With southern party bosses making it clear that they would not allow President Willkie to be renominated in 1948, it wasn’t particularly surprising when he announced, in January 1948, that he wouldn’t be seeking the Democratic nomination for President.
It was, however, more of a surprise when in mid-March he announced that he would be campaigning for President as an independent, under the banner of ‘The President’s Party’. Groups sprung up across the country, and the selection of a southern conservative by the Democrats and a midwestern conservative by the Republicans resulted in a comparatively open field for a liberal candidate. As the fall campaign intensified, it became clear that Willkie had a path to victory, however unlikely.
Dissatisfied liberal Republicans in the north, and Democrats outside the south helped build a nationwide coalition just about strong enough to keep Willkie in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
President Wendell Willkie (IN)/Assemblyman Irving Ives (NY)
The President's Party
278 Electoral Votes
15,838,395 votes (32%)
Vice President James F. Byrnes (SC)/Postmaster General James Farley (NY)
Democratic Party
206 Electoral Votes
17,004,910 votes (34%)
Governor John Bricker (OH)/Representative B. Carroll Reece (TN)
Republican Party
47 Electoral Votes
14,401,682 (29%)
It was, however, more of a surprise when in mid-March he announced that he would be campaigning for President as an independent, under the banner of ‘The President’s Party’. Groups sprung up across the country, and the selection of a southern conservative by the Democrats and a midwestern conservative by the Republicans resulted in a comparatively open field for a liberal candidate. As the fall campaign intensified, it became clear that Willkie had a path to victory, however unlikely.
Dissatisfied liberal Republicans in the north, and Democrats outside the south helped build a nationwide coalition just about strong enough to keep Willkie in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
President Wendell Willkie (IN)/Assemblyman Irving Ives (NY)
The President's Party
278 Electoral Votes
15,838,395 votes (32%)
Vice President James F. Byrnes (SC)/Postmaster General James Farley (NY)
Democratic Party
206 Electoral Votes
17,004,910 votes (34%)
Governor John Bricker (OH)/Representative B. Carroll Reece (TN)
Republican Party
47 Electoral Votes
14,401,682 (29%)