Recap of the Primary Campaign
The winner of the Republican presidential primaries of 1928 was Herbert C. Hoover, who gained fame from his relief efforts after the Mississippi River flooding in 1927. In the primaries, he won 50% of the vote, compared to Frank O. Lowden with 32% and no more than 6% for any other contender. Lowden's high vote total was tempered by the fact that 91% of it came from his home state's primary.
The New York Times reported on 6/3/1928 that all delegates had been selected; Hoover led with 531 to 273 for Lowden, 46 for Charles Curtis, and 33 for George W. Norris. A majority, or 545, votes were needed for nomination.
Hoover's huge lead, the result of no other candidate waging a nationwide campaign for delegates, did not deter his opposition. Opponents of President Coolidge were divided among VP Charles G. Dawes, Frank Lowden and George W. Norris, with most of this opposition coming from the western agrarian interests. Northeastern business interests led by Andrew W. Mellon remained committed to a re-nomination of Coolidge up to convention time.
The National Convention
The 19th Republican National Convention assembled in the Civic Auditorium in Kansas City MO. The number of delegates had been reduced slightly from 1,109 (1924) to 1,089.
Temporary Chairman and Keynote Speaker: U.S. Senator Simeon D. Fess OH
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Recap of the Primary Campaign
The winner of the Republican presidential primaries of 1928 was Herbert C. Hoover, who gained fame from his relief efforts after the Mississippi River flooding in 1927. In the primaries, he won 50% of the vote, compared to Frank O. Lowden with 32% and no more than 6% for any other contender. Lowden's high vote total was tempered by the fact that 91% of it came from his home state's primary.
The New York Times reported on 6/3/1928 that all delegates had been selected; Hoover led with 531 to 273 for Lowden, 46 for Charles Curtis, and 33 for George W. Norris. A majority, or 545, votes were needed for nomination.
Hoover's huge lead, the result of no other candidate waging a nationwide campaign for delegates, did not deter his opposition. Opponents of President Coolidge were divided among VP Charles G. Dawes, Frank Lowden and George W. Norris, with most of this opposition coming from the western agrarian interests. Northeastern business interests led by Andrew W. Mellon remained committed to a re-nomination of Coolidge up to convention time.
The National Convention
The 19th Republican National Convention assembled in the Civic Auditorium in Kansas City MO. The number of delegates had been reduced slightly from 1,109 (1924) to 1,089.
Temporary Chairman and Keynote Speaker: U.S. Senator Simeon D. Fess OH
Permanent Chairman: U.S. Senator George H. Moses NH
The first controversial piece of business was the Credentials Committee report. This committee, which was the first committee of any major party's national convention headed by a woman, recommended that the Hoover slate of Texas delegates be seated. Lowden delegations vociferously supported the alternate slate of delegates. The convention voted 659.5 to 399.5 to seat the Hoover delegation from Texas, removing any doubt of the result of the presidential balloting.
When George H. Moses assumed the responsibilities of permanent chairman, he gave a short speech in which he lauded the "plentitude of presidential timber" among the Republicans. "We challenge [the Democrats] to bring forth their strongest champion... And we care not whether his name be Brown, Jones, Robinson, or Smith."
The Rules Committee reported next. It recommended a new rule, that the delegates must be legal and qualified voters in the area / district they represented. It also banned fractional delegate representation in the future.
The Platform Committee produced a document which lauded the accomplishments of Coolidge's administration. U.S. Senator Robert M. LaFollette Jr. WI offered an alternate partial platform with different planks on agriculture, internal improvements, labor relations, and prohibition. After substantial debate, Earl C. Smith IL proposed a third and more moderate agricultural plank. This plank was put to a roll call and was defeated 277-807, and the proposed platform was adopted by a voice vote.
The Presidential Ballot
As was the custom, each state was called upon in alphabetical order to propose a name for President. Alabama yielded to California, which placed Hoover's name in nomination. The speech was quickly interrupted by a lengthy demonstration. Arizona yielded to Illinois, but that delegation stated that Lowden would not run because he rejected the agricultural plank of the platform. Other men placed in nomination were James E. Watson, Charles Curtis, Guy D. Goff, George W. Norris, and President Coolidge. Commentators at the time noted that Lowden lost all influence in the party when he withdrew without allowing his delegates time to adopt an alternate candidate.
Hoover was nominated on the first ballot, as shown on this page. The 252 votes against Hoover were mostly cast in a large triangle of states with corners in West Virginia, North Dakota, and Oklahoma; only 12 delegates outside of this area voted against Hoover while delegates in these states voted against Hoover by a margin of 133-240.
Vice Presidential ballot
After the presidential nomination, the Georgia delegation asked the national convention to settle a dispute about who should represent Georgia on the National Committee. The convention voted 761-308 to re-affirm the incumbent committeemen.
Charles Curtis, majority leader of the U.S. Senate, was nominated for vice president almost unanimously on the first ballot.
18th Republican National Convention (1924)
20th Republican National Convention (1932)
Republican Primaries of 1928
Popular Vote of 1928
Electoral Vote of 1928
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