FDR in 1912

Why was FDR not a supporter of his cousin TR for a Bull Moose presidency in 1912? As I recall, he stayed a Democrat.

And why did LaFollette support Wilson?

Finally, I understand that in that time the Republicans were divided into Taft's conservatives (who oddly were for breaking up trusts) and TR's Bull Moose Progressives. What were the Dems all about?
 
Why was FDR not a supporter of his cousin TR for a Bull Moose presidency in 1912? As I recall, he stayed a Democrat.

And why did LaFollette support Wilson?

Finally, I understand that in that time the Republicans were divided into Taft's conservatives (who oddly were for breaking up trusts) and TR's Bull Moose Progressives. What were the Dems all about?

LaFollette supported Wilson because he'd rather bitterly broken with Theodore Roosevelt over compromising. Roosevelt was willing to do it, LaFollette was not. LaFollette apparently had some kind of breakdown on stage during a speech in February 1912, which caused a lot of his supporters to put their support behind Roosevelt, which only added to his animosity. I was going to post a WI about the disastrous speech not occurring and the Republicans carrying the election.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/192410/lafollette

The Democratic party in 1912 was an uneasy coalition of Southern conservatives, labor interests, and progressives like Wilson. Wilson's main opponent in 1912 was Speaker of the House Champ Clark, but William Jennings Bryan's endorsement secured Wilson the nomination.

As for why FDR wasn't a supporter, he and TR were 9th cousins or something like that. FDR's branch of the family had been Democrats forever and TR's had always been Republicans.
 
Last edited:

HueyLong

Banned
As for why FDR wasn't a supporter, he and TR were 9th cousins or something like that. FDR's branch of the family had been Democrats forever and TR's had always been Republicans.

As for their closeness, I know Eleanor knew Teddy and Bamie (Teddie's sister) and remembered them fondly, but FDR never had any real contact with them.
 
Top