ROOSEVELT AND WILLKIE

by Warren Moscow ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 26, 1968

Veteran Times-man Moscow attempts to tell of the 1940 contest for the presidency ""as a single coherent piece from the viewpoint of national politics."" ""As far as I know it is also the first attempt to detail the real background of Willkie's nomination which at the time was either oversimplified or made unduly mysterious."" He has gathered most of the information himself. Moscow points out the unusual elements of the contest (Roosevelt the first president to seek a third term. Willkie the first Democrat to receive the Republican nomination, both men of stature and personal magnetism); follows the course of ""the real presidential campaign"" leading to the nomination of candidates (a close-up here of the Willkie forces, the Roosevelt-Farley relationship). The Willkie strategy compromised his independent stance with party politicking, while Roosevelt deftly made the most of his office. The vote found Willkie with 45% to Roosevelt's 55% popular majority (the greatest Republican showing until Eisenhower's in 1952). Moscow analyzes it and the reasons why, refers to the silent partnership of the former opponents in lend-lease, elsewhere. A rerun and a little bit more for those who would see it now.

Pub Date: July 26, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Prentice-Hall

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION