In the Election of 1904, Theodore Roosevelt, having stepped into the presidency following McKinley’s assassination, sought to secure his own term. Let’s dive into the details of this pivotal election.
The Progressive President
Following the assassination of William McKinley in September 1901, Theodore Roosevelt, then Vice President, became the 26th President of the United States. At just 42 years old, he was the youngest person to assume the presidency. Roosevelt’s presidency was marked by significant reforms and achievements. He used the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to regulate monopolies, supported conservation efforts by creating national parks, and played a key role in the construction of the Panama Canal. He also expanded the navy and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Russo-Japanese War.
Despite his popularity, many Republicans disapproved of Roosevelt’s progressive policies. They considered him a threat to their business interests and attempted to get McKinley’s campaign manager, Mark Hanna, to run against him. However, Hanna’s death from typhoid fever in February 1904 left Roosevelt unchallenged for the Republican nomination. Roosevelt secured his nomination with Charles Fairbanks, a pro-business Senator from Indiana, as his running mate to placate the conservative faction.
The Democratic Nominee
On the Democratic side, William Jennings Bryan, who had run unsuccessfully in 1896 and 1900, chose not to run for a third time. Grover Cleveland, despite attempts to persuade him to run, declined due to health reasons and died in June 1908. The Democrats eventually nominated Alton B. Parker, the Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, who was seen as a pro-business conservative. His running mate was Henry Davis, a coal and railroad owner from West Virginia, making Davis the oldest major party vice-presidential nominee at age 80.
Third-Party Candidates
The Election of 1904 saw notable third-party candidates:
- Eugene V. Debs of the Socialist Party, a former union leader who had run in 1900 and hoped for better results this time.
- Silas Swallow of the Prohibition Party, with George Washington Carroll as his running mate.
- Thomas E. Watson of the Populist Party, despite its declining popularity.
- George Edwin Taylor of the National Negro Liberty Party, notable for being the first African American to run for president, though he received minimal support due to racial barriers.
The Campaigns
The campaigns in the Election of 1904 were less contentious than previous years. Roosevelt’s campaign capitalized on his record of reform and progress, running on a platform of protective tariffs, the Gold Standard, and his domestic and foreign accomplishments. Despite his progressive policies, Roosevelt was well-funded by the business community, which appreciated his approach to regulating rather than dismantling monopolies.
Parker’s campaign struggled with a lack of enthusiasm from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and faced criticism for his dull personality and a failed foreign policy critique. Roosevelt’s dynamic presence and progressive achievements overshadowed Parker’s efforts.
The Results
In the Election of 1904, Roosevelt won decisively with 336 electoral votes and 56.4% of the popular vote, compared to Parker’s 140 electoral votes and 37.6% of the popular vote. Roosevelt’s victory included winning 32 states, even capturing Missouri, which had not voted Republican since 1868. His margin of victory in the popular vote, 18.8%, was the largest since James Monroe’s uncontested re-election in 1820.
With this significant win, Roosevelt set the stage for his presidency as he looked forward to the upcoming Election of 1908, where a familiar face would return to challenge the White House once again.
