They had before them two strong possible candidates an achievement for ‘Wendell.’ Those who to challenge incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was * could collect their wits to answer vowed expected to seek an unprecedented third term in office. Both Robert they had ‘known it all along.’” A. Taft, a U.S. senator from Ohio and grandson of William Howard The scenes of joy that greeted reports Taft, and Thomas E. Dewey, famed for his exploits as New York’s of Willkie’s nomination paled in compari son to the reaction the native son received district attorney, had names recognizable to most Republicans. when he returned to Elwood in August to There was, however, a third candidate for the presidential nomina formally accept his nomination. Throngs tion, a newcomer to politics who had begun to attract widespread jammed the Madison County commu attention from the media and young people who had never before nity’s streets to catch a glimpse of the new been part of the political process—Wendell Willkie of Indiana. presidential candidate and to hear his speech at Callaway Park. Conrad C. Lane, Willkie, a lawyer and utilities execu calling on Republicans to support Willkie who was nine years old in the summer of tive who had been a Democrat only a and describing him as “heaven’s gift to 1940, was one of the local residents who year before, had been described by author the nation in time of crisis.” Delegates attempted to witness history that hot, Booth Tarkington as “a man wholly were inundated with telegrams and letters muggy August day. He writes about his natural in manner . a good, sturdy, able, urging them to pick Willkie as the GOP experience in this issue of Traces. Willkie’s plain Hoosier . a man as American as standard-bearer. Kenneth F. Simpson, a attempt to unseat Roosevelt also received the courthouse yard in the square of an leader of the Republican Party in New a boost from an unlikely ally, a former Indiana county seat.” Tliese attractive York, told reporters he had received more Socialist from Indiana named Robert qualities, however, failed to attract Old than a hundred thousand messages leading Hunter. As Edward Allan Brawley notes Guard Republicans, who were suspicious up to the convention touting Willkie’s in his article, Hunter sent tips and advice of Willkie’s liberal views, including his candidacy. “I have never seen anything like to the candidate and his staff as Willkie support for aid to England in its war with it,” Simpson declared. campaigned across the country. Germany. While walking through the Willkie defied the odds and managed Hunter’s advice was not enough, lobby of his Philadelphia hotel, Willkie to take the lead in balloting at the conven as Roosevelt defeated Willkie by ap ran into James E. Watson, a conservative tion. With supporters demanding “We proximately five million votes, as well as U.S. senator from Indiana. When Watson want Willkie! We want Willkie,” delegates winning by a large margin in the Electoral refused Willkie’s request for support for finally turned to the neophyte politician College, 449 to 82. Still, Willkie had run the nomination, citing his former ties on the sixth ballot, giving him the GOP impressively in the farm states of the Mid to the Democratic Party, Willkie noted presidential nomination. Willkie told west and had polled more than six million Watson was a Methodist and asked if he delegates that he and his running mate, more votes than had the GOP’s 1936 can believed in conversion. “Yes Wendell,” Charles L. McNary, a conservative U.S. didate for president, Alfred M. Landon. Watson replied, “if the town whore truly senator from Oregon, would conduct “a Willkie, who died on October 8, repented and wanted to join my church. crusading, aggressive fighting campaign.” 1944, had earned the respect of his op I’d welcome her. I would greet her person Residents of Elwood, Indiana, Willkie’s ponent, Roosevelt. “You know,” Roosevelt ally and lead her up the aisle to the front hometown, reacted to the news with told a friend, “Willkie would have made a pew, but I’d be damned if I’d ask her to jubilation. According to reports from the good Democrat. Too bad we lost him.” • lead the choir the first night. There were, however, powerful fig WILLKIE DEFIED THE ODDS AND MANAGED TO TAKE THE LEAD ures ready to offer Willkie their support IN BALLOTING AT THE CONVENTION. WITH SUPPORTERS DEMAND including publishing giant Henry L. Luce ING “WE WANT WILLKIE! WE WANT WILLKIE,” DELEGATES FINALLY and fellow New York businessmen. In an unprecedented move, the New York Herald TURNED TO THE NEOPHYTE POLITICIAN ON THE SIXTH BALLOT, Tribune ran an editorial on its front page GIVING HIM THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. TRACES i Summer 2009 | 3.

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