Elections and Political Parties Overview: 1924-2000

Overview of Elections and Political Parties (1924-2000)

  • 1924 Elections

    • Democrats: John Davis
    • Republicans: Calvin Coolidge (First election to use the radio)
    • Coolidge won despite corruption revelations from Harding administration.

  • 1928 Elections

    • Democrats: Al Smith (First Catholic to run for President)
    • Republicans: Herbert Hoover
    • Hoover promised, "A chicken in every pot, a car in every garage."

  • 1932 Elections

    • Democrats: Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) (Promised to end the Great Depression)
    • Republicans: Herbert Hoover
    • Socialists: Norman Thomas
    • FDR ran on a New Deal platform, winning easily against Hoover.

  • 1936 Elections

    • Democrats: Franklin D. Roosevelt
    • Republicans: Alfred Landon
    • FDR won comfortably despite Landon’s critiques.

  • 1940 Elections

    • Democrats: Franklin D. Roosevelt
    • Republicans: Wendell Wilkie

  • 1944 Elections

    • Democrats: Franklin D. Roosevelt
    • Republicans: Thomas Dewey
    • FDR won, having Truman as Vice-President.

  • 1948 Elections

    • Democrats: Harry Truman
    • Republicans: John Dewey
    • Progressives: Henry Wallace
    • Truman was seen as the underdog but won surprised onlookers.

  • 1952 & 1956 Elections

    • Democrats: Adlai Stevenson
    • Republicans: Dwight Eisenhower (Popular president, won in landslides)

  • 1960 Elections

    • Democrats: John F. Kennedy (First Catholic President)
    • Republicans: Richard Nixon (Ran on an anti-Communist platform)
    • Marked by the first televised debates leading to Kennedy's tight victory.

  • 1964 Elections

    • Democrats: Lyndon Johnson
    • Republicans: Barry Goldwater
    • Johnson promised social reform, winning significantly.

  • 1968 Elections

    • Democrats: Hubert Humphrey
    • Republicans: Richard Nixon
    • American Independent: George Wallace

  • 1972 Elections

    • Democrats: George McGovern
    • Republicans: Richard Nixon

  • 1976 Elections

    • Democrats: Jimmy Carter
    • Republicans: Gerald Ford

The Democratic Political Legacy of the New Deal (1933-1952)

  • Established a power base with ethnic groups, city dwellers, and a broad section of the middle class.
  • Increased government involvement in American life, becoming a protector of interest groups.
  • Key initiatives included the Fair Deal which expanded Social Security and minimum wage, public housing, etc.

Post-World War II Politics

  • Democrats: Maintained power with labor and urban voters.
    • Advocated larger federal roles in regulating business and social issues over the 1960s.
  • Republicans: Accused Democrats of being