Franklin D. Roosevelt was the unquestioned winner of the Democratic presidential preference primaries of 1932. Between the primaries and caucuses, he held half of all delegates to the National Convention. In second place was Alfred E. Smith, the standard bearer of 1928. Smith had been a close friend of FDR and worked hard to convince FDR to run for Governor of New York in 1928. They remained friends until early 1932 when Smith decided to challenge FDR for the presidential nomination. The only other candidate with any national following was U.S. House Speaker John N. Garner, who had won the primary in California. As the convention neared, the media believed that Smith was gaining on FDR but was still in the minority. A major factor in his favor was that FDR had made statements that he would support overturning the 2/3 Rule; if he pressed this idea, he would lose his support in the South and would not be able to win the nomination.
Chicago Stadium, site of the 1932 Democratic National Convention (1800 West Madison Street).
The 26th Democratic National Convention was held in the Chicago Stadium, 6/27 to 7/2/1932.
The call for the National Convention provided for 1,154 delegates. It stated that states would have as many delegates as in 1928, but states granted additional seats in the U.S. House after the 1930 census were allowed additional delegates to reflect their gains in population. Needed to nominate: 770.
When the convention was gavelled to order at noon on 6/27, it was richly decorated. The Republican National Convention had been held in the same venue just two weeks earlier, and they extended an olive branch to the Democrats by leaving their patriotic decorations (bunting, flags, etc.) throughout the building.
The first major item of business was the selection of a temporary chairman. U.S. Sen. Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky was chosen for the seat. Barkley had become a favorite of the FDR forced earlier in the year when he withdrew from presidential contention and threw his delegates to FDR. According to the expectations of the time, Barkley served both as temporary chairman and as the keynote speaker. Barkley's speech was broadcast over the radio, itemizing the perceived failures of the Hoover administration. Barkley made the case for repeal of prohibition, which was the highlight of his speech. Afterwards, committees were appointed and the convention adjourned for the night.
Two credentials cases were the first major item of business. Two slates of delegates appeared from Minnesota and three from Louisiana. In the latter state, Huey Long had orchestrated an unusual state convention that appointed delegates under his control. Anti-Long party leaders called their own state convention according to the normal procedure and appointed their own delegates. A third group of Democrats followed suit, sending a third slate of delegates. The national convention took a roll call; the Long delegation, supported by FDR delegations, was seated by a vote of 638.75 to 514.25 for the second slate. The case in Minnesota was also complicated. A large number of delegates was not allowed to participate in the Democratic state convention, so they bolted and held their own convention. The non-bolters appointed delegates pledged to FDR, and the bolters chose unpledged delegates. In the national convention, the FDR forces seated the non-bolters in Minnesota by a margin of 658.25 to 492.75. These two rounds of voting gave a good indication of the strength of the Roosevelt forces.
A struggle took place for permanent chairman. FDR's forces decided to present Sen. Thomas Walsh to the convention for the post. He had served ably in the position in 1924, but the party had already asked Jouett Shouse to hold the position. Several speeches were given on both sides, but FDR's majority of the delegates held firm, and Walsh was seated by a vote of 626 to 528. As Walsh made his way to the platform, the band played the song that would become the party's theme song: "Happy Days are Here Again." After Walsh's speech, the Rules Committee reported. Repeal of the 2/3 Rule was to be discussed at the 1936 national convention.
The Resolutions Committee reported late, although it had been working on the proposed platform for the week prior to the convention. For an entire day, the delegates were entertained by Will Rogers and other performers while the platform was being worked out. At one point, Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was denied admittance to the hall because he did not have a ticket. He told the doorman, "But I'm the Mayor." The doorman replied, "Yeah, and I'm the Governor."
Finally, the proposed platform was ready. Sen. Gilbert Hitchcock read it to the convention and to the radio audience. It called for a 25% reduction in the size of the federal government, tariff reform, federal money for relief programs administered by the states, and agricultural reforms. The most controversial plank called for repeal of the 18th Amendment. Cordell Hull offered a minority plank that would allow for local option rather than repeal, but he was booed by many delegates. Alfred E. Smith went to the podium and urged repeal. The convention voted for the repeal plank by a margin of 934.75 to 213.75 (and 5.5 abstaining).
Presidential balloting. Speeches placing names in nomination began on the 30th and ran for about 10 hours. After the eighth nomination was finished, it was 3:00 a.m. on 7/1. Texas moved adjournment for the night, but the FDR forces wanted a roll call. The exhausted delegates voted 863.5 to 281.5 to continue in session. A ninth name was placed in nomination, and at 4:28 a.m., the first ballot was taken. FDR placed first with 58% to 17% for Smith and 25% for Garner and the favorite sons. FDR was 104 delegate vote shy of nomination. He won the West with 71% and the South with 73% but only won 45% in the Northeast. FDR forces moved forward with a second ballot, assured that they would make great strides to 770. In fact, they only gained 11.5 votes. Oklahoma switched from Murray to Will Rogers as the most interesting tidbit of the ballot. Smith's forces, believing that FDR's momentum had been stopped, urged a third ballot, which was taken. FDR gained another five votes plus an unusual fractional vote from North Carolina of 0.04 delegate votes. It was 9:15 a.m. on the morning of 7/1/1932; the delegates voted to adjourn until the evening.
Maneuvering continued throughout the day, while most delegates slept. Speaker Garner, who was busy in Washington DC, decided that it was time to bring his campaign to an end so that he could keep congressional deadlines. He called Sam Rayburn and told him to withdraw his name. Rayburn only agreed to do so if Garner would accept the vice presidency. With Garner's approval, he approached the FDR campaign with the deal, and history was made. The convention assembled again at 9:00 p.m. and proceeded with the fourth ballot. When California was called, William G. McAdoo achieved his revenge on Smith by switching his state to FDR, putting him just 43.21 votes shy of 770. Most favorite son supporters voted for FDR, who surged to 945 votes. Smith's delegates held firm; he left the convention in disgust and headed home.
| Presidential Balloting, DNC 1932 |
| Contender: Ballot | 1st | 2d | 3d | 4th |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | 666.25 | 677.75 | 682.79 | 945 |
| Alfred E. Smith | 201.75 | 194.25 | 190.25 | 190.5 |
| John N. Garner | 90.25 | 90.25 | 101.25 | -- |
| George White | 52 | 50.5 | 52.5 | 3 |
| Melvin A. Traylor | 42.25 | 40.25 | 40.25 | -- |
| James A. Reed | 24 | 18 | 27.5 | -- |
| Harry F. Byrd | 25 | 24 | 24.96 | -- |
| Albert C. Ritchie | 21 | 23.5 | 23.5 | 3.5 |
| William H. Murray | 23 | -- | -- | -- |
| Will Rogers | -- | 22 | -- | -- |
| Newton D. Baker | 8.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 5.5 |
| James M. Cox | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| Abstaining | -- | 5.5 | 2.5 | 5.5 |
Vice Presidential Nomination. John McDuffie, the Democratic floor whip in the U.S. House, placed Garner's name in nomination for vice president. The only other name placed in nomination was Matthew A. Tinley, a General in the World War. Tinley, however, was not interested. He moved to suspend the rules and have Garner declared the nominee by acclamation. The convention followed his advice.
During the vice presidential balloting, FDR was on a plane flying to Chicago. He came to address the convention and accept their nomination, something that had not happened before. In his 47-minute speech, FDR gave a brief overview of his goals as President. He provided the very sense of excitement that the delegates needed. His speech concluded with a paragraph including the sentence "I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people." Though his managers had already accomplished a great deal for him, the speech resulted in the greatest cheering of the entire week. The Democratic Party knew that it was headed for a historic victory.
25th Democratic National Convention (1928)
27th Democratic National Convention (1936)
Democratic Presidential Primaries of 1932
Popular Vote of 1932
Electoral Vote of 1932
Inauguration of FDR (1933)
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