Soft WI: James Farley 1940

Japhy

Banned
Yes I know, there's plenty of stuff that we can just write the thing off by saying "BUT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN" but if we can ignore that and move on, I'd appreciate it.

In 1940, Franklin Roosevelt never openly campaigned for a third term until he was "drafted" at the Democratic National Convention. As a result of this, in the lead up to the election he pretty much talked from time to time about supporting Cordell Hull as a nominee, but Hull stayed out, and there was an awkward lack of declared candidates in the race. Thus we have Jim Farley the Postmaster General and Chairman of the DNC. Farley was opposed to the concept of a third term, and lacking any other candidates started throwing his hat in the ring. Throughout the year, polling showed that Roosevelt excluded, Farley had the most support from potential Democratic voters. Of course, when the voices rose from the Sewers at the convention that was that and FDR was "drafted", besting Farley and causing a rift between the two allies that never ended.

But, lets say, theoretically Farley gets the nomination. How does the election of 1940 go, and how might a Farley presidency go? 12 years previously another New York Catholic ran for President with disastrous results, but Farley would have the whole New Deal Coalition behind him, and plenty of machines that he worked so well with, though that in turn can also be a problem for him.

Can he win? And if he does, what comes next?
 
Well, it's probably too late to avoid Wilkie coming to the fore, as even if FDR isn't showing any interest in a 3rd term by the RNC there will be talk that he will, and Farley would be considered almost a Roosevelt puppet by some, as there would be no way Farley could run without FDR's backing.

So, we would still have Wilkie, which means 2 Internationalists. It's going to be hard to tell them apart in some ways, except for Farley's Catholicism and the fact, IIRC, that Wilkie thought FDR's New Deal had gone too far.

It's going to come down to who the public trusts more int he days leading up to the election, as they'll be able to tell that things are really bad over in Europe. The fact tht FDR could serve as an advisor - maybe even Secretary of state - in a Farley administration might help him because they could have some FDR without having the whole 3rd term thing. Whether it'd be enough to help him win, I don't know. My thought is yes; Wilkie had little political experience himself.
 
I don't think anti Catholic prejudice drafted Al Smith. I think he lost because he was running against a hero of the President's party in good economic times. I think in 1940 Farley could win. I am assing his beliefs were similar to Roosevelt.
 
I don't think anti Catholic prejudice drafted Al Smith. I think he lost because he was running against a hero of the President's party in good economic times. I think in 1940 Farley could win. I am assing his beliefs were similar to Roosevelt.
Smith lost Southern states that had voted Democratic in every election since Reconstruction ended, and his Catholicism was a huge issue that contributed to that.
 
Smith lost Southern states that had voted Democratic in every election since Reconstruction ended, and his Catholicism was a huge issue that contributed to that.

Smith lost Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and Florida with 62 electoral votes. tThe Catholic vote won him the previously Republican Massachusttes and Rhode Island with 23 electoral votes. hHis religious preference cost him a net 39 electoral votes.
 

Japhy

Banned
I don't think anti Catholic prejudice drafted Al Smith. I think he lost because he was running against a hero of the President's party in good economic times. I think in 1940 Farley could win. I am assing his beliefs were similar to Roosevelt.

Paul in 1928 they burned crosses across the country as Smith campaigned. The Hoover camp purposely brought up religious issues and Anti-Catholic feelings to help smeer Smith and present him as an agent of the Pope would would take orders from Rome. It was a big damn part of the defeat.
 
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