1936 Republican National Convention

Background

Although many candidates sought the Republican nomination, only two, Governor Landon and Senator William Borah of Idaho, were considered to be serious candidates. Although favorite sons County Attorney Earl Warren of California, Governor Warren E. Green of South Dakota, and Stephen A. Day of Ohio won their respective primaries, the 70-year-old Borah, a well-known progressive and "insurgent," carried the Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Oregon primaries, while also performing quite strongly in Knox's Illinois and Green's South Dakota. However, the party machinery almost uniformly backed Landon, a wealthy businessman and centrist, who won primaries in Massachusetts and New Jersey and dominated in the caucuses and at state party conventions.

Other potential candidates included Robert A. Taft, New York Representative James W. Wadsworth, Jr., Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenberg, Iowa Senator Lester Dickinson, New York Representative Hamilton Fish III, New Jersey Governor Harold Hoffman, Delaware Governor C. Douglass Buck, Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts, Michigan auto magnate Henry Ford, aviator Charles Lindbergh, former President Herbert Hoover, Oregon Senator Frederick Steiwer, Senate Minority Leader Charles McNary, former Treasury Secretary Ogden L. Mills and Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., cousin of Democratic incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Presidential nomination

Presidential candidates

Image:LandonPortr.jpg|Governor Alf Landon of Kansas Image:William Edgar Borah cph.3b19589.jpg|Senator William Borah of Idaho (not nominated) Image:FrankKnox c1943 g399009 (cropped 3x4).jpg|Newspaper Publisher Frank Knox of Illinois (not nominated) Image:Fredericksteiwer.jpg|Senator Frederick Steiwer of Oregon (not nominated) Image:President_Hoover_portrait.jpg|Former President Herbert Hoover of California (not nominated)

At the start of the convention, Landon looked like the likely nominee, but faced opposition from a coalition led by Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenberg, Idaho Senator William E. Borah, and newspaper publisher Frank Knox. However, the stop-Landon movement failed.

Presidential balloting / 3rd day of convention (June 11, 1936) File:1936RepublicanPresidentialNomination1stBallot.png|1st presidential ballot

Vice-presidential nomination

Vice-presidential candidates

Image:Frank Knox 1940s portrait.jpg|Newspaper Publisher Frank Knox of Illinois Image:Walteredge.jpg|Former Ambassador Walter Evans Edge of New Jersey (withdrawn) Image:Col. Arthur W. Little, 5-1-29 LCCN2016843778.jpg|Publisher Arthur W. Little of New York (withdrawn) Image:Harry W. Nice circa 1918 (cropped).jpg|Governor Harry Nice of Maryland (withdrawn) Image:VANDENBURG, ARTHUR H. SENATOR LCCN2016862580 (cropped).jpg|Senator Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan (declined consideration)

The selection of a vice presidential candidate at the closing session presented some difficulties. The Landon people wanted Vandenberg but the Michigan senator refused repeatedly and firmly.

Colonel Knox, former Ambassador Edge, Colonel Little, and Governor Nice were placed in nomination. It soon became evident the choice of the convention would be Knox as state after state seconded his nomination. Edge, Little, and Nice withdrew their names and the Chicago publisher became the unanimous choice for second place on the ticket.

Vice-presidential balloting / 4th day of convention (June 12, 1936) File:1936RepublicanVicePresidentialNomination1stBallot.png|1st Vice-presidential ballot

References

References

1. Ferguson, Harry. (June 10, 1936). "New Deal rebels wooed by G.O.P.". Pittsburgh Press.
2. (June 10, 1936). "'Return to American system,' keynote advises G.O.P.". Pittsburgh Press.
3. (10 June 1936). "Keynoter Denounces Roosevelt Policies, Demanding Tax Cuts and Balanced Budget; Landon Men Take Control of Convention". [[The New York Times]].