Destruction of the American Dream
Teddy Roosevelt Jr, posing for a Picture (CIRCA 1932)
The Economic downturn raged throughout the Newspapers. "STOCK MARKET COLLAPSES" put in bold was printed across the front page of the New York Times Daily October 16th edition. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle read "WALL STREET IN TURMOIL" that same day while the United Kingdom's Daily Mail reported "BIGGEST CRASH IN WALL STREET HISTORY". Readers across the country, with each of these Newspaper's readership in the millions, read of the horrible crash that occurred later the preceding day. The Market, each of these papers repeated was at a all time high, less then 2 months prior with the Dow Jones Industrial Averaging at 423 Points on August 17th, 1929. It had remained stagnant since, until that fateful day. Months of Speculation and Economist predictions finally came to a head when the Market dropped tremendously in Stock values across the board. The Dow Jones, the primary Stock trading platform, dropped from 419 at 4 PM Closing Time October 15th to 389 at Closing Time the next day. A drop of 12.5%, the biggest since the 1893 Panic which it rivaled and later would dwarf in the size of this downturn. By October 25nd, 10 days after, the Stock Market ended it's sharp decline but in the time stood at 227 Points according to the days Dow Jone's closing results. A drop of almost 200 points within a month lead to immense fears from investors and brokers throughout the country. Fears of further collapse lead to a mass withdrawal, or at least an attempt, of stock holdings which lead to panic in financial institutions throughout the country. Banks and Financial Firms were hectic with an angry populous demanding their returns back were forced back by a lack of any real financial support to support the financial institutions themselves. People were forced into bankruptcy with this new reality. Major financial institutions were forced into bankruptcy or severe monetary trauma for months and years on end. Unemployment rose in every state, every county, and every city and this was none more evident in the Home of Wall Street itself. Riots in New York City in Early December of 1930 were demanding financial support and a return to economic normalcy by their governments. The Mayorship of the face of the Laissez Faire Glassite Jimmy Walker was blamed as the head of the misery in America. His coziness to Tammany Hall and the Business Establishment in the City, which these protesters believed both let and continued the financial problems, was hated after the Crash but his charisma and good charm kept him afloat. That was until the final blow to his Administration. Corruption scandals rocked through City Hall in the Late wintry December days of 1929. Reports of financial dealings between the Mayor and key officials within the Legal and Police systems showed clear examples of Pay to Play corruption. Walker vigorously denied such claims. A probe on more examples showed a deep vein of corruption running throughout the city, which everyone already new. He refused to show his personal bank account when asked and when questions on such examples including the finding of "$490,000 under a Pot in his Home" were asked - he instead gave vague and broad answers and tried to use his charisma to get himself out of argument. Seeing a weakness in the Mayor, his political opponents pounced on the opportunity. The powerful Socialist Labor faction in the city lead by City leaders including Morris Hillquit accused the Mayor of "Greed" and "Poor-ophobia", a term coined by Hillquit himself or the fear of the Poorer classes in the City. The Republican Party saw a chance at electoral opportunity with the sudden turn of misfortunes for Walker, and the Party which was out of power for decades was already bringing in funds and building up support from key demographic groups for the incoming victory (Immigrant ethnics, City Blacks, Poor Whites) yet they still failed to yield a candidate nor a real opening for them with Walker still in office.
They were able to get one of those openings in a rather unfortunate way: With the Death of Jimmy Walker. While strolling down the streets of Broadway with a posy of officials and guards (due to the protests) he still seemed to keep personal popularity to a high. He still held the same ole "Walker Charisma" and was still said he could woe anyone with just his look. He greeted passerbyers happily like he didn't have a care in the world. That was until things took a turn to the worst. Walking on the other street, a young man no older then 23 years old screamed in the air "Care for the Poor you Rich Bastard!". Walker looked to the man as him and his posy stopped. Within seconds, the Man pulled out a small Hand Gun and shot Walker once in the Arm and another in the Chest. His guards rushed him in the way, in the process of the shooter shooting one of the guards and killing a high end Democratic assemblyman from Queens and a high end Tammany Hall member, the identity and names of each were never given in the eye witness account of the event. Walker was rushed to the hospital and put into the nearest Ambulance. As it past, word of the shooting past throughout the city with some of the protectors cheering while most took a rather solemn tone to show respect for the still personally popular Mayor. Unfortunately he died of his injury's to his Chest, though put up a impressive fight for more then a day. On January 18th, 1931 the Mayor Jimmy Walker was dead. The city generally mourn for his lost, Poor and Rich. His controversial and tragic demise would put him as one of the most remembered of all the New York City Mayors, for better or for worse.
The Mayorship was replaced by Joseph V. McKee whom was a key member of the Walker administration. He easily passed the City Council vote receiving 40 votes to the other 10, off the backs of the assassination. Promising a end to the riots in the City he meanwhile ordered the police department to put a end to the protests and in the promise elected top officials involved in it including top Laborite leaders, to the outrage of many of the Laborite Left. He though kept his promise. By the Spring of 1931, the Protests had ended but the unemployment in all 5 boroughs rose constantly higher and reached 13% in May of 1931. He issued a special election in November of that Year with the approval of the city council and the friendly Governor who backed both him and the Tammany Hall. He would run on the sympathy vote of the death of the late Mayor along with a promise of a City wide Jobs program to end unemployment. He also pledged to rid the old Walker cabinet and put in new "Uncorrupted" members in his words and to use city deregulation to end the collapse. He said "The Reason for the collapse is not the Market's fault but the lack of any real Market" which gave him full backing of the Conservative Lower Manhattan affluent residents worried with the loss of their own investments with the crash. He got the endorsement of the small but stable NYC American Conservative Party in which he handily won their primary due to Ballot Fusioning.
The Republicans in the city looked for the candidate with the view that McKee was too weak to actually win a election. Representative La Guardia was first to be attempted to be drafted by the Party, and his rise inside the Republican Party rose his status into a Party Leader instead of a lowly Long Island based politician. He denied such attempts quickly and said he would focus on National Politics instead. The next major person was known other then Franklin Roosevelt. Then unemployed, he had failed in his New York political ambitions in the 1920s and had instead became a prominent promoter within the Progressive ideology itself with his failed run in 1928 and his "Peoples Summit". He was seen as a very strong candidate and opinion polls showed he blasted McKee away in a City Election.
After strong consideration from Roosevelt, he eventually choose for it. "I have nothing better to do" he said to the New York Times. The newly born Republican announced his run on May 19th, 1931 to a cheering crowd. He quickly got the backing of the City Labor Machine and won the Socialist and Republican nominations easily, along with the backing of the Laborite focused Labor Party and a plethora of smaller Leftist party's. He would battle McKee not in actual physical campaigning, but through his preferred communication method of Radio. He would tell of the citizens of New York through the Radio and even bought Radios for some who could not afford it to listen. He called McKee a "Snobbish fool" to listener and said the "Wealthy Folks in Lower Manhattan would love him to win" and wrapped it up with saying that the "Crash was because of Walker and McKee". This last quote was used to pounced onto by McKee as Outrageous and ridiculous. Attempts at labeling Roosevelt a radical however failed big time when Roosevelt responded to claims saying that he would "work with everyone who supports this depression to stop". The first major battle in the New Depression world showed to truly be brutal.
The results proved a new era for New York City as Roosevelt won a convincing victory throughout the 5 boroughs winning 3 of them and 55% of the vote. His wins of 58% and 59% in the Bronx and Queens respectively showed the formation of a winning path for City Republicans, one through the City Poor and Minority groups instead of relying on Business voters and the votes of the Well off which they used for almost a century prior. The Socialist absorption into the City Republican Party killed off the Party's ability to win in the city through pushed the Republicans firmly on the Left. The Depression ranging, Mayor Roosevelt had alot on his plate with rising unemployment and rising unrest throughout the city.
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In Response to the Crash, the Nation's business elites tried their best to boast public confidence back into the Market. Families of the Gilded Age era establishment including those of the Rockefeller's and Morgans bought millions of shares into the Market in a attempt to end the Panic. These efforts ultimately failed however. The collapse continued and continued for days on end in rapid chunks of decline per day. Panic struck both Business and Politics. Massive layoffs of company's occurred throughout 1931 with the most heavily effected areas also being the areas most heavily industrialized or relied on industrialist forces. Both Urban and Rural areas were effected. Farmers in the Plains saw surpluses yes but the collapse of their buyers out East put many Farms into bankruptcy throughout the Great Plains. Unemployment rose steadily throughout 1931 from 6.5% nationwide in January to 11.0% nationwide in December of that year, almost a doubling and no one new how to stop it, certainly not the President.
The crisis complexed him. A country in economic trauma seemed to only be getting worse when he applied every method he thought would end it. He lowered Taxes yet again to a flat rate of 32% (In accordance with the maintained Flat Tax Amendment) with support from the Congress yet that month produced the largest number of Bankruptcy among American citizens in United States History. He lowered the Tariff again and set up and passed a comprehensive Tariff reform and Free Trade bill dubbed "1931 Free Trade Law" and more American Manufacturers that were thought to benefit from Free Trade were closed or laid off hundreds to thousands of employees. He even was able to get a Financial Reform Bill, which was dubbed by more conservative critics as a smaller version of the 1930 bill of similar character. It would for time regulate financial corporations to make sure they engaged to fair play and finally end speculation and raise the market again, or so they thought. It passed with Bi-Partisan support in August of 1931 but failed to give much relief to the failing economy and market. That Month alone showed the Dow Jones drop to 157, a drop of 17 points in that Month alone. Across the World, similar governments were facing the problem of the collapse of the Stock exchanges in not only America, but the World too. Following that of the American one, the London Exchange collapsed in November of 1929 sending the country into a recession and in some occasions a depression. Similar to ones in France, Germany, and Russia among others, the economy's of the major nations of the World collapsed in comparison to the 1920s.
Davis was begged by critics to take actions. Even some in his own "coalition" like Thaddeus Caraway urged Davis to take some Government action citing the growing radicalization and unrest among the American public. He reportedly said to him, "Government is the Problem you Fool" a quote seen as a rallying cry for the modern Conservative movement. Throughout the country he was growing to be hated as a figure for his lack of actions. So called "Davisvilles" sprang up across the country as shanty towns full of the unemployed and poor caught in the depression's grip. A notable Davisville in DC itself openly mocked the President personally. He decried them as lazy and told them "Your not going to get better by doing nothing!". A statement that would later haunt him. A new jobs report meanwhile showed the President at a approval of 41% from the people, a fall of 15% from the 56% of last year. "How the Mighty have Fallen" thought many of Davis as he struggled to keep control of his party as many in the Party knew they needed to act to end the crisis and couldn't let the "Stubborn" (In the words of Thomas Gore) president block it and ruin the party
The winter brought even more pain towards the administration when the own Army revolted. Members of the United States Military wanted to get their pay check in. In December of 1931, a collection of 14,500 World World 2 Veterans and about 35,000 to 40,000 of their families and other affiliated veteran groups demanded to see their government mandated bonuses for them serving in the military be seen. These veterans were struck hard by the depression and the organization said that most of these veterans failed to ever were their bonuses received. They camped in the Davisville in Washington DC and marched on the Capital early in the Day on December 26th in the dead of Winter with a force of almost 12,000 veterans on the first day alone. Marching done the streets of DC, the police force and military were put onto high caution mode carefully guarding the collection down their march. They arrived at the White House. They would encamp their facing a collection of a dozen or more police officers. There they demanded their bonuses saying chants including "We Demand our Money!" or "While we Die, You Buy" aimed at the president. Davis was locked in his White House and refused to give into the demands. This so called "Bonus Army" were already denied their bonuses under Carter Glass when he said "Patriotism doesn't come at a price". Davis refused to give in and ordered the Army and District Police force to remove them the following day. They complied and led by General Douglas MacArthur and Major George S. Patton, they called on the group to back from the White House federal property. At 4 PM, after refusal to compile from the leaders of the March, Major Patton ordered his troops to charge into the group. It would turn bloody when one solider in response to the sight of gun grabbing in the Bonus Army pulled out his rifle and shot one of the protesters dead. This would set off a chain reaction and by 7 PM, 18 Bonus Army veterans stood dead while 5-10 victims from their family's were caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile thousands more were injured and only 3 soldiers of the United States Army laid dead while the official report reported only 594 injured. The Bonus Army dispersed in panic. The horror in the nations own capital sent shock waves throughout the country. "How could the Government shoot our beloved veterans dead in our very own capital" thought many citizens and those of the press corp. The New York Times read the next day "GOV. SOLDIERS SHOOT BONUS SOLDIERS DEAD, PROTEST ENDS."
Meanwhile to the North in response to the bonus Army protest, 21,000 unemployed Pennsylvanians planned a similar march to the Capital to meet with the Bonus army. They were led by Roman catholic priest James Renshaw Cox and demanded a Public's Works Program, Anti-Poverty measures, and the end to the Flat Tax amendment in favor of Progressive taxation. They were supported by Philadelphia Mayor Gifford Pinchot, whom was a member of Progressive Republicans. He offered then financial assistance and ordered free gas towards the protesters motor vehicles as they marched. The "Cox Army" was panicked at the sight of the Massacre in DC and many didn't want to meet the same fate. Nevertheless they persisted and marched in the beginning cold of the new Year onward's. Upon hearing news of the new march, the President didn't want it too add as bad for him as the previous one had done to his politically. He ordered the army this time to stop them before they arrived in D.C. and told Maj. Patton, who would lead this small task force, to try to be as peaceful as possible.
The two forces meet right outside D.C. in a plain in Central Maryland, about 75 miles from Baltimore. Leading like he was in battle, Patton ordered a traditional battle formation for his troops in response to seemingly "endless" amounts of the unemployed. Patton, at age 43, was a rising member throughout the US Military and was very likely to be promoted to General. He needed this to go well but he took no chances. "Go Home" he yelled at the protesters when a battle was increasingly becoming likely. He got no major response from the unemployed. Patton meet with key officials from the March including Cox. Cox said himself ans his men would not leave until their police demands were meet, he suggested that Patton go tell Davis about them so he could do it. "I have orders James. Go Home!" he reportedly said in response. The two backed off into their corners, Cox refused to budge. Patton then ordered a charge to scare the marchers away. The marchers wouldn't budge. The few who brought guns pulled out their guns, the preferred choice was the Rifle. One of them pulled at their rifle, put in a bullet and shot at one of the soldiers, he fell dead. The battle was inevitable. The soldiers shot at the protesters while the few protesters with guns shot back as they finally dispersed. Patton ordered his soldiers to but down arms but it was too late. The battle was over by 5 PM but at that time 24 of the Marchers laid dead while hundreds or thousands were injured. 5 Soldiers in comparison laid dead with a hundred or two injured. Patton, who laid the expedition would never recover from this publicity incident. The Press had their day with the incident. "How much more will die demanding decent living standards?" argued one key arguer in the New York Times edition for the next day. The President was devastated by the incident. The President angry at Patton relieved the Major from command of the Eastern American Solider units and he would be vilified as the face of authoritarian militarism in the Domestic United States. His jobs ratings stood at 35% in February of 1932.
Meanwhile a push was being made nationwide to repeal the Flat Tax amendment. Arguing off the grounds that the Poor could no longer pay for a rate of 32%, while they couldn't lower it any more as they needed to fund the government, the only way proponents said was to repeal it and go to the tax system before. A bill to repeal it was put into the congress led by concerned republican and democratic representatives. "The Flat Taxation Removal Act" proposal was put into the House. John Davis saw this and refused to budge on supporting it, remaining firm as ever. The bill was a longshot at getting 2/3rds majority put a growing concern from democrats who overwise wouldn't vote for it, due to job fears. On April 19th the Bill failed to get a 2/3rds majority even if it held a majority. 241 for, 171 against and many not voting for either option. Davis was relieved that it was preserved but was still dissatisfied with a Jobs report showing unemployment rising to 16% in the Spring quarter of 1932 and the Stock Market still crashing to 110 at the Dow Jones. His own Job stood at 30%, a all time low and the lowest any president had ever gotten since the beginning of any polling for presidents began.
Then he had too think of the 1932 election. Going into it, he was at a severe disadvantage. Republicans were motivated and as united as ever to win and knew they would win. The Progressives in the party were in anticipation of the eventual victory and would go on to spent the months preceding it purging the last Conservative and Center-Right officials from the RNC, of spent millions on primary's and killing those Center-Right Republican Senators. And they were very successful and flipped 5 Republican Senators in exchange for more Progressive counterparts (including that of Gifford Pinchot in Pennsylvania) and more then 16 House Members. The remember seeing they were increasingly unwelcome in the now Official Center Left Republican Party either joined the American Conservatives or the Democrats who welcomed 3 new Conservative Republican turn Democratic senators into their Caucus (Samuel Shortridge, Albert Johnson, and Frederic C. Walcott to many's suprise.). However 2 Democratic senators flipped to the Republicans in Huey Long of Louisiana whom was just elected to the Senate and allowed Oscar Allen to take his place as governor. He cited his "Disgust" for the Party leadership and the President and said "His stubborn do-nothingness is the reason our economy gets worse and worse". He also said Davis was a "Puppet to Northern Elitists like the Rockefeller's" and said he betrayed the core Democratic values of Populism. He was joined with fellow Southerner Thomas Gore to many's surprise again and cited many of the same reasons as Long. Davis on the news called both of them "Traitors". "I always knew those little Socialist bastards would join the Republicans" he would say to reporters.
John Davis was easily renominated by his Party for another term. He was still popular within his own party and no major politicians dared to challenge him. The only politicians who did really score any delegates was Theodore Bilbo of Mississippi who called Davis a "Negro Lover" after his relatively inactionite effort in the 1929 Southern Riots and offered support for White Social Programs and "White Economic Prosperity and Recovery". He ultimately failed in his effect winning only 56 delegates all from the South while Davis took over 900. The DNC for that year drafted that the Democratic Party would recover the nation and prosperity by "Choosing to follow aggressive Free Trade and Low Government Spending Policy's. Only these will fix the depression as we have seen in the past, and will spur Business to grow and Unemployment to fall". In his convention speech he said "Brighter times are coming again" "We shall return to prosperity and America will recover and expand to new heights i can promise". There was a generally optimistic mode in the DNC itself but most knew he was doomed.
The nominee for the Republican Party that year was in dispute until the Convention itself. Many different candidates had declared their candidacy yet not one seemed to dominate at all. The official list entering the convention of candidates who held a chance stood at the following:
- Former Senator from Wisconsin Irvine Lenroot
- Senator from Wisconsin Robert M. La Follette Jr.
- Minneapolis Mayor Floyd B. Olson
- Senator William Borah of Idaho
- Businessmen Herbert Hoover of California
- Former Governor of Ohio James M. Cox
- Fiorello H. La Guardia
- Senator from Utah Reed Smoot
The primary's failed to provide a true front runner and proved that they were dominated by simple favorite son home state wins and regional splits between all of the candidates. However the ones who were held by many inside the Party's and the Media included those of La Follette Jr, Borah, La Guardia, and Hoover. La Follette Jr, son of the late Senator La Follette was viewed as his natural successor to the Progressive movement. But he was only 37 and his young, and "relative" inexperience were at his disadvantage. William Borah meanwhile was of the Old Guard nearing 70 but maintained himself as the standard bearer of originalist Progressivism which but him at odds with some of the more radical members. He though had party backing for the most part and promised to return to "Sane Fiscal Policy's" to get the United States out of Depression. Fiorello La Guardia was a new member of the Congress and the Party but rose through its ranks quickly and became a key member of the party. Short but charismatic and loved by his constituents in his New York district, he was also a radical and identified himself as a "democratic socialist" and was able to rally the Radicals of the Party around himself. Finally of the major candidates stood the newest face of the 4 - Hoover. Haven run as a Republican 4 years prior, he was able to use the same Maverick Populist appeal to get him into the finalists yet again. Saying "Only a Businessman can fix a Depression", he offered hard Protectionism and higher taxes on the Rich and a end to the Flat Tax. He also campaigned on more progressive government efficiency and a end to Government Corruption, bold yet it appealed well to the electorate. The problem however was all of these polled roughly the same and the possibility of a contested convention was more then likely
Fears of a contested convention scared Republican officials who wanted the unity to last past the election. The urged lesser known candidates to "get out of the way" to narrow the field and increase the possibly and a shorter and 1-10 ballot convention. This worked to some extent. Irvine Lenroot decided to drop out the first day of the convention in favor of La Follette Jr, fellow Wisconsinite. Meanwhile Olson of Minnesota endorsed fellow Radical La Guardia saying on the floor "He can best represent the interests of the Poor and the Working Class and that's why i endorse him". However Cox and Smoot refused to drop out until the delegates voted.
The first ballot produced the result people were expecting:
William Borah - 305 Delegates
La Follette Jr. - 246.5 Delegates
La Guardia - 227.5 Delegates
Herbert Hoover - 209 Delegates
Reed Smoot - 87.5 Delegates
James Cox - 64.5 Delegates
The results were split almost equally between the top 4 candidates. Upon hearing the results Former Governor Cox dropped out and let his delegates decide there choice on the floor of which they split evenly between the top 4. Smoot refused to resign but was courted by Hoover multiple times for his delegates in exchange for a Vice President spot. Borah in the lead called on Party Progressives to unite and discard of the "Radicals" in the party. He was responded by La Guardia who said "Is it Radical to want a good standard of living for myself and my children? If so i and the majority of Americans are Radicals Mr. Senator (Borah)". Going into the second ballot the 4 candidates didn't budge:
William Borah - 328 Delegates
La Follette Jr. - 274 Delegates
La Guardia - 246.5 Delegates
Herbert Hoover - 232.5 Delegates
Reed Smoot - 67.0 Delegates
Smoot decided to drop out after being convinced of the offer by Hoover after him dropping 20 in the second ballot. Late that day he endorsed Hoover and gave his delegates to Him. Hoover found himself know in second place and Progressives of all kind were becoming worried of his victory as his own progressive credential didn't convince them. After 5 more Ballots showing the same - Borah in a slight first place position with Hoover behind him, and La Guardia and La Follette Jr. battling for third place, a call for a Unity candidate was beginning to grow. By the 12th Ballot Hoover was in a slight first place lead at 421 total Delegates and La Guardia had finally passed both La Follette Jr. and Borah for a second place slot. La Follette Jr. and Borah were becoming more and more worried at their own chances and both began to talk of some unity between the two. However they couldn't agree with who would hold the first position and who would hold the second, and talks ended as quickly as they started.
In come Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Son of the Late President Theodore Roosevelt he was already viewed as president ready and had become a New York Representative in 1926. Talks began to place him as the Compromise candidate the Party needed and he would neither deny or accept if he was running. Seeing the Contested Convention however and seeing himself having no choice, with the support of Progressives ranging from La Follette Jr. himself to Johnson and Norris who both enthusiastically supported the prospect. A Moderate Progressive he was able to quickly unite the party around himself. Borah, though a stubborn independent who refused to ever back down, knew his control of victory was becoming less and less his own as Teddy Jr sucked up whatever support he had. Teddy promised Borah a key government position in which Borah choose Secretary of State. Teddy agreed and Borah dropped out on the 17th Ballot. On the 18th, Teddy Roosevelt Jr. put his name in the running with the full backing of La Follette Jr., Borah, and the Progressive Establishment. La Guardia and Herbert Hoover were the only one who opposed, both arguing on different groups.
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. - 721.5
Herbert Hoover - 237
La Guardia - 191.5
Roosevelt was able to walk out of the Convention victorious. Both Herbert Hoover and La Guardia graciously conceded. In a appeasement to the radical wing of those including La Guardia and Olson, he picked Mayor Olson as his Vice President. Olson would say to the convention "Under myself and Mr. Roosevelt, we shall bring America out of Depression and bring Prosperity and Justice for all citizens". The RNC official platform with the support of Roosevelt and Olson went the furthest anyone had ever allowed. In it, the official Republican Party endorsed:
End to the Depression by:
- Promoting vigorous Protectionist policy's and tax rates. Anywhere from 55-70% due to the Depression
- Supporting the elimination of the Flat Tax amendment and support for Pre-Amendment Progressive rates
- Raising taxes on the Wealthy, lowering those on the poor
- Creating a National Public Works programs to lower unemployment
- Vigorous Anti-Speculatory Business Legislation
Support the American Middle Class and Poor by:
- Support the Minimum Wage and raise it more then the 1916-1919 High.
- Reinstate a Universal Healthcare System
- Support nationalization of the Railroads and other public utilities.
- Support Farmers by giving to Farming Subsidy's
- Support an Ban to Lynching
- Racial integration of Federal Departments
- Support Labor Unions and Labor Rights.
Foreign Policy:
- Support continued Anti-Interventionist Beliefs
- Support League of Nations
- Battle Worldwide Communism and help groups fighting for freedom from Communism
- Trade Block Mexico, Germany, Italy, the Soviet Union, and other country's under oppressive regimes
- Support the Independence of the Philippines
The Roosevelt/Olson ticket proved a big challenge for Davis. Both Roosevelt Jr. and Olson were Young and Charismatic while Davis was older and more intellectually toned. He really stood no chance however he tried to not end embarrassingly. He called Roosevelt a "No-Nothing Dimwitted Ignoramus" and said that he supported "grand generalization's". However these failed to stick. Whether Roosevelt Jr. went, he brought large crowds and large applause's for his policy's. He called Davis a "Stubborn Capon" and "Misguidedly Naive". Unemployment stood at 21.5% in the Autumn of 1932 and the Job rating of the President was now below 30% at 26.5%.
Roosevelt also gave open support against Prohibition, a position that was growing with steam during the Depression. Davis did not support this but he didn't attack it either seeing his position failing to get much support. A bill to end the Prohibition Bill meanwhile in this time was able to easily Pass the House and Senate with 359 votes in the House and 70 Seats in the Senate. The push for its removal at the State Legislature began and it became a hot topic issue once again in these houses throughout the country. Roosevelt also popularized "Happy Day's are Here Again" as his campaign theme song providing a sense of Hope and Optimism around his campaign, exactly what he wanted.
In a attempt to regain some support, he used Carter Glass to his advantage when campaigning. Glass, still popular among the People, campaigned with Davis throughout the Upper South and Mid-atlantic. He was quoted as saying that Roosevelt Jr. was a "Yankee son ofa bitch who is only famous cause his Daddy was President". At nearly 70, he was old and very much tired from his presidency, but he was still very much a fiery campaigner for his Secretary of State. But it was too late, the People would never accept Glass to decide the outcome of the Election, especially when the Economy was in shambles.
