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The election of 1912 was one of the most interesting and significant elections in American history. Roosevelt and Taft considered themselves friends. Taft never could have become president without Roosevelt's personal intervention. Roosevelt soon found himself missing the presidency after he left office. This personal feeling was amplified when progressives began to complain to him about President Taft. Gradually the personal relationship between the two men ruptured. Here Mrs. Taft was a factor. She did not like Roosevelt and this affected Taft's opinions. Roosevelt saw Taft as weak and abandoning his legacy to conservative party boses. Taft came to see Roosevelt as a dangerous man and a threat to American democracy. Roosevelt deciced to contest the Republican nomination. Still emensely popular, Roosevelt won state primary election, including the Ohio primary. The Republican machine politicans, however, succeeded in renominated Taft. A majority of Republicans favored Roosevelt and he did well in the states with primaries. But most delegated to the Republican Convention were chosen in state conventions dominated by the party bosses. Roosevelt was angered that he and his supporters were ignored by these Republican bosses. He thus bolted the party to lead the Progressives. The Party under Roosevelt became known as the Bull Moose Party. Taft considered the Roosevelt candidacy as a personal affront from a former friend. Wilson was nominated for President at the 1912 Democratic Convention and campaigned on a program called the New Freedom, which stressed individualism and states' rights. The Republican split guaranteed Wilson's election. In the three-way election he received only 42 percent of the popular vote but an overwhelming electoral vote.
The election of 1912 was one of the most interesting and significant elections in American history.
Roosevelt and Taft considered themselves friends. Roosevelt virtually hand picked Taft to replace him. Taft never could have become president without Roosevelt's personal intervention. President Roosevelt, however, liked being President. He traveled after leaving the presidency, but he missed being at the center of American political life. This personal feeling was amplified when progressives began to complain to him about President Taft. Gradually the personal relationship between the two men ruptured. Here Mrs. Taft was a factor. She did not like Roosevelt and this affected Taft's opinions. Roosevelt saw Taft as weak and abandoning his legacy to conservative party boses. Taft came to see Roosevelt as a dangerous man and a threat to American democracy.
Although he supported President Taft on the Canadian reciprocity measure and stood with him in the Lorimer scandal, Roosevelt became identified with the progressive section of the Republican Party. Taft increasingly alienated the progressives and sided with the conservative wing of the party. The progressives in 1912 induced Roosevelt, who needed little enducement, to become a candidate for the Republican nomination, despite his close relationship with Taft. This surprised many Republicans as they did not think that he would risk his standing in the party by running again. It is difficult to determine just why Roosevelt decided to run. Ceratinly he missed the office. And he did feel Taft was abandoning te presidency. Perhaps more than anyrhig else, he still wanted to be a great national hero and he looked on the 1912 election as a critical election. Here he was correct, it would later prove to be one of the pivotal elections in American history. [O'Toole]
Roosevelt deciced to contest the Republican nomination. Still emensely popular, Roosevelt won state primary election, including the Ohio primary. Only a few states in 1912 had primaries. It was the Party bosses who chose the candicate and Taft was their man. The Republican machine politicans, succeeded in renominated Taft. A majority of Republicans favored Roosevelt and he did well in the states with primaries. But most delegated to the Republican Convention were chosen in state conventions dominated by the party bosses.
Roosevelt was angered that he and his supporters were ignored by these Republican bosses. He thus bolted the party to lead the Progressives. The Party under Roosevelt became known as the Bull Moose Party. Taft considered the Roosevelt candidacy as a personal affront from a former friend.
The almost religious zealotry with which Roosevelt conducted his campaign caused some Republicans to believe that he was drinking heavily. Some even questioned his sanity. Taft with the bosses support won the nomination, where-upon Roosevelt who thought he had been trated unfairly, formed the Progressive Party which became known as the Bull Moose Party. The Progressives nominated Roosevelt and California govenor Hiram Johnson.
Academicuan and New Jersey Govenorb Woodrow Wilson was nominated for President at the 1912 Democratic Convention, but it took 46 ballots to do so. That may seem like a large number, but at the time conventions seemedcin no hurry to chose their candidates. So extended ballots were common, in part because the sucessful nominee needed two-thirds of the delegates.
The Republican Party since the Civil War had dominated the presidency. Charges that the Semocrats were the Party of "Rum, Romamism, and Rebellion" resonated with many voters. The Democrats had an opportunity for the first time since the Cleveland Administration to win the White House. Wilson campaigned on a program called the New Freedom, which stressed individualism and states' rights.
The Republican split virtually guaranteed Wilson's election. In the three-way election he received only 42 percent of the popular vote but an overwhelming electoral vote. The Roosevelt candidacy divided the Republican Party in all the states. Roosevelt in 28 states had a majority over Taft. The successful Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson, received only a minority of the total popular vote--but won the election. The hapless Taft received only 8 electoral votes--the worst performance of any incumbent president.
O'Toole, Patricia. When Trumpets Call: Theodore Roosevelt After the White House (Simon & Schuster), 494p.
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