Gerard had a strong background in foreign policy. He had served as the Ambassador to Germany immediately prior to World War I. When he was expelled from the country, a German official told him that half a million Germans in the USA were ready to rise up in rebellion. Gerard replied that the USA would hang them on light poles. Throughout 1919, Gerard urged President Wilson to intervene for autonomy for Armenia. Wilson's choice not follow Gerard's advice was made soon prior to Gerard's entry into the presidential race [NYT 12/8/1919].

Gerard entered the Democratic presidential contention on 12/15/1919. While on a visit to South Dakota, Gerard developed his group of supporters and filed for the Democratic nomination in Pierre. The form included blanks requesting certain types of information; he described his national platform as his desire "to make and keep the country safe for democracy" as his state platform as "true democracy." His candidacy was considered quite a surprise, as he had not made connections in his home state (NY) and was not assured of Tammany support [NYT 12/16/1919].

The following day, Gerard stated that he would drop out of the race if President Wilson decided to run for a third term. Otherwise, he was a candidate. He announced his support of unconditional ratification of the Treaty of Versailles, entry into the League of Nations, protection of farmers, reduction in the temporarily high war taxes, and restoration of pre-war labor conditions. The New York Times commented that Gerard's entry would likely mean an uncommitted New York delegation. Tammany leaders were already divided between McAdoo and Palmer [NYT 12/17/1919].

Gerard's first major public appearance was the Jackson Day dinner in Washington DC on 1/8/1920. The Democratic National Committee met earlier in the day to make arrangements for the upcoming national convention, and 12 aspirants were invited to address a dinner. The demand for tickets was so high that the DNC set up two dinners: one at the Willard Hotel and one at the Washington Hotel. The aspirants would address one and then proceed to the next. Wilson sent a greeting that was read first, and a second greeting was read from McAdoo. The contenders spoke in this order: Hitchcock, Gov. Cornwell WV, Cox, Gerard, Underwood, Daniels, Clark, Palmer, a woman with the last name of Olesen of Minnesota, Pomerene, Owen, and Bryan. The event was critical to the contenders, as many important Democratic donors were present. Gerard made several key points in his speech. He called for ratification of the Treaty as soon as possible; he saw minor concessions as of more value than central Europe falling into the hands of Bolsheviks. He called for railroad workers to have a share in rail profits, stronger but regulated unions, and a reduction of taxes to benefit "that forgotten, choked, neglected individual - the American business man" [NYT 1/6,8/1920].

For Gerard, the South Dakota primary was the first important voting event. The law there stated that candidates who declined a challenge to debate would be taken off the ballot. Accordingly, an unknown Chicago attorney named James O. Monroe, who had also filed in SD, challenged Wilson and Gerard to a debate on 1/8/1920; Monroe had been excluded from the Jackson Day dinners [NYT 1/9/1920]. While it is certain that Wilson did not debate Monroe, it is not known if Gerard did so. It is ironic that if such a debate took place it would have involved a tertiary contender (Gerard) and a nuisance candidate (Monroe). South Dakota voters were unhappy with a choice that did not involve a first or second tier contender, and turnout declined dramatically from the primary of 1918. Still, Gerard won a plurality victory in the South Dakota primary [NYT 3/24].

In the meantime, Gerard continued to campaign in New York. He told a reporter on 1/15 "Oh yes, I am still in the ring" for the Democratic presidential nomination. That day, he addressed the Girls Protective League and the New York Probation and Protective Association in NYC [NYT 1/16/1920]. In a later address to the Government Club (a NYC women's organization), Gerard pointed out that the British Ambassador to the US had stated that his nation would accept minor alterations to the Versailles Treaty and that the US Senate should consider a compromise. [NYT 2/3/1920]. Given Gerard's speeches to these women's groups, it is not surprising that he was listed among the candidates who favored women's suffrage [NYT 3/1/1920].

Gerard made a brief swing through New Hampshire prior to its primary on 3/9. The only name on the Democratic side was that of Herbert Hoover, who had been placed there by his supporters before he announced that he was a Republican. Gerard travelled through the state in the week before the primary, asking voters to write in his name [NYT 3/2/1920]. It is unclear how many voters did so.

As a third tier contender, Gerard found it difficult to gain ballot access. His efforts to field slates of delegates were unsuccessful outside of South Dakota.

In the spring, Gerard diverted some energy to Armenia again. Armenian support groups held a mass rally in NYC that called for Pres. Wilson to honor his commitment to an independent Armenia. Gerard, one of the speakers, called for all territories with significant Armenian populations to be included in the new nation and that it be given access to a sea [NYT 5/3/1920].

Gerard was active at the Democratic National Convention. During the debate on the Treaty of Versailles, Gerard pointed out that the amendment that would make the most difference in the US Senate would require Great Britain to recognize Irish sovereignty. However, the delegates wanted to call for unconditional ratification, and Gerard's proposal was not adopted [NYT 6/29/1920]. Earlier in the year, Gerard had asked his supporter U.S.G. Cherry to place his name in nomination at the convention, and Cherry obliged [NYT 5/30/1920]. On the first ballot, Gerard won the 10 votes of South Dakota, 7 from Montana, and four scattering (total 21). Montana defected on the second ballot, leaving Gerard with 12. Most of SD defected after the third ballot, in which he only received two SD votes. He received scattering support until the 20th ballot but never more than two votes.