MacArthur announcing his intention to run as President at Soldier Field in Chicago, December 1939
Omar Bradley, pictured in June 1937. He would become the NFP's first presidential candidate in the 1940 Election.
Floyd Olson of the Progressive Party. He would become the most prominent of third party candidates in 1940.
The results of the 1940 Election, the first popular vote election of a US President in American history.
The MacArthur led military dictatorship that controlled the Federal Government during the Second American Civil War was dissolved on May 12 1939 following the Federal victory in the conflict. Despite this, Douglas MacArthur remained as "Interim President" of the United States before the new and revised elections officially place the official POTUS in November 1940. The General pushed for the abolishment of the Electoral College Vote and called for the direct election of the US President by the people, which happened with the passing and ratification of the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution on November 28 1939. Under this amendment also, the Presidency was given a 4 year term, with no term restrictions. It also marked the end of the century old 2 Party System between the Republican and Democratic Parties as a multi party system was put into play, where third parties, for the first time in a few decades, can run in national elections without conflicting problems such as ballot restrictions and what states they are allowed to campaign in. Longist and Socialist parties were of course banned for national security concerns, and to avoid another socialist or Longist from controlling the White House.
But seemingly, even with the new multi party system at play, 2 distinct parties emerged to fill what the Grand Old Party and the Democrats had left behind: the American Unity Party, formed by General MacArthur and his loyal right hand man, J Edgar Hoover, that advocated for the maintaining of American independence on the world stage, preventing reliance on other countries as the US began rebuilding itself from the civil war's damages, advocating for a strong military, and other stances that seemingly mirrored the standings of the Republican Party of old. The other party was the New Federalist Party, formed by General Omar Bradley and Dwight D. Eisenhower, which pushed for mass reformations across the Federal Government, calling for reduction of military forces in exchange for the welfare of the people, and a non interventionist foreign policy, which reflected the Democratic Party's stance. Many speculate that they were living in a "new Republican - Democrat system" that were led by military figures. It wouldn't be until 1944 that non military people would take control for the presidency.
Wanting to further push his reforms for the Government, and wanting to increase America's presence on the globe despite advocating non reliancy on bigger countries, MacArthur announced his intention to run as president of the United States on December 8 1939. Several of his own allies declared for the candidacy for the AUP, notably John William Davis and William Harrison Standley, two of MacArthur's former ministers during the military dictatorship. Even Hoover declared. The AUP Primaries in August 1940 would end up bringing Douglas as the candidate for the presidency. He chose Hoover as his running mate for vice president. The MacArthur campaign ran on a platform that called for no reliance on foreign powers as the "Second Reconstruction", as it is called, continues on, a strong military presence to thwart any attempts by the Internationale and Germany to probe and influence the United States, calling for increased efforts to a mixed economy to compromise the workers and businessmen, and the reducing of taxes for the meantime as reconstruction took place.
The New Federalist Party's race for the candidacy was far more heated. Out of the total 7 candidates that declared, three stood out: first was Omar Bradley, the founder and current chair of the party that advocated for non interventionism, global cooperation between democratic nations, limiting businessmen from participating in politics except in national elections, and the promotion of a new sense of patriotism among the American population. Next was Eisenhower, the vice chairman of the party. He ran under the platform of the promise of reducing the income tax (similar to MacArthur), advocating limited intervention in foreign politics and taking a tough stance on socialism and German expansionism. His now famous "Eisenhower Doctrine" advocated for the containing of both of the mention threats to American independence. The last was Harry Truman, the first non armed forces candidate to run for the presidency, which advocated practically his own version of the Eisenhower Doctrine, the promotion of civil rights for African Americans, and the increased participation of non Whites in politics. Truman shockingly was the frontrunner at first, but after the walkout of several Southern conservatives during the primaries due to his civil rights platform, he lost momentum. Bradley won the nomination after a heated contest. He chose Truman as his running mate, which further angered the southern conservatives.
The Progressive Party was now free to run without hindrance in the multi party system. It became the most prominent third party to run in the election. They fielded the now famed Floyd Olson, who was the proponent for the Republican - Democrat Coalition ticket back in the 1936 Election, which was rejected by both sides. He won the primaries for the party, as expected, and chose Senator Elmer Benson of the former's home state of Minnesota, as his running mate.
Bradley consistently used attack ads to warn everyone about the impending dangers of MacArthur's tax cuts, convincing thousands that he was focusing on reducing taxes for the rich class. MacArthur backfired saying that taking an early stance against German and Internationale aggression would result in "America's immediate and swift downfall" and that his proposal to limit the private sector's participation in the government "reeks of socialist rhetoric." Douglas also called Bradley a "socialist" at one time, while Bradley responded by calling MacArthur a "deranged imperialist dictator". Despite close calls, MacArthur came out on top, winning 23 states. Bradley came in second, carrying 22 states. The Progressives actually won states and came in third, carrying 3 states. This victory is the closest margin of victory in the now called "Popular Vote Era" in US history.
But seemingly, even with the new multi party system at play, 2 distinct parties emerged to fill what the Grand Old Party and the Democrats had left behind: the American Unity Party, formed by General MacArthur and his loyal right hand man, J Edgar Hoover, that advocated for the maintaining of American independence on the world stage, preventing reliance on other countries as the US began rebuilding itself from the civil war's damages, advocating for a strong military, and other stances that seemingly mirrored the standings of the Republican Party of old. The other party was the New Federalist Party, formed by General Omar Bradley and Dwight D. Eisenhower, which pushed for mass reformations across the Federal Government, calling for reduction of military forces in exchange for the welfare of the people, and a non interventionist foreign policy, which reflected the Democratic Party's stance. Many speculate that they were living in a "new Republican - Democrat system" that were led by military figures. It wouldn't be until 1944 that non military people would take control for the presidency.
Wanting to further push his reforms for the Government, and wanting to increase America's presence on the globe despite advocating non reliancy on bigger countries, MacArthur announced his intention to run as president of the United States on December 8 1939. Several of his own allies declared for the candidacy for the AUP, notably John William Davis and William Harrison Standley, two of MacArthur's former ministers during the military dictatorship. Even Hoover declared. The AUP Primaries in August 1940 would end up bringing Douglas as the candidate for the presidency. He chose Hoover as his running mate for vice president. The MacArthur campaign ran on a platform that called for no reliance on foreign powers as the "Second Reconstruction", as it is called, continues on, a strong military presence to thwart any attempts by the Internationale and Germany to probe and influence the United States, calling for increased efforts to a mixed economy to compromise the workers and businessmen, and the reducing of taxes for the meantime as reconstruction took place.
The New Federalist Party's race for the candidacy was far more heated. Out of the total 7 candidates that declared, three stood out: first was Omar Bradley, the founder and current chair of the party that advocated for non interventionism, global cooperation between democratic nations, limiting businessmen from participating in politics except in national elections, and the promotion of a new sense of patriotism among the American population. Next was Eisenhower, the vice chairman of the party. He ran under the platform of the promise of reducing the income tax (similar to MacArthur), advocating limited intervention in foreign politics and taking a tough stance on socialism and German expansionism. His now famous "Eisenhower Doctrine" advocated for the containing of both of the mention threats to American independence. The last was Harry Truman, the first non armed forces candidate to run for the presidency, which advocated practically his own version of the Eisenhower Doctrine, the promotion of civil rights for African Americans, and the increased participation of non Whites in politics. Truman shockingly was the frontrunner at first, but after the walkout of several Southern conservatives during the primaries due to his civil rights platform, he lost momentum. Bradley won the nomination after a heated contest. He chose Truman as his running mate, which further angered the southern conservatives.
The Progressive Party was now free to run without hindrance in the multi party system. It became the most prominent third party to run in the election. They fielded the now famed Floyd Olson, who was the proponent for the Republican - Democrat Coalition ticket back in the 1936 Election, which was rejected by both sides. He won the primaries for the party, as expected, and chose Senator Elmer Benson of the former's home state of Minnesota, as his running mate.
Bradley consistently used attack ads to warn everyone about the impending dangers of MacArthur's tax cuts, convincing thousands that he was focusing on reducing taxes for the rich class. MacArthur backfired saying that taking an early stance against German and Internationale aggression would result in "America's immediate and swift downfall" and that his proposal to limit the private sector's participation in the government "reeks of socialist rhetoric." Douglas also called Bradley a "socialist" at one time, while Bradley responded by calling MacArthur a "deranged imperialist dictator". Despite close calls, MacArthur came out on top, winning 23 states. Bradley came in second, carrying 22 states. The Progressives actually won states and came in third, carrying 3 states. This victory is the closest margin of victory in the now called "Popular Vote Era" in US history.
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