Socialist Party in the first Eisenhower Administration
Norman Thomas and many Socialist Party leaders were disappointed with the health of the party after the 1952 election. Thomas advocated that the party cease to offer national tickets, particularly in light of increasing difficulty in achieving ballot status. The nationwide vote for Socialist candidates for U.S. Senate fell below 100,000 in 1950, and after 1954 it was down to just 31,552.
Socialist National Convention of 1956
The 15th Socialist Party National Convention was held in Chicago IL, 6/8-10/1956. There were 100 delegates present.
On the first day of the convention, the delegates discussed the issue of ballot status. The conven
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Socialist Party in the first Eisenhower Administration
Norman Thomas and many Socialist Party leaders were disappointed with the health of the party after the 1952 election. Thomas advocated that the party cease to offer national tickets, particularly in light of increasing difficulty in achieving ballot status. The nationwide vote for Socialist candidates for U.S. Senate fell below 100,000 in 1950, and after 1954 it was down to just 31,552.
Socialist National Convention of 1956
The 15th Socialist Party National Convention was held in Chicago IL, 6/8-10/1956. There were 100 delegates present.
On the first day of the convention, the delegates discussed the issue of ballot status. The convention decided to bypass states with difficult ballot requirements and instead work to influence legislation in those states. Norman Thomas addressed the convention and complained that the Democrats in the U.S. Senate had allowed Sen. James Eastland of Mississippi to serve as chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
The convention on its second day sent a telegram of best wishes to President Eisenhower during his illness.
On 6/10/56, the convention re-nominated its national ticket from 1952: Darlington Hoopes of PA for President and Samuel H. Friedman of NY for Vice President. [New York Times, 6/10-12/1956]
The Campaign
Hoopes accepted the nomination on 9/2/1956 with a televised address (carried by WCBS). He sought "to end the robbery and slavery inherent in the capitalist system." He did not see hope of social change through either the Eisenhower administration or through the Democrats, who were controlled by long-serving Southerners. Hoopes urged a nuclear weapons ban, an end to the draft, and a shift from military spending to foreign aid. [New York Times, 9/3/1956]
With dwindling funds, the Hoopes-Friedman ticket ran a very low-key campaign. One of the few highlights came on 10/15/1956, when Earl Browder, former leader of the Communist Party, visited the party's headquarters and had a brief discussion with Norman Thomas. Browder wanted to discuss an upcoming speech, in which he would seek a new political party with Thomas as the leader. Thomas declined. [NYT 10/16/1956].
The election was the last to be contested by a Socialist nominee for a generation. Hoopes obtained ballot status in four states, where he won just over 2,000 votes. His total represented a decline of 90% from his showing of 1952 and was the lowest total for a Socialist Party presidential nominee. Socialist Party candidate for the U.S. House and Senate also won a record low number of votes.
14th Socialist Party National Convention, 1952
16th Socialist Party National Convention, 1960
Popular Vote of 1956
Electoral Vote of 1956
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