United States Presidential Election, 1932 (Joe Steele)
From Turtledove
The United States presidential election of 1932 took place against the backdrop of the Great Depression. President Herbert Hoover's popularity was falling as voters felt he was unable to reverse the country's economic collapse. Joe Steele used Hoover's perceived failure as a platform for his own election, promising a policy called the Four Year Plan to jumpstart the economy. Steele won in a landslide, and began to slowly accumulate power to the executive branch at the expense of the legislative and judicial.
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[edit] The Campaign
[edit] The Democratic Convention
Sensing that they were in their best position in over a decade, the Democrats held their Convention in Chicago, and very nearly undid themselves, as the party had decided on two front runners: California Congressman Joe Steele, and; New York governor Franklin D. Roosevelt. But after two days, neither man had the needed two-thirds majority to clinch the nomination. And then Roosevelt died in a fire at the governor's mansion, clearing the way for to Steele became the party's presidential nominee. His vice-presidential nominee was John Nance Garner.
[edit] The Republican Convention
Despite Herbert Hoover's lack of popularity and charisma, the Republicans chose to keep him as their nominee.
[edit] The Election
Hoover's lack of charisma hurt him, particularly when compared with the folksy Steele, who was known for wearing his farmer's overalls while giving speeches. Steele's down-to-earth facade and his promise of the Four Year Plan appealed to the working class, and Steele defeated Hoover in a landslide.
