The Presidential Election of 1932

1. Gevenny Fernandez The Presidential Election of 1932

2. The Republicans controlled the White House • In 1930, the Democrats took over the House of Representatives with a majority of 51%, for the first time in over a decade • They were also one seat away from gaining Senate majority Historical Context

3. 8 negative keys according to The Keys to the White House According to the keys, need 6 or more negative keys for the incumbent president to be defeated Negative keys: 1- incumbent-party mandate, 5- short-term economy, 6- long-term economy, 7- policy change, 8- social unrest, 11-foreign/military success, 12- incumbent charisma, 13-challenger charisma Incumbent nominee- Herbert Hoover

4. The Great Depression was the biggest issue of that time • From 1921-1929: many economic advances, which Hoover expected to continue • However, over the next 3 years, the economy and market declined steadily • Prohibition was also a prominent issue • People wanted to bring back alcohol for the tax revenues Historical Context- issues

5. Social Unrest • Protests by farmers, unemployed workers, and displaced individuals (“wandering population”) in 1931 and 1932 • “Bonus Expeditionary Force”- veterans demanding to be allowed to cash in their veterans’ bonuses set up camp in the capital Historical context- Social climate

6. Incumbent president Hoover’s popularity had fallen greatly since his victory in 1928 and people did not think he could handle the economic crisis or prohibition • The Republican party had been dominant for decades • Fourth Party System • Result: “Time for a change” effect Historical context

7. Roosevelt had the support of the majority of delegates at the Democratic convention • However, he did not have the 2/3 majority to win the nomination • Main opposition- Smith and John Nance Garner (Speaker of the House in 1931) • First ballot- short by 100 delegates • After 3 ballots, Garner released his delegates • Fourth ballot, Roosevelt won the party nomination Party Primaries and Nominations- Democratic Party

8. Hoover was easily re-nominated as the Republican candidate • However, there was a battle over the vice presidential nominee • Vice President Charles Curtis was challenged by James Harbord • Curtis won Party Primaries and Nominations- Republican Party

9. No significant third party nominees • Americans were not interested in third party nominees • They joined the Democrats Party Primaries and Nominations

10. Well known for being the governor of New York • He had been reelected governor in a landslide in 1930 • People still remembered his cousin, Theodore Roosevelt • FDR had been the losing vice presidential nominee in 1920  • Downplayed his polio so that the public would think he was fit to run the country • Polio was seen as a lower class disease Candidates- Roosevelt

11. Although not that well-known, he was very charismatic • Tried to avoid controversial issues like religion and the KKK • Tried to appeal to everyone, even some republicans • Tried to unite the Democratic party • The Democratic Party was more united during the 1932 election than they had been throughout the whole Fourth Party System, partly due to Roosevelt’s efforts Candidates- roosevelt

12. Just months after his inauguration, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 occurred and caused the Great Depression • Most of his presidential term was spent in the depression • Considering Hoover’s commitment to limited government, his policies demonstrated boldness • Hoover did more to fight the economic depression than any previous president • However, it was not enough • Many democratic leaders, including Roosevelt criticized him for not taking it far enough Candidates- Hoover

13. His programs: • Federal loans to businesses and banks • Purchases of farm commodities • Selected increases in federal spending • Banking reform • His policies did little to help the economic situation. Some actually made it worse • 1930- Republicans enacted the Hawley-Smoot Tariff, which raised import duties to the highest rates ever • Hoover also imposed a major tax increase, which reduced funds to consumers and investors Candidates- hoover

14. Very unpopular, to the point where people threw rotten vegetables at him during his speeches around the country, during his campaign • Also unpopular among his own party • His party was divided • Many of the more prominent Republicans did not support him and some even strongly opposed him • Some of them even supported Roosevelt instead Candidates- hoover

15. Roosevelt accused Hoover of being a socialist for his protectionist policies • Roosevelt attacked Hoover for not improving the economic situation and blamed him for the Great Depression • Roosevelt’s strategy was very successful because of Hoover’s overwhelming unpopularity • Candidate of Change • FDR made a historically significant speech when he personally accepted the Democratic party nomination • Famous words: “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people” General Election Campaign- Roosevelt

16. In the same speech, Roosevelt promised to "abolish useless offices" and "eliminate unnecessary functions of Government" • Also promised to restore international trade – as opposed to Hoover’s protectionist trade policies • His campaign song was “Happy Days are Here Again” and became the most popular in American political history, while also becoming the Democratic Party’s unofficial anthem General Election Campaign- Roosevelt

17. He promised recovery, but this quickly became a joke when no improvement was seen throughout his presidency • Hoover could not do much more than to defend himself and promise recovery • Hoover increased taxes and restricted trade • Hoover criticized Roosevelt and said he would only worsen the Depression by decreasing taxes, reducing government intervention in the economy, and promoting international trade General Election Campaign- Hoover

18. FDR won by a landslide • Broke records by winning 472 electoral votes • The region that held the most support for Hoover was the northeast and the New England area • Most of the Rest of the United States, especially in the electoral vote, supported Roosevelt Election outcome

19. Election Outcome

20. Popular Vote Franklin Roosevelt 22,821,277 57.41% Herbert Hoover 15,761,254 39.65% Norman Thomas 884,885 2.23% William Foster 103,307 0.26% Other (+) 181,175 0.46% Election Outcome

21. Electoral Vote Franklin Roosevelt 472 88.9% Herbert Hoover 59 11.1% Norman Thomas 0 0.0% William Foster 0 0.0% Other (+) 0 0.0% Election outcome

22. Realigning election • Many states which were previously Republican became Democratic states • Ended a long era of Republican dominance and started a streak of Democratic dominance (Shift from Fourth Party System to Fifth Party System) • The republicans would not return to the White House until the nomination of war hero Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 • For all but 6 years after 1932, the democrats controlled the House of Representatives, too Historical significance