1920 election alternate republican candidates

Warren G. Harding was a compromise candidate in 1920. The only reason he was even nominated was because the two front runners General Leonard Wood of Hew Hampshire and Governor Frank Lowden of Illinois were deadlocked. Could there have been a way to break the deadlock without going to Harding? Who could have been the Republican ticket in 1920 if not Harding/Coolidge?
 
William Cameron Sproul is the only one I can honestly consider, given his support was at similar levels, if not at some points stronger, and remained steady throughout the many ballots. Nicholas Butler's support almost collapsed immediately, though if it had held steady I might have considered him as well.

Calvin Coolidge is the wildcard, because he did have a measure of support among the delegates, but it simply didn't translate into votes.
 

Calvin Coolidge; there was very little chance that he would not be chosen for the VP slot unless for some reason he declined the position.

By 1920 his heart condition isn't enough of a problem to justify him keeping out of high office like it was in 1928.
 
Hoover was a possibility. That means that he serves from 1921 - 1929 and the Republican elected in 1928 gets blamed for the depression.
 
The big reason Harding was a compromise candidate was that Hiram Johnson and Major General Leonard Wood were in locked in a tie, remove one, and you have the other. Robert La Follete is alive for another 5 years, but is old and unpopular because he voted against the war (or would that have helped him?), 1912 GOP VP and Columbia University President Nicholas Murray Butler.
 
I've been thinking about this lately myself for a project. Who would Teddy Roosevelt lend his support to if he had lived until after the '20 election? I've read that Leonard Wood was the likeliest candidate to get his support, and I think that alone would break a potential deadlock before it exists. Would Gen. Wood actually win, though?
 
I've been thinking about this lately myself for a project. Who would Teddy Roosevelt lend his support to if he had lived until after the '20 election? I've read that Leonard Wood was the likeliest candidate to get his support, and I think that alone would break a potential deadlock before it exists. Would Gen. Wood actually win, though?

If I remember correctly, TR was planning to run himself in 1920, but alas he died. If he had to choose, I'd think he'd support Hiram Johnson should the case be, given how Johnson ran with TR in 1912 as his VP, and ran in 1914 as a Progressive for his second term as Governor, rather than immediately going back to the Republicans.
 
How is the depression avoided?

Actions that 1921-1929 Hoover made might be different than what Harding, Coolidge, and OTL Hoover did. Although the Presidency is powerful, this was the era of laissez-faire, and international commerce isn't going to be completely changed due to a different set of Presidents.
 
How is the depression avoided?

More moderate Republicans could easily take, or at least promote, measures that could properly regulate the economy. Harding and Coolidge were Arch-Conservatives in that regard, and supported little to no regulation.
 
Hoover was a possibility. That means that he serves from 1921 - 1929 and the Republican elected in 1928 gets blamed for the depression.

Hoover fell flat on his face in the Republican Primaries and was after that point never really considered viable.
 
Irvine Lenroot was actually the first choice for CO, ahead of Coolidge, but he turned down tge position.


No he didn't. He was turned down by the convention delegates who stampeded to Coolidge.

Iirc Philander Knox (Taft's Sec of State) was also in the running. However, if the balloting drags on I wouldn't be too surprised if Coolidge gets it.
 
Well he's from Pennsylvania so it will be someone from the Midwest. Harding maybe? If so of course he'll need a new one in 1924 - maybe Dawes or Curtis, but there are plenty of others.
How about Irvine Lenroot? Harding was barely up for consideration until the 9th ballot. Then again without Harding getting the nod Lenroot probably would not be considered. Maybe Harding would go to Wood and say that he would pledge his delegates to Wood if Lenroot became VP. Although I doubt that would happen.
 
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