Lewis recounts willkies prescient views of the postwar world as well as his staunch civil rights advocacy. Harvard magazine harvard magazine dunn superbly depicts the 1940 election between roosevelt, who was seeking an unprecedented third term, and his internationalist republican opponent, wendell willkie. T he 1940 election unfolded against the grim spectacle of war in europe, including the blitzkrieg, the fall of france, and the first sorties in the battle of britain. Nov 27, 20 1940 not only explores the contest between fdr and willkie but also examines the key preparations for war that went forward, even in the midst of that divisive election season. Jul 27, 20 and i, i, i must say that your book, 1940 about willkie and even about lindbergh and hitler and their relationship in analyzing the campaigns and the election is one of the most interesting. Lewis recounts willkie s prescient views of the postwar world as well as his staunch civil rights advocacy. In 1940, against the explosive backdrop of the nazi onslaught in europe, two f.
The book tells an inspiring story of the triumph of american democracy in a world reeling from fascist barbarism, and it offers a compelling alternative scenario to todays hyperpartisan political arena, where common. Roosevelt fdr, a democrat, broke with tradition and ran for a third term, which became a major issue. Wendell willkie ran against fdr in the 1940 election and, of course, lost. The united states presidential election of 1940 was fought in the shadow of world war ii as the united states was emerging from the great depression. Roosevelt, running for an unprecedented third term, and talented republican businessman wendell. Willkie defeated fellow republican thomas dewey to secure the nomination but lost in a landslide to president roosevelt during the general election. Only a select few know that willkie was much more than a wouldbe president. Fdr, willkie, lindbergh, hitlerthe election amid the storm by susan dunn yale univ. Roosevelt defeated republican businessman wendell willkie to be reelected for an unprecedented third term in office.
At a time when america first is again a rallying cry, willkies message of international friendship and peaceful engagement provides a reminder that the united. Her main charactersfdr, wendell willkie, lindbergh, hitlercome brilliantly to life. Fdr, willkie, lindbergh, hitlerthe election amid the storm susan dunn. He subsequently became identified with his famous one world concept of international cooperation. Willkie is noted for putting the country before party. Williams college historian susan dunn discusses her book, 1940. In this dramatic account of that turbulent and consequential election, historian susan dunn brings to life the debates, the highpowered players, and the dawning awareness of the nazi threat as the presidential candidates engaged in their own battle for supremacy. The election of 1940 fdr, willkie, lindbergh and hitler. The presidential election of 1940 is well remembered as being one of the most crucial elections in american history, and rightfully. Lewis shows in the improbable wendell willkie, the 1940 election wasnt the only time that willkie startled america into new thinking. Dunns gripping book shows us that the further we get from 1940, the more. The election was contested in the shadow of world war ii in europe, as the united states was emerging from the great depression. There is a 3x5 black and white picture showing willkie with several prominent nebraskan politicians.
Roosevelt, won the 1940 election with about 55% of the popular vote and took the electora. Fdr, willkie, lindbergh, hitler the election amid the storm di dunn, susan. He appeared to be a phenom who had had his one shot and been speedily extinguished. To the fury of his partys leadership, he turned those words into action. Wendell lewis willkie was an american lawyer, corporate executive and the 1940 republican nominee for president. Republican presidential candidate in 1940 who tried unsuccessfully to unseat president franklin d. Richard moe, in his book on the 1940 election, suggested that the nomination of willkie left longlasting scars on the republican party, with conservatives angered by the success of its eastern establishment wing. The election amid the storm 1st edition 1st printing hardcover new york yale university press 20 near fine in a. Professor lewis provides a new biography of willkie. And i, i, i must say that your book, 1940 about willkie and even about lindbergh and hitler and their relationship in analyzing the campaigns and the election is one of the most interesting. Brown university many americans may remember wendell willkie as the republican presidential candidate who lost to franklin d. Susan dunn in 1940, against the explosive backdrop of the nazi onslaught in europe, two farsighted candidates for the u. Wendell willkie was the republican candidate for president in 1940.
The audiobook tells an inspiring story of the triumph of american democracy in a world reeling from fascist barbarism, and it offers a compelling alternative scenario to todays hyperpartisan political arena, where common ground seems unattainable. With the backdrop of the start of world war ii susan relates historical facts in a fast paced narrative. The spellbinding story of the roosevelt willkie election season, when bitterly divided americans debated the fate of the nation and the world in 1940, against the explosive backdrop of the nazi onslaught in europe, two farsighted candidates for the u. Profile of and interview with charles peters, founder of washington monthly, whose new book is entitled five days in philadelphia. Wendell willkie is a model for postpartisanship the atlantic.
Jeffries, the author of two previous books on wartime politics and society, emphasizes how domestic considerations shaped the 1940 election. The improbable wendell willkie audiobook by david levering. Willkie appealed to many convention delegates as the republican fields only interventionist. The lost internationalism of wendell willkie the nation. Roosevelt sharply rebuked an aide for making a derogatory quip about wendell willkie, roosevelts republican challenger in the 1940 election. The book tells an inspiring story of the triumph of american democracy in a world reeling. Roosevelt, running for an unprecedented third term, and talented republican businessman wendell willkie found themselves on the defensive against american isolationists and their charismatic spokesman charles lindbergh, who called for surrender to. Roosevelt in the 1940 election, handing fdr an unprecedented third term. It nominated wendell willkie of new york for president and senator charles mcnary of oregon for vice president. A thoroughly researched biography of a remarkable figure. An american program by wendell willkie 1944 pamphlet. The election of 1940 and the mighthavebeen that makes. I think that what is going on in the country today pointed out some key items about willkie that might have gone unnoticed in the prior biographies.
The contest for the 1940 republican presidential nomination was wideopen. Where the war was concerned, wendell willkie told the 1940 republican convention, we here are not republicans alone, but americans. Roosevelt, running for an unprecedented third term, and talented republican businessman wendell willkie. Fdr, willkie, lindbergh, hitlerthe election amid the. His democratic opponent, incumbent president franklin d. But as his namesakegrowing up in his rushville, indiana, home, still fresh with his memories, surrounded by those who knew him intimately as.
Wendell willkie, a midwestern businessmanturnedrepublican politician, fought for desegregation, workers rights, and small government in his 1940 bid for president. By becoming the first president to win a third term, roosevelt broke the twoterm precedent established by the countrys first president, george washington. American studies scholar at brown chronicles the lost. Susan dunn, a prolific and outstanding historian, has crafted a fastpaced, serious, and extraordinarily wellresearched book about the events surrounding the pivotal 1940 election. Fdr, willkie, lindbergh, hitler the election amid the storm. Newyork historical society wendell willkie, the 1940. Wendell lewis willkie 18921944 find a grave memorial. Willkie for president wendell willkie campaign pin button. The spellbinding story of the rooseveltwillkie election season, when bitterly divided. David levering lewiss book, the improbable wendell willkie, is aptly titled. Jun 04, 20 in 1940, against the explosive backdrop of the nazi onslaught in europe, two farsighted candidates for the u. David levering lewiss book, the improbable wendell willkie, is aptly. Hailed as the definitive biography of wendell willkie irwin f.
A look at the behindthescenes intrigue that catapulted unknown wendell willkie to head the republican ticket in 1940 and guaranteed fdr an unprecedented third term. Jul 25, 2014 williams college historian susan dunn discusses her book, 1940. Although first consideration suggests the book will provide a comprehensive narrative of this pivotal election contest, 1940. The surprise republican candidate was maverick businessman. This collection also has a large visual element in series 2. Fdr, willkie, lindbergh, hitler the election amid the storm is a fascinating account of the events leading up to the 1940 presidential election. Additionally, his outspokenness against franklin roosevelt and the new deal garnered national attention leading to a movement to nominate him as a presidential candidate for the 1940 election.
How willkie ran, lost and helped win the war the new. Oct 06, 2018 wendell willkie is littleremembered now. Vandenberg of michigan, senator robert taft of ohio and manhattan district attorney thomas e. How willkie ran, lost and helped win the war the new york times.
Roosevelt, running for an unprecedented third term. Masterful retelling of the pivotal election of 1940which the republican challenger nearly won. But as his namesakegrowing up in his rushville, indiana, home, still fresh with his memories, surrounded by those who knew him intimately as well as. United states presidential election of 1940 united. Willkie, born february 18, 1892, elwood, indiana, u. But after losing he taught that it is essen susan dunns book, 1940. Republican candidates newspaper editor and owner frank ganne. Gellman, the improbable wendell willkie offers an engrossing and enlightening appraisal ira katznelson of a prominent businessman. New book on willkie highlights rushville connection. Convention of 1940 and how it freed fdr to save the western world.
Willkies nomination neutralized much republican opposition to fdrs war preparations and was crucial to the narrow congressional approval of conscription. Charles mcnary of oregon his running mate in the 1940 presidential election. Dunn superbly depicts the 1940 election between roosevelt, who was seeking an unprecedented third term, and his internationalist republican opponent, wendell willkie. Jul 25, 2005 profile of and interview with charles peters, founder of washington monthly, whose new book is entitled five days in philadelphia. Wendell willkie campaigning during the 1940 presidential election. But on november 5, 1940, willkie came away with just ten states and fortyfive per cent of the vote. The election amid the storm 1st edition 1st printing hardcover new york yale university press 20 near fine in a near fine dust jacket. A gripping narrative of the dramatic 1940 contest for the white house.
A third term for fdr is a judicious study of the 1940 election in which an unusually popular president pursued a controversial third term as global conflict loomed. The 1940 republican national convention was held in philadelphia, pennsylvania, from june 24 to june 28, 1940. The first of the books five chapters provides necessary background on roosevelt, the new deal, and democratic party politics in the 1930s, but in the second chapter, on the republican partys nomination of wendell willkie, jeffries hits his stride. The spellbinding story of the rooseveltwillkie election season, when bitterly divided americans debated the fate of the nation and the world in 1940, against the explosive backdrop of the nazi onslaught in europe, two farsighted candidates for the u. Fdr, willkie, lindbergh, hitlerthe election amid the storm. The book tells an inspiring story of the triumph of american democracy in a world reeling from fascist barbarism, and it offers a compelling alternative scenario to todays hyperpartisan political arena, where common ground seems unattainable. Fdr, willkie, lindbergh, hitlerthe election amid the storm by. That is one of the questions that david levering lewis asks in his insightful, disciplined biography of the 1940 republican candidate for president, wendell willkie. United states presidential election of 1940, american presidential election held on nov.
Jun 17, 2016 willkies nomination neutralized much republican opposition to fdrs war preparations and was crucial to the narrow congressional approval of conscription. There is a new book out about which everyone should know, written by twotime pulitzer prize winning author david levering lewis, called the improbable wendell willkie the business man. Wendell willkie lost the 1940 presidential election but became one of americas most effective ambassadors, embarking on a sevenweek plane trip to bolster the allied cause. Wendell willkie, in full wendell lewis willkie, also called wendell l. Fdr, willkie, lindbergh, hitler the election amid the. Particularly notable were his drives to rein in franklin roosevelts new deal, advance civil rights and set up a system for postwar geopolitical governance. Had hitler refrained from blitzkrieg one more year the nation may very well have tired of fdr and president willkie would have chosen in office on pearl harbor day.
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