1916 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

Republican primary

Candidates

• Henry Cabot Lodge, incumbent Senator since 1893

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John F. Fitzgerald, former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Representative (grandfather of future President John F. Kennedy)

Background

In 1914 Mayor of Boston John F. Fitzgerald was strongly popular in the city, leading him to consider a challenge against the powerful Senator Lodge. When he wavered on whether to run for another term in office, however, James Michael Curley entered the race and usurped him in the January 1914 election. Fitzgerald briefly ran for re-election to another term in office, before withdrawing in December 1913. Though he cited illness, he was in fact being blackmailed by Curley and attorney Daniel H. Coakley, who had learned of his indiscretions with a cigarette girl, Elizabeth "Toodles" Ryan.

Campaign

The Democratic state convention was held in Springfield on October 7. Fitzgerald addressed the convention, praising President Wilson and criticizing Lodge, his Senate colleague John W. Weeks, and former President Theodore Roosevelt for opposing the President's re-election during war-time.

Results

General election

Candidates

• John F. Fitzgerald, former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Representative (Democratic)
• Henry Cabot Lodge, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1893 (Republican)
• William N. McDonald (Socialist)

Campaign

The first shot of the general election came in September, before the primary elections. At a Lodge campaign rally in Beverly, the Senator made no mention of Fitzgerald, but campaign backer Arthur Black criticized the former mayor's candidacy as a vanity run. Lodge focused his campaign on criticism of President Wilson and support for Republican nominee Charles Evans Hughes.

Fitzgerald attacked Lodge for his opposition to the direct election of Senators and the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. He declared that "[Lodge's] career shows a singular lack of touch with the people... it is for private interests that he has stood during his career."

Lodge also faced criticism over his charge of weakness against President Wilson's response to the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. Lodge was forced to withdraw his charge.

Results

Aftermath

In 1952, Fitzgerald's grandson John F. Kennedy defeated Lodge's grandson Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. to win election to this same Senate seat. Fitzgerald's daughter Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy would say that her son John had "evened the score" with the Lodges and avenged her father's defeat. A final contest between the two families came in 1962, when John Kennedy's youngest brother (and another of Fitzgerald's grandsons) Ted Kennedy defeated younger Lodge's son George C. Lodge for the same seat.

References

Bibliography

References

1. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (1916). "Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections".
2. (13 Aug 1916). "DEMOCRATS TO MEET OCTOBER 7". [[The Boston Globe]].
3. (7 Oct 1916). "WILSON'S FAME ETERNAL, MR. FITZGERALD SAYS". [[The Boston Globe]].
4. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (1916). "Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections".
5. (24 Sep 1916). "CALLS FOR DEFEAT OF FITZGERALD". [[The Boston Post]].
6. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (1916). "Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections".