Hello and welcome back to another edition of our presidential election series. Today, we’re diving into the Election of 1936. Franklin D. Roosevelt, having been in office for four years, was hoping that his accomplishments would lead to a decisive victory on Election Day. Did he achieve this? Let’s find out.
Election of 1936: FDR’s Response to the Great Depression
After defeating incumbent President Herbert Hoover in the 1932 election, Franklin D. Roosevelt quickly addressed the economic challenges stemming from the Great Depression. One of his first major actions was to fulfill his promise to end Prohibition by signing the Cullen-Harrison Act, allowing the sale of alcohol with a 3.2% alcoholic content. Roosevelt famously remarked, “I think this would be a good time for a beer,” a sentiment many Americans shared.
Roosevelt’s New Deal, introduced in the early days of his presidency, aimed to counteract the Depression’s effects with what became known as the “Three Rs”:
- Relief for the unemployed
- Recovery of the economy through federal spending and job creation
- Reform of capitalism, including regulatory legislation and new social welfare programs
These initiatives expanded the federal government’s role in Americans’ lives more than ever before. While the majority of Americans supported the New Deal, some critics, including the wealthy and business leaders, argued that it prolonged the Depression. The Supreme Court also struck down several New Deal programs between 1935 and 1936, leading Roosevelt to introduce a “Second New Deal,” which focused on social security, an eight-hour workday, unemployment benefits, and a federal minimum wage.
Due to his strong support from the poor and middle class, as well as within the Democratic Party, Roosevelt and his Vice President, John Nance Garner, were easily renominated for the 1936 election.
Election of 1936: Alf Landon for President
As the Democratic Party enjoyed the successes of the New Deal and the midterm elections, the Republican Party faced a challenge. Despite the backlash from elites and the Supreme Court against the New Deal, the GOP saw an opportunity to challenge Roosevelt. Several candidates sought the Republican nomination:
- Herbert Hoover: Former President and former Secretary of Commerce
- Alfred ‘Alf’ Landon: Governor of Kansas
- William Borah: Senator from Idaho
The Republican establishment ultimately supported Alf Landon, known for his handling of the Great Kansas Bond Scandal and his conservative economic policies, including tax cuts and budget balancing. Landon’s running mate was Frank Knox, a newspaper publisher from Illinois who withdrew his own presidential bid to support Landon.
Election of 1936: Huey Long and the Union Party
As Roosevelt took office, some far-left Democrats felt that his New Deal policies were insufficiently radical. They sought a more dynamic and populist figure to challenge Roosevelt. Enter Huey P. Long, the former Louisiana Governor and Senator, known as “The Kingfish.” Long supported many of Roosevelt’s goals but believed the New Deal was too friendly to corporate interests.
Long’s plan was to challenge Roosevelt for the Democratic nomination and, if unsuccessful, use the publicity to form a third party that would break the New Deal Coalition. However, Long was assassinated on September 10, 1935, by Carl Weiss, the son-in-law of a political rival.
Following Long’s death, his supporters established the Union Party, which adopted Long’s “Share Our Wealth” platform advocating for substantial government spending, taxing the rich, and wealth redistribution. The Union Party nominated William Lemke, a U.S. Representative from North Dakota, with lawyer Thomas O’Brien as his running mate. However, Lemke lacked Long’s charisma and was not considered a serious threat in the election.
Election of 1936: Campaigns
Roosevelt campaigned on the successes of the New Deal, hoping to secure a second term to continue his programs. Despite the ongoing Great Depression, many Americans still supported Roosevelt’s policies.
The Republicans endorsed Alf Landon and used endorsements from celebrities like Jesse Owens and former New York Governor Al Smith to bolster his campaign. They criticized the New Deal as wasteful and argued that it could lead to economic problems. Landon also accused the New Deal of undermining the Constitution and called the Social Security Act a “fraud on the working man.”
In response, Roosevelt gave a memorable speech at Madison Square Garden on Halloween 1936, addressing his critics and declaring that the forces opposing him were as dangerous as government by organized crime. He welcomed their opposition, confident in his administration’s achievements.
Despite Republican attacks, many Americans were not swayed. Landon’s campaign suffered from a lack of visibility, with Landon himself largely absent from the campaign trail. A columnist humorously noted Landon’s disappearance, suggesting he was as hard to find as a missing person.
The Literary Digest and Election Polling
The Literary Digest, a prominent magazine, conducted a poll predicting a Landon victory. Their survey, however, was flawed, as it mostly sampled Republicans and wealthy individuals, skewing the results. George Gallup, an advertising expert, conducted a more scientifically accurate poll that predicted a Roosevelt win. Gallup’s methodology proved superior, and his polling became the standard for future elections.
Election of 1936: Results
The election results were a decisive victory for Roosevelt. He received 523 electoral votes and 60.8% of the popular vote, making him the first president to be re-elected with over 500 electoral votes. In contrast, Alf Landon garnered only 8 electoral votes and 36.5% of the popular vote, winning only Vermont and Maine. Landon’s performance was the worst for a Republican presidential candidate since William Howard Taft in 1912.
The Union Party, with William Lemke as their candidate, received no electoral votes and only 2% of the popular vote, leading to the party’s quick dissolution.
The Literary Digest’s failed prediction led to the magazine folding just 18 months later, while George Gallup’s successful polling methodology became a model for future elections.
So that wraps up the Election of 1936, where FDR achieved a landslide victory, securing his second term as President. The next four years would bring further challenges and unprecedented developments. Stay tuned for our next article on the upcoming election and the dramatic changes it will bring.
