Bryan defeats McKinley, 1896!

[TommyC1776]

Then comes a surprise:  President Lincoln announces he is going to run for the Senate this year.  He knows he can win the seat.  This announcement overshadows Roosevelts run for the White House, for a few weeks.

Wilson goes around and asks everyone "Has Roosevelt really done much as Vice President?  He really wasnt in the spotlight that much.  He's basically Lincoln's puppet."

Roosevelt resented that last remark and said "I do agree with the President on most issues but that doesn't mean I am his puppet.  I have my own plans for when I am elected President.  I wish Governor Wilson would take back his remarks."

Wilson says "There's been some good things these past 12 years but some bad too. Let's go and show the Republicans we are better at bringing change."

Not long before the convention Roosevelt asks a crowd of supporters "How can Wilson lead the country if he's only been Governor for 1 1/2 years?  We need someone with experience and that would be me."

Conventions will be soon.

[TommyC1776]

Republican Convention:

Vice President Roosevelt is nominated on the first ballot over Seantor LaFollette.

first ballot:
Roosevelt, 630
LaFollette, 89
Grant, 9.

Roosevelt tells convention "We will win this election and win big.  I promise to continue the road we are going on."

Roosevelt/LaFollette is the Republican ticket.


Democratic Convention:

Woodrow Wilson is nominated on the first ballot over Congressman Champ Clark.

first ballot:
Wilson, 990
Clark, 86

Wilson says, in his acceptance speech, "Democrats, lets so the Vice President that we don't want 4 more years of Republican rule.  We just won't accept it."  "Let's go into this campaign and show the Vice President that we mean business."

Senate Majority Leader William J Bryan states "Us as Democrats must win this election to show we can beat a popular man.   Do you want woman to have voting rights?  Do you want direct election of Senators?"

The convention goes "Yes we do!  Yes we do!  Yes we do!" for 20 minutes.

The Wilson/Marshall ticket is nominated.


The general campaign will start soon.

[TommyC1776]

Campaign 1912:

After the conventions, Wilson, Roosevelt and Debs hit the streets to ask for votes.

Debs makes a speech in New York saying to people "What really has your native son done for the country?  Think about that.   Also, I will need your help to win in November.   Wilson and Roosevelt are just more of the same.  We need more parties and more people voting in elections."

Republican VP candidate, Bob LaFollette, calls Wilson a flip-flopper because he was conservative but then became a Progressive.  LaFollette asks voters "Can we really have a flip-flopper in the White House?  I don't think so."

Roosevelt goes on the stump telling voters "I know how to deal with foreign affairs as I have been to some countries all across this world.  I've met with foreign leaders.  I helped negotiate a treaty between Russia and Japan back during the Russo-Japanese War.  Remember that?"

As election day nears Roosevelt is confident he will win.  He decides to take leave from the campaign trail and just rest.

Finally a week before the election, Roosevelt goes out to Illinois to campaign for the President's Senate bid there.  He tells people "Look at how good the President did for the country.  Imagine what he can do for the people of Illinois."

[TommyC1776]

With Bryan campaigning hard the last few days for Wilson the Mid-West and Western states become a little closer than normal because Bryan is very likeable.

Roosevelt-blue
Wilson-red.

PV%: Roosevelt 48%, Wilson 45%, Debs 7%.

Woodrow Wilson concedes the election.  He had hoped to win but he was happy that he didn't lose by too much.

Senate and House results soon.

[TommyC1776]

President Lincoln won his Senate run with 75% to his Democratic opponent.

Lincoln thanked his supporters and was ready for another 6 years in Washington.

Senate Results: 53 Dems, 42 Rep., 1 Soc.
House Results: 220 Dems, 214 Reps, 1 Soc.

The Democrats will control both Houses of Congress starting March 4, 1913.

President-elect Roosevelt is disapointed that he won't be starting with a Republican Congress.

He plans to work well with Senate Leader Bryan, newly elected House Speaker Champ Clark and new elected House Majority Leader John W. Davis on March 4th.

Newly elected Senate Minority Leader: Robert Lincoln and newly elected House Minority Leader: Jesse R Grant.

[TommyC1776]

As 1913 begins the 62nd Congress will be coming to an end.

Joe Cannon won't be Speaker anymore.  The Democrats as well as some Republicans including the President are happy about that.

Senate Leader William J Bryan says "If we don't get the womans rights issue addressed in this Congress then it certainly will be addressed in the next Congress starting in March."

Speaker Cannon says he won't bring up the woman's right issue.   House Minority Leader Champ Clark makes a speech on the floor saying "This issue should be brought up on the floor no matter what your opinion is of it."  Some Democrats and some Republicans in the House urge the Speaker to bring this up.

Finally the Speaker agrees to bring this up.  He calls for a debate on February 24th.  Cannon's call for it being so late is he hopes that it won't get to the Senate before March 4th.  Senate Leader Bryan says "This is a dispicable act by Cannon."

The House debates the bill for a couple days and then they vote on it February 27th.  The vote in the House is 198 against and 190 for it.  It was a close vote but it doesn't get passed and can't go onto the Senate.

Champ Clark says when he's Speaker he will make sure this issue is brought up again.

The new Congress begins March 4, 1913 as well as VP Roosevelt is inaugurated President.

President-elect Roosevelt states:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

President Roosevelt asks to meet with Democratic leaders Senator William J Bryan, Speaker Champ Clark and House Leader John W. Davis to discuss the next Congress and other issues.

[TommyC1776]

In the House Speaker Clark proposes an idea of moving the income tax rate from 40% to 25%.  He proposes the Revenue Act of 1913.

The House votes on it 230-205 in favor of it.  Now it is on to the Senate where Senate leader William J Bryan schedules a vote on it a few days later.

The Senate ends up voting 55-41 votes.  With it passing in the Senate it is then sent to the President for becoming law.  President Roosevelt decides to sign it into law.

A month later President Roosevelt signs the 17th Amendment into law allowing direct election of Senators and Congress.

Congress takes a recess for a month.

[TommyC1776]

Congress resumes on July 10th.  After taking a recess Speaker of the House Champ Clark decides to address the issue and calls for a vote on it.

Clark says "Whether you are for or against this issue, we must address it and now seems to be the time for that."

The vote is scheduled to be on July 20th.   Even House Minority Leader Jesse R Grant says "It's time to address this issue."

The House vote on the issue is 213-202 for the Amendment.  Then it is sent over to the Senate where Bryan hopes to vote on the issue real soon.

Senate Leader Bryan schedules a vote on August 1st.

The vote will continue soon.....................

[TommyC1776]

As the Senate gets ready to vote some Republicans and a few Democrats protest voting on this.

Senate Leader Bryan urges the vote to go ahead.  The Senate ends up voting 46-44.  Some Republicans and Democrats try to filibuster the debate.  The Senate cant get enough to stop the filibuster.

Senate Leader Bryan urges the Senate to try again next year.  He says he's disapointed in the way the vote turned out.

President Roosevelt and Senate Majority Leader William J Bryan go on tour together promoting woman's rights and asking people to write their Congressman or Senator.

Having them travel together is showing that both the Dems and Reps can work together very well.

After this trip the Senate takes a week recess.  They decide to bring up the Federal Reserve Act of 1913.

Clark schedules a vote on this in September.

[TommyC1776]

The House votes for the Federal Reserve Act of 1913.  The bill would make a centralized bank.  The vote is 245-185.  It passes in the House.  Now it's onto the Senate.

The Senate votes on it 54-40.  Then it is sent to the President.   President Roosevelt signs it into law on October 19th, 1913.

Congress adjourns for the rest of the year.

Republicans are getting ready for the 1914 midterm elections when they hope to win more seats in both Houses.

Champ Clark and William J Bryan are getting ready to elect more Dems.    Bryan as well as Clark say "We need more Democrats to get more legislation passed."

The first order of business in 1914 for the Senate is to address woman's voting rights.  Clark plans to bring that up in the House too.

Get ready for 1914.

[TommyC1776]

As 1914 begins Speaker Clark schedules a vote on woman's voting rights for February.

The House hears debate for woman's rights for a week and they vote on it in mid February.  After letters coming into them some House members decide to vote for it.  They vote 249-182.  It passes in the House.  Speaker Clark declares "I am glad that we got others to help pass this Amendment in the House."

In the Senate most of the Democrats are for it and they make sure they are available that day.  A few Republicans and a few Democrats want to filibuster the issue again.

Bryan urges as many Senators to vote for this as possible because he doesn't want another filibuster.

The Senators opposed to this try and stall voting on this.  Bryan says for the Senate to vote the next day.  The Senate does vote 44 against and 43 for it.  It fails in the Senate as not all Senators are there.

Next Speaker Clark asks the House to pass a bill for extensive services to land-grant universities.  This will let people know about economics and such.

The bill (Smith Lever Act of 1914) passes 262-173.  It is then sent to the Senate where it passes without debate 59-37 in May.

Then the Congress takes a summer recess.

President Roosevelt starts going to campaign for Republicans as this is an election year.  He knows that the Republicans probably won't win the Senate back yet but have a chance in the House.

As June 1914 gets here it looks like war could break out in Europe as there's starting to be an issue with Serbia and Autria-Hungary.  First Archduke Ferdinand is assasinated at the end of the month.

In mid July  Austria-Hungary ends diplomatic relations with Serbia.

President Roosevelt states "The US will take action in this war if we must."  (refering to if it gets any worse over there.)

With a Democratic Congress he's not sure he can get Congressional approval to declare war if he must.

[TommyC1776]

Democratic Senate Leader William J Bryan says "Peace is our only way.  We must show the President that unless were attacked to not declare war.  Aiding or allies during a war is fine but we don't declare war unless we're attacked."

Speaker Clark issued a similar statement to the House.

As August gets here Russia, Belgium and France had entered the war.   That's when President Roosevelt urged Congress to declare war.

Democrats and some Republicans in both Houses rejected Roosevelt's call for war.  The President also made clear his anti-German American views.  This irked Bryan a little as he figured everyone was equal under the eyes of the law.

During the fall Bryan reminded voters of what would happend if Republicans won control of one of the Houses or both.  "War is the only thing that they will do."

In September House Speaker Clark pushed for an anti-trust bill and it passed the House easily 264-170.  In the Senate it passes 56-40.  It is called the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914.

midterm elections soon.  Democrats go across the country asking for the votes of affected Americans and German Americans saying they don't discriminate (well some of them don't.)

[TommyC1776]

Midterm Elections 1914:
House: 229 Dems, 203 Reps, 3 Soc.
Senate: 54 Dems, 40 Reps, 2 Soc.

Speaker of the House: Champ Clark (MO)
House Majority Leader: Woodrow Wilson (NJ)
House Republican Leader: Jesse R Grant (OH)
House Socialist Leader: Meyer London (NY)

Senate Majority Leader: William J Bryan
Senate Rep Leader: Charles Fairbanks
Senate Soc. Leader: Eugene Debs (elected in 1913 in Special Election).

[TommyC1776]

As 1915 gets here VP LaFollette says he may resign in protest of the President's plan for war.

In May of that year German's attack the Lusitania boat.   That gives the President even more reason to go to war.

House Speaker Champ Clark decides to vote on the war.   The Speaker is considering voting to go to war with Germany because of the Lusitania incident.   The vote in the House is 223-212 against the war.

President Roosevelt is outraged that the House isn't calling for war.

At this time the Vice President decides to resign.  June 23rd, 1915.

He gathers in front of some reporters.

LaFollette says:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

President Roosevelt makes a quick statement "It was the Vice President's decision to leave.  I would have rather seen him not but it's his decision."

Democrats see a chance to unseat the President next year.  Senate Leader Bryan states "The Roosevelt administration is falling apart."

Senator Eugen Debs says "Let's not go to war at this time.  We must stop the President from declaring war.  I plan to help be part of the Senators and Congressman who will try and stop him."

[TommyC1776]

Henry Ford decides to challenge the President in the Republican primaries in 1916 as an anti-war candidate.  He says "I can beat the President.  I know I can especially with your help." telling supporters.

When the President hears this he is shocked.  The former VP LaFollette starts getting people to form the Progressive Party of America and make sure their party is on the ballot all across the US.

The Progressive Party's convention is scheduled for June 2nd, 1916.  Former VP LaFollette chooses to run with Senator Charles Hughes.  He tells Americans he's the progressive candidate in the race and not the President.

Now here's declared candidates:

Republicans:
President Teddy Roosevelt
Mr. Henry Ford

Democrats:
Rep. Woodrow Wilson
Rep. Champ Clark
Senator William J Bryan
Rep. William R Hearst

PPA:
Robert LaFollette and Charles Hughes.

Senate Leader Bryan decides not to run for re-election to the Senate so he can run for the Democratic nomination in 1916.  He says "1916 feels like my year."

[TommyC1776]

(Note: I am going to include estimated delegates for each primary for the 1916 election.)

House Minority Leader Jesse R Grant says he's going to run for the GOP nod in 1916 against the President and Henry Ford.  President Roosevelt isn't worried about either of the challenges.

In early 1916 the Democrats adopt that woman's suffrage will be on their platform.  Senate Leader Bryan states "Woman's rights will be brought up again this year. I am commited to fighting for woman's rights."

ok now with the primaries.

Indiana:

Republicans: 31 delegates
Roosevelt 54%- 17 delegates
Ford 41%- 14 delegates.
Grant 5%.

Henry Ford states "Thanks to all those who voted for me.  Now, off to Minnesota and hopefully we can win there."  The crowd goes "Ford, Ford, Ford" for 5 minutes.

Democrats: 36 delegates
Bryan 46%- 18 delegates
Wilson 42%- 16 delegates
Clark 10%- 2 delegates
Hearst 2%.

William R Hearst decides to drop out and endorse Bryan.  He says "Bryan is the best man who can beat Roosevelt."

[TommyC1776]

Meanwhile in the House Champ Clark schedules a vote on March 9th for the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1916.  The act prohibits discrimination of German Americans.

The House votes 232-199 on it.  Right after he votes for it, Clark goes back on the campaign trail to Minnesota.

Then Senate Leader William J Bryan schedules a vote on it after the Minnesota and New Hampshire Primaries.

[TommyC1776]

Minnesota Primary: March 14th

Republicans: 25 delegates
Ford 50%- 13 delegates
Roosevelt 48%- 12 delegates
Grant 2%.

Henry Ford is happy he won a primary.  He tells supporters "We did it.  We've won a primary.  Let's go on and win more after this."

Democrats: 27 delegates
Bryan 49%- 14 delegates
Wilson 44%- 12 delegates
Clark 7%- 1 delegate.

Senator Bryan is now the Democratic frontrunner.

Total delegates for each party:
Republicans total (so far)
Roosevelt-29 delegates
Ford-27 delegates.

Democrats total (so far)
Bryan-32 delegates
Wilson-28 delegates
Clark-3 delegates.

[TommyC1776]

New Hampshire: March 14th

Republicans: 12 delegates
Roosevelt 55%-7 delegates
Ford 44%-5 delegates
Grant 1%.

Jesse R Grant states he's withdrawing from the race and endorsing Henry Ford.

Democrats: 10 delegates
Wilson 52%-6 delegates
Bryan 46%-4 delegates
Clark 2%.

Wilson says "Yes, we won one.  Let's go on from here and win more."  Speaker Champ Clark drops out and endorses Senator Bryan.

[TommyC1776]

North Dakota: March 21st

Republicans: 11 delegates
Roosevelt 56%- 6 delegates
Ford 44%- 5 delegates

Democrats: 12 delegates
Bryan 67%- 8 delegates
Wilson 33%- 4 delegates.

Total delegates for each party:
Republicans total (so far)
Roosevelt-42 delegates
Ford-37 delegates

Democrats total (so far)
Bryan-49 delegates (all 3 of Clark's delegates were added here too.)
Wilson-36 delegates

On the Republican side, Henry Ford looks forward to a Michigan win which he hopes will make him the frontrunner.

Back in the Senate they vote on the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1916.  The Senate votes 54-39.  The President threatens to veto this.

President Roosevelt does just that a few days later.

Progressive candidate LaFollette says "This is another reason we need to get Mr. Roosevelt out of the White House."

[TommyC1776]

Getting to the war for a few:  the German's and the French were fighting in the Battle of Verdun.  The German's had advanced and captured the Bois des Caures.  The French had been pushed back to Samogneux, Beaumont and Ornes.

The French fighters were saved by the XX Corps under General Balfourier.

President Roosevelt still reiterated his call for war.  Senate Majority Leader (and Presidential candidate) William J Bryan would NOT set up a vote on that.

Senator (and Presidential candidate) Bryan called the President a "warmonger."

Henry Ford made a speech in Michigan:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

President Roosevelt heard this and just said "That automaker is crazy."

In Michigan's Republican Primary Henry Ford is expected to win big.  Ford had stated that his decision to stay in depends on Michigan.  "If I can win Michigan big then I will know my message is being recieved well." said Ford.

[TommyC1776]

Two days before the MI primary Ford is campaigning in Wisconsin, as they have their primary the day after MI.

Michigan: April 3rd

Republicans: 34 delegates
Ford 60%-20 delegates
Roosevelt 40%-14 delegates.

Democrats: 31 delegates
Bryan 53%-16 delegates
Wilson 47%-15 delegates.

Henry Ford states to his followers "We have won Michigan very handily.  Our message is spreading and spreading.  I plan to keep on going.  Tonight I am officially the frontrunner for the GOP in 1916."  (cheers to this go on for a few minutes)  "Let's go on and win the rest of the primaries and the nomination."  The next day Ford is expected to meet voters in NY but he doesn't expect to win.

Roosevelt isn't that worried as NY is on the 4th.   But WI is also that day and Ford is expected to win in WI.

April 4th is here.  Ford's last words in NY are "Remember warmonger when you vote."

On the Democratic side Bryan is expected to win in Wisconsin and possibly in New York.

While the primaries are going on, Progressive candidate LaFollete is going around meeting with voters telling them to vote for him as an alternative to the Republicans and Democrats.

LaFollette states he may reconsider his VP choice.  His first choice is Charles Hughes but he also considers House Minority Leader Jesse R Grant.

Former Speaker of the House Joe Cannon endorses Roosevelt at this time while Senate Minority Leader Robert Lincoln endorses Robert LaFollette.

New York: April 4th

Republicans: 85 delegates
Roosevelt 63%-54 delegates
Ford 37%-31 delegates.

Democrats: 86 delegates
Bryan 54%-46 delegates
Wilson 46%-40 delegates

Wisconsin: April 4th

Republicans: 29 delegates
Ford 56%-16 delegates
Roosevelt 44%-13 delegates

Democrats: 28 delegates
Bryan 53%-15 delegates
Wilson 47%-13 delegates.

[TommyC1776]

Total delegates for each party:
Republicans total (so far)
Roosevelt-110 delegates
Ford-104 delegates.

Democrats total (so far)
Bryan-126 delegates
Wilson-104 delegates.

Democrat candidate (and House Majority Leader) Woodrow Wilson considers dropping out but wants to wait until Illinois votes.  Republican candidate Henry Ford is going to stay in as long as he can.  He believes he can win in Illinois and maybe do well in Nebraska after that.

[TommyC1776]

Illinois: April 11th

Republicans: 54 delegates
Ford 55%-30 delegates
Roosevelt 45%-24 delegates

Democrats: 51 delegates
Bryan 53%-27 delegates
Wilson 47%-24 delegates

House Majority Leader Woodrow Wilson declares he is dropping out of the race for the Dem nomination.  He says "Thank you all for supporting me.  Now lets go on and beat the Republicans in the fall with William Jennings Bryan at the top."

Senator Bryan states "I can proclaim that I am the presumtive Democratic nominee now.  Congressman Wilson, who ran a great race, has dropped out."

On the Republican side, it's a different story, the race is still close.  At this point both Republicans (Ford and Roosevelt) are tied with 134 delegates.  The President is a little worried at this point but tries to brush it off.

Henry Ford, on the other hand, is happy that he is very competative in the race.  He states "Americans, I want to thank you all for still supporting me.  We will keep going as we are getting more and more momentum.  There's really an anti-President vote out there and their supporting me.  Now back to the campaign trail.  Nebraska here we come."

Former Speaker of the House Joe Cannon goes to Nebraska to campaign hard for the President.  He says to the Nebraskans "Vote for the President in the primary. He, at least has had leadership experience while Mr. Ford hasn't."

When Ford hears this he responds "First, I am a business leader and I know how to run things.  Second, the former Speaker is just a bunch of hot air who no one really listens to anymore. He, too is a warmonger."

Senate Minority Leader Robert Lincoln states "I hope the President knows that the Republicans lost seats in 1914 because of his stance on the war and he can't win a race just concentrating on the war.  There's other issues too.  Unless the President changes his tune he will lose the election."

Eugene Debs is running again as a Socialist with Allan Benson as his running mate.

At this point, Progressive candidate Bob LaFollette states "I will drop out of the race if Henry Ford is the Republican nominee. Otherwise, I am in to win and stop President Roosevelt from winning a 2nd term."  Even some Republican bosses see Ford as a better candidate than the President.

Senate Majority Leader Bryan schedules another vote on the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1916 in a few weeks.

[TommyC1776]

Nebraska: April 18th

Republicans: 32 delegates
Ford 53%-17 delegates
Roosevelt 47%-15 delegates.

Henry Ford is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination now.  Ford states "Americans, Republicans from Nebraska chose me in the primary.  I am now the frontrunner for the Republican nomination."  to which people cheer.

Speaker of the House Champ Clark brings up the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1916, again.  He puts it to a vote on April 20th.

The House votes 241-194 on it.  The President threatens to veto it.  A few days later a vote is scheduled in the Senate.

Montana: April 21st

Republicans: 25 delegates
Ford 54%-14 delegates
Roosevelt 46%-11 delegates

Total delegates for the Republicans:
Ford-165 delegates
Roosevelt-160 delegates.

Next primaries coming up: April 25th will have Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio and Massachusetts.