Figure 1.--After Govenor Roosevelt won the Democratic nomination, he launched on an energetic campaign--in part to show how vigorous and vigorous he was, depite his polio. He often appeared in cars because this was a way of being outside and coming in contact with people without walking. Here he is in Los Angeles. He held several rallies there. I am not sure who he is with in the car, but an unidentified boy is being presented to him. Note the boy's flat cap. The photograph is dated September 27, 1932 which means that it was probaby take a day or two earlier.

America less than a year after Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover's impressive victory was struck by the Wall Street Crash (1929). President Hoover's misjudged the seriousness and nature of the economic decline. He also showed an unwillingness to act decisevely. As a result America lapsed into the Great Depression. The Republicans stuck with President Hoover, but without enthusiam--in sharp contrast to 1928. The economic devestation virtually preordained that the Democrats would win the 1932 election. The question was only who would win the Democratic nomination. Following his reelection as governor in 1930, Roosevelt began to campaign for the presidency. While the economic depression damaged Hoover and the Republicans, Roosevelt's bold efforts to combat it in New York enhanced his reputation. The Democrats met in Chicago and nominated Roosevelt on the third ballot. Roosevelt broke with tradition and flew to Chicago to accept the nomination in person. The Republicans renominated President Hoover. Govenor Roosevelt campaigned energetically calling for government intervention in the economy to provide relief, recovery and reform. President Hoover's campaign was lackluster. This was in parrt areflection of his personality, but the deepening economic crisis was also a factor. Despite the situation, President Hoover continued to resist massive Federal envolvement in the ecoinomy. Roosevelt's activist approach and personal charm helped to defeat Hoover in November 1932 by 7 million votes. The land-slide Democratic election victory resulted in a major realignment of American politics. A great deal has been written about President Roosevelt's New Deal. At first historians were mostly lauditory, but in recent years some economits have claimed the New Deal prolonged the Depression. That is difficult to assess. What many New Deal critics fail to pappreciate is how bad the econonomic situation was when President Roosevelt took office. Tge social fabric of the nation was fraying. The danger that more radical figures might have gained influence if bold action had not been taken.

The Depression

America less than a year after Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover's impressive victory was struck by the Wall Street Crash (1929). President Hoover's misjudged the seriousness and nature of the economic decline. He also showed an unwillingness to act decisevely. As a result America lapsed into the Great Depression. The Republicans stuck with President Hoover, but without enthusiam--in sharp contrast to 1928.

Political Background

The economic devestation virtually preordained that the Democrats would win the 1932 election. The question was only who would win the Democratic nomination. Following his reelection as governor in 1930, Roosevelt began to campaign for the presidency. While the economic depression damaged Hoover and the Republicans, Roosevelt's bold efforts to combat it in New York enhanced his reputation.

Democratic Convention

The Democrats met in Chicago. Roosevelt had done well in the primaries, but the primaries were not yet the dominant factor in the choice of the candidate. While Roosevely was the leading candidate. He did not, however, have the needed two-thirds of the delegates. It was not common at the time to nominate a candidate on the first ballot unless there was an incumbant president. And Democrats in particular were known for raucous nominating conventions. There were several favorite sons who liked to have their names brandied about as a matter of prestige. James Farley played akey role in rounding up uncommitted delegates for Governor Roosevelt. One of Garmer's important targets was John Nance Garner. He was an arch conservative, but he had the delegtes needed to gain the nomination for Roosevelt. Farley conferred with Sam Rayburn, who was acting as Garner's cmpaign manager and trying to convince Garner to bring the Texas delegation over on the first ballot. Rayburn told him, "Hell, no, we've got a lot of people up here who've never ben to a convention before , and they've got to vote for Garner a few times." Finally the deal was made. Roosevelt's vice-presidebntial choice was determined by wjo could bring with him the most delegates and that proved to be Garner. Thus Roosevelt and the New Deal got a vice president woukld could not be more out of sync with the administration. And Garner became famous for his colorful remarl that the vice presidency "wasn't worth a bucket of warm spit." But Roosevelt got the delegates. The Convention nominated him on the third ballot--rather early in Democratic terms. Roosevelt broke with tradition and flew to Chicago to accept the nomination in person. His acceptance speech would prove to be one of the most famous in American history.

Republican Convention

The Republicans renominated President Hoover.

Personal Connections

Interestingly the two candidates had been friends. They both were mid-level officials in the Wilson Administration during World war I. They lived near each other in Georgetown and socialized together. The incrasingly acrimonious campaign, however, would drive a permanent wedge between the two men.

Campaign

Govenor Roosevelt campaigned energetically. He showed off his family. His son Jummy was important to help his stand without crutches. Elenor made some early appearances with him, but not excited about the ideaof being First Lady. She soon returned home. Govenor Roosevelt called for government intervention in the economy to provide relief, recovery and reform. President Hoover's campaign was lackluster. This was in parrt a reflection of his personality, but the deepening economic crisis was also a factor. Despite the situation, President Hoover continued to resist massive Federal envolvement in the economy.

Election Results

Roosevelt's activist approach and personal charm helped to defeat Hoover in November 1932 by 7 million votes. The land-slide Democratic election victory resulted in a major realignment of American politics.

The New Deal

A great deal has been written about President Roosevelt's New Deal. At first historians were mostly lauditory, but in recent years some economits have claimed the New Deal prolonhed the Depression. That is difficult to assess. What many New Deal critics fail to pappreciate is how bad the econonomic situation was when President Roosevelt took office. Tge social fabric of the nation was fraying. The danger that more radical figures might have gained influence if bold action had not been taken.

Created: 7:51 AM 8/9/2007
Last updated: 4:20 AM 3/5/2008