STEP #6 - The Election of 1940
It’s 1940, and the Democratic Party has decided to nominate FDR for an unprecedented third term. He felt that it was necessary to provide continuity while American security was threatened, although we were not yet in the World War. Publicly, Roosevelt stated and restated his promise not to get the U.S. involved in the European war. He said “I hate war now more than ever. I have one supreme determination: to do all that I can to keep war away from these shores for all time." On another occasion during that campaign, FDR said: "I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again. Your boys are not going to be sent to any foreign war."
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Republicans chose Wendell L. Willkie, a corporate lawyer and president of a utility company, who had been a fierce critic of FDR's New Deal policies. Above all, Willkie was an internationalist, whose nomination signaled the triumph of those wanting the U.S. to play a major role in the world, against the party's isolationist wing. His nomination meant that FDR's preparedness program for the World War would not be subject to criticism during the campaign, which was fought on domestic issues. Some Americans opposed the thought of FDR running for a third term, feeling that he had too much power over the people.
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Both Willkie and Roosevelt promised to keep the nation out of war. Because there was so little difference between the candidates, the majority of voters chose the one they knew best. Roosevelt was reelected with nearly 55 percent of the votes cast. While FDR won 55 percent of the popular vote and the electoral votes of thirty-eight states, Willkie gained only ten states. But for Republicans this was an improvement over their dismal showing in 1936. Mainly, Roosevelt won because his New Deal program remained popular, and because the nation had confidence in his leadership during trying times.