WI Al Smith President during the Depression?

Say Alfred E Smith is elected President in either 1928 or 1932 -- how does he respond to the crisis of the Great Depression? What would be the similarities and differences between Smith's policies and FDRs?

What I gather -- I know OTL he was an intense critic of the New Deal, but I can't help but wonder how much of that stemmed from his personal animosity to FDR? Also, he was close to Robert Wagner, and it was he who introduced and sheparded through Congress what was arguably the second biggest part of the New Deal, the National Labor Relations Act. For that matter, Smith was also familiar with Frances Perkins from his work in Albany, so it's possible he'd at least hear arguments for Social Security...

Any ideas on this?
 
If he has been denied the nomination in 28 and somehow won it in 1932Smith would have been President.

I do not know how he would have handled the depression.

He might have taken a Keynsian new deal approach. If he did not the Political establishment would face serious oppositon in 1936
 

JoeMulk

Banned
I think that the only way you could have him win in 28 is the depression coming a year early. If he did somehow manage to get elected then there would be smithvilles.
 
If he has been denied the nomination in 28 and somehow won it in 1932Smith would have been President.

I do not know how he would have handled the depression.

He might have taken a Keynsian new deal approach. If he did not the Political establishment would face serious oppositon in 1936

Especially if the butterflies keep Huey Long alive in this TL.
 
Depends on which 'Al Smith' gets to the White House.

In 1928, Al Smith ran as a liberal. He basically ran as a New Dealer before the New Deal. After his loss, he got really close with some big investment bankers and really rich folks and turned to conservatism in 1932, challenging Roosevelt from the Right at the Convention.

Since 1928 Smith cannot possibly win and 1932 Smith cannot possibly lose, I would say that Smith would do a horrible, terrible, no-good job as President. He would be reluctant to utilize the powers of government for the common good to calm the winds of the Great Depression, and the left protest vote is going to rise even higher. Assuming Long survives and puts Burton Wheeler, Floyd Olson, or Edgar Borah on a spoiler ticket in 1936, Smith goes down in defeat. Even without that, Smith wouldn't be favored for re-election, especially since he'll barely be able to hold Congress in 1934 (which will likely see an upswing of left-wing parties gaining seats), and especially if the Republicans nominate a progressive.

Assuming the GOP ends up nominating a progressive, like, say, Frank Knox, Smith probably gets destroyed. The Republicans take back the Senate (the Democratic majorities in the House, methinks, are too huge to be wiped out in two cycles...) and President-elect Knox promises to embark upon a progressive reform agenda, much like that of his hero, Theodore Roosevelt.
 
Let's put it this way: a Dem winning IOTL circumstances in 1928 is pretty much ASB. I could see Smith passing the bank holiday, the AAA and infrastructure projects, but not Social Security or the Second New Deal generally. Though this is a bit of self-advertising, I have Albert Ritchie (who was FDR's first choice for VP, BTW) do exactly that while dealing with the leftist threat in advance of the 1936 election- one where Huey Long is planning to run.
 
Here's what I'm thinking --

Theodore Roosevelt Jr beats Al Smith's gubernatorial re-election camapaign in 1924; Smith then either runs for Senate in 26 or (preferably) returns to the Governor's mansion in 1928.

He then seeks and receives the Democratic nomination for President in 1932, and runs as a New Dealer (calling it something else).

That sound plausible?
 
Let's put it this way: a Dem winning IOTL circumstances in 1928 is pretty much ASB. I could see Smith passing the bank holiday, the AAA and infrastructure projects, but not Social Security or the Second New Deal generally. Though this is a bit of self-advertising, I have Albert Ritchie (who was FDR's first choice for VP, BTW) do exactly that while dealing with the leftist threat in advance of the 1936 election- one where Huey Long is planning to run.

I never knew that Ritchie had been FDR's first choice for VP.
 
I never knew that Ritchie had been FDR's first choice for VP.

IIRC, his first choice had been Cordell Hull. If it weren't for Garner delivering him the nomination, everything I've read says that Hull would have been the Vice Presidential nominee.
 
IIRC, his first choice had been Cordell Hull. If it weren't for Garner delivering him the nomination, everything I've read says that Hull would have been the Vice Presidential nominee.

How possible was a Hull pick in 1940 or 1944 after Garner was dropped?
 
How possible was a Hull pick in 1940 or 1944 after Garner was dropped?

Unlikely. Hull was too conservative a pick for Roosevelt in 1940 (where he was intent on making sure than an anti-fascist New Dealer got the nod) and in 1944 (where he was too old, as was Roosevelt, so a more moderate New Dealer got the nod)
 
Unlikely. Hull was too conservative a pick for Roosevelt in 1940 (where he was intent on making sure than an anti-fascist New Dealer got the nod) and in 1944 (where he was too old, as was Roosevelt, so a more moderate New Dealer got the nod)

That's what I suspected.
 
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