Hoover in 1940.

Who wins in 1940?

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Votes: 31 81.6%
  • Herbert C. Hoover

    Votes: 7 18.4%

  • Total voters
    38
Hi,
I realise Hoover winning the GOP nomination (let alone the election) is ASB with circumstances panning out as OTL until then, but what if Coolidge ran in 1928 instead?
Coolidge beats Smith comfortably in that election, as Hoover did IOTL.
I think the Great Depression and all that came with it still happens here. I think Hoover tried to interveen when he was in office, but not to the same extent as FDR after 1933. Anyway, I think it's fair to asume Coolidge doesn't do anything, believing the market will sort itself out.
Hoover does try to get Coolidge to interveen to a certain extent, something Coolidge refuses to do,. Hoover resigns from cabenet as a result, going on to instigate humanitarian work both in the states and in other countries, as a response to the depression.
Let's asume there are the minimal amount of butterflies as a result and FDR still gets the democratic nomination come 1932 and promises change. It's debatable whether the stress of governing during a depression kills Coolidge earlier than OTL, in which case his VP takes over. Whoever the 1932 republican nominee is, they lose to FDR. Hoover realises this and doesn't allow himself to be nominated.
He also refuses to be drafted for the 1936 election, believing it's probably too soon for a republican president.
Come 1940, he's the republican's nominee.
So who wins in 1940? FDR has implimented the New Deal and though the US isn't out of the woods just yet it's on the way. Roosevelt has also lifted the spirits of the American people, after the Coolidge years. FDR's leadership might also be necessary in the coming year, if the US enters the War In Europe.
Hoover on the other hand, is still popular (having not been president during the depression). In contrast to OTL, he can claim to have acted in response to the depression, both by resigning from Coolidg's cabenet and by carrying out his humanitarian projects. There's also the work he did during the World War.
So who wins that election?
 
What was Hoover doing between 1928 & 1940 in TTL? That will have some bearing on the outcome of the 1940 race, though unless the nation is heavy-laden w/FDR fatigue (or health issues arise) - and war clouds be damned - FDR still wins.
 
Hoover getting elected President in 1940 after his terrible term of office as the man who fiddled while America burned is the most absurd thing I've ever heard.
 
Hoover getting elected President in 1940 after his terrible term of office as the man who fiddled while America burned is the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

I think he means have Hoover's presidency delayed until 1940. have him be elected to his first term in 1940.
 
What was Hoover doing between 1928 & 1940 in TTL? That will have some bearing on the outcome of the 1940 race, though unless the nation is heavy-laden w/FDR fatigue (or health issues arise) - and war clouds be damned - FDR still wins.

ITTL Hoover keeps his job in the Coolidge cabenet for a while, resigning a year after the crash because of Coolidge's inactivity.
Since then he's mainly known for his private drive to reactivate the economy/humanitarian work (distributing food during the early years of the depression, after resigning from the government).
Personally I voated for FDR, but I don't think his victory would have been asured in these circumstances, given Hoover's reputation before becoming president.
 
Hoover getting elected President in 1940 after his terrible term of office as the man who fiddled while America burned is the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

I agree with that observation, I think I said in my openning line that Hoover being nominated/elected in 1940 having surved as president during the depression is ASB.
This is a scenario where Coolidge runs in 1928 and is governing when the stockmarket crashes, doing even less to help the economy than Hoover did. Unhappy with Coolidge's inactivity Hoover resigns from the cabenet.
FDR is elected on schedule (any party elected in 1928 is going to lose the next election).
Hoover makes his first run at the presidency in 1940.
Bare in mind that Hoover was one of the most popular politicians during the 1920's, because of his work in World War I.
 
Hoover getting elected President in 1940 after his terrible term of office as the man who fiddled while America burned is the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

Sure is hard to read the whole of a post these days, isn't it? Especially when there's digs at new members to be had!
 
Hoover/Wilkie!!!

I think Hoover stands a good chance. Hell, Wilkie did surprisingly well. Imagine someone with a coherent campaign and impeccable credentials behind them. A Hoover/Dewey ticket or a Hoover/Wilkie could be just what the Republicans need, especially the latter as Hoover and Wilkie have valid arguments against the increasing role of government in the economy having made attempts within the private sector.

Off topic, I'm surprised the Republicans didn't make more of FDR's attempt at a third term. Some Dems seemed more put off by it than their opponents. With FDR's increasing drive to secure more and more power and authority (over the economy, the increasing in size of the Supreme Court, etc.) it wouldn't be too hard to state it was time to move on before Frank became dictator.
 
Coolidge had a heart condition that was the real reason for his enigmatic decision not to seek re-election in 1928, the stress of even a peacetime presidency would probably have killed him. But if Coolidge tries to worm his way out of the Depression the way he did to the recession in his time? Never going to work. I can see him listening to people like Andrew Mellon without much hesitation. Hoovervilles turn into Coolidge Towns and such and the GOP is a stinking dead fish come election season.

And by that point it's just a question of how big FDR's electoral landslide is, not does he win. He's charismatic, charming, and a Democrat who promises massive change to fix the situation, Hoover is not those things, and he's from the aforementioned stinking dead fish party.

Hoover's chances in 1940 however, depend ENTIRELY on how FDR runs the show, if it's the same as OTL, chances are Hoover tries to capitalize on the "Roosevelt Recession" which a smart FDR could immediately turn around and (rather justifiably) blame that on the conservatives who endlessly pressured him to balance the budget and raise taxes.
 
FDR wins once, now and always.

Willkie was actually one of the best candidates the Republicans could've nominated. Maybe only Borah or Dewey would've done any better. Remember, Willkie was charismatic and had a strong speaking style. Hoover would not be able to truly compete with a master politician as FDR was. Republicans would lose with anyone. Just like the Democrats would lose with anyone in 1984.
 
Hoover would probably be pretty popular if he wasnt president, i dont think he would b able to beat FDR though. FDR was kinda invincible after all.
 
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