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Shuffling the Deck After a Bad Hand
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Franklin D. Roosevelt
(Democratic)

1933-1945

After returning home from the Tehran Conference, a rapid decline in the President’s health was noticed by his staff. Every effort was made to keep him in good health, but this was proven futile when in early January, 1944, President Roosevelt collapsed from a stroke after speaking on his Second Bill of Rights and was confined to his bed. This caused an immediate panic amongst the administration as many were unsure of Vice President Wallace’s abilities as a potential Acting President at this critical junction at the war. Wallace, unwilling to be cast aside like Thomas Marshall ahead of him made many attempts to see the President and ascertain his condition, but was only dissuaded of this necessity when Cordell Hull and Eleanor Roosevelt insisted that the President was still able perform his duties. While the President covered, the Cabinet effectively ran the nation and war effort through the early part of the year. The President was even well enough to give a speech as the D-Day invasion commenced.

Despite the President’s recovery, it was clear that FDR could not run for another term. Behind closed doors, the Democratic machine found Wallace an unacceptable candidate, and vowed to find a palatable choice. Senator Harry Truman would prove to be that acceptable man, but Wallace’s support amongst the New Dealers put him ahead, barely, on the first ballot. After much arm twisting and shouting, Truman was nominated on the tenth ballot, but Henry Wallace stormed out with his supporters to revive the Progressive Party. While the war was clearly was going to end by the following year, which should benefit the Democrats, the civil war between the moderate and progressive factions made capitalizing on that success difficult. The 1944 election would prove to be a photo-finish.
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