Chapter 1: 1912 Republican National Convention
The 1912 Republican Convention
Former President Theodore Roosevelt stood upon the Halls of the Chicago Coloseum both in defeat and victory for his nominee for the convention chairman, George Cortelyou, his former personal Secretary and former Secretary of the Treasury under his tenure. Even though he won the nomination his delegates were still short even with the addition of the Californian delegation but coupled with defections and the loss of some states such as Ohio so he was still short on delegates and that was the bad news but not only for him but also for camp Taft.
Early on the voting it seemed that Roosevelt would win but he came up short and so Taft started to creep up until almost reaching Roosevelt's delegate votes but then two candidates came in, former VP Fairbanks & Senator La Folette. They took both delegates and it seemed now almost impossible to gain a nominee even Roosevelt himself thought that he should leave the convention itself but that thought was quickly shot out by his advisors.
The convention was a slugfest of fights between the two sides for some time and so Convention Chairman Cortelyou organized a meeting between the two sides and possibly gaining a compromise candidate. The meeting started by acknowledging that they both can't win and both sides wanted a deal. Taft was given say that if the candidate won and there would be a spot in the Supreme Court, Taft would be the nominee and Roosevelt wanted his platform of the Fair Deal and interventionism in the national plank and both sides agreed to it and so started the process of finding a candidate. The Taft delegation wanted a conservative candidate while Roosevelt delegation wanted a progressive one. Candidates such as former VP Fairbanks, Elihu Root and even La Folette but then Cortelyou gave a name, Leonard Wood.
Wood was close to both candidates with Taft knew him during his tenure in the Philippines and even promoted him there and Roosevelt knew him during the Rough Riders and considered each other as friends and him having little political experience this made his candidacy being influenced by both sides which they accepted and so the Chief of Staff of the US Army was telegraphed and he was initially hesitant but that was until Roosevelt convinced him to accept he did. Most Taft and Roosevelt delegates quickly gathered around Wood with few diehards staying and with token opposition from Robert La Follette. He was nominated early on and so Leonard Wood was made as the Republican nominee for President of the United States.
Senator Robert La Follette, a progressive and avid anti Taft man almost did what Roosevelt did days earlier but the idea was stopped when both Roosevelt and his advisors pushed him to stay, knowing he can't succeed without the former president's support.
Theodore Roosevelt stood upon the podium in Chicago and started his speech, even though he would not be the nominee, he was glad that his friend Leonard Wood would become one.
"Today I speak to you all not as your President nor as your nominee but I stand here as a Republican! We are here to nominate and if so to raise him into the White House! The man that we are grateful to name is a fearless man, a man known for his courage and bravery! A man who charged San Juan Hill with me! A man every soldier could trust and a man every citizen can trust! A man who shall usher in great progress and a Square Deal to all! For we are the Party of Lincoln and we shall carry his legacy in this election against the demagogue Democrats and their Klan loving candidate! Let us win! Not for me and the Republicans but for all people, no matter religion, complexion nor thought!"
Former President Theodore Roosevelt giving his
"Square Deal Speech"
Last edited: