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1936 Republican National Convention

Coordinates: 41°30′14″N 81°41′35″W / 41.504°N 81.693°W / 41.504; -81.693
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1936 Republican National Convention
1936 presidential election
Nominees
Landon and Knox
Convention
Date(s)June 9–12, 1936
CityCleveland, Ohio
VenuePublic Auditorium
Keynote speakerFrederick Steiwer
U.S. Senator, Oregon[1][2]
Candidates
Presidential nomineeAlf Landon of Kansas
Vice-presidential nomineeFrank Knox of Illinois
Other candidatesWilliam Borah of Idaho
Results (president)Landon 984, Borah 19
‹ 1932 · 1940 ›

The 1936 Republican National Convention was held June 9–12 at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. It nominated Governor Alfred Landon of Kansas for president and Frank Knox of Illinois for vice president.

The convention supported many New Deal programs, including Social Security. The keynote address was given on June 9 by Frederick Steiwer, U.S. Senator from Oregon.[1][2]

Background

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Republican primaries by state results

Although many candidates sought the Republican nomination, only two, Governor Landon and Senator William Borah of Idaho, were considered to be serious candidates. Although favorite sons County Attorney Earl Warren of California, Governor Warren E. Green of South Dakota, and Stephen A. Day of Ohio won their respective primaries, the 70-year-old Borah, a well-known progressive and "insurgent," carried the Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Oregon primaries, while also performing quite strongly in Knox's Illinois and Green's South Dakota. However, the party machinery almost uniformly backed Landon, a wealthy businessman and centrist, who won primaries in Massachusetts and New Jersey and dominated in the caucuses and at state party conventions.

Other potential candidates included Robert A. Taft, New York Representative James W. Wadsworth, Jr., Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenberg, Iowa Senator Lester Dickinson, New York Representative Hamilton Fish III, New Jersey Governor Harold Hoffman, Delaware Governor C. Douglass Buck, Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts, Michigan auto magnate Henry Ford, aviator Charles Lindbergh, former President Herbert Hoover, Oregon Senator Frederick Steiwer, Senate Minority Leader Charles McNary, former Treasury Secretary Ogden L. Mills and Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., cousin of Democratic incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Presidential nomination

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Presidential candidates

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At the start of the convention, Landon looked like the likely nominee, but faced opposition from a coalition led by Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenberg, Idaho Senator William E. Borah, and newspaper publisher Frank Knox.[3] However, the stop-Landon movement failed.

Presidential ballot
Candidate 1st
Landon 984
Borah 19


Presidential balloting / 3rd day of convention (June 11, 1936)

Vice-presidential nomination

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Vice-presidential candidates

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The selection of a vice presidential candidate at the closing session presented some difficulties. The Landon people wanted Vandenberg but the Michigan senator refused repeatedly and firmly.

Colonel Knox, former Ambassador Edge, Colonel Little, and Governor Nice were placed in nomination. It soon became evident the choice of the convention would be Knox as state after state seconded his nomination. Edge, Little, and Nice withdrew their names and the Chicago publisher became the unanimous choice for second place on the ticket.

Vice-presidential ballot
Candidate 1st
Knox 1,003


Vice-presidential balloting / 4th day of convention (June 12, 1936)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Ferguson, Harry (June 10, 1936). "New Deal rebels wooed by G.O.P." Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 1.
  2. ^ a b "'Return to American system,' keynote advises G.O.P." Pittsburgh Press. United Press. June 10, 1936. p. 7.
  3. ^ Krock, Arthur (June 10, 1936). "Keynoter Denounces Roosevelt Policies, Demanding Tax Cuts and Balanced Budget; Landon Men Take Control of Convention". The New York Times. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
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Preceded by
1932
Chicago
Republican National Conventions Succeeded by
1940
Philadelphia

41°30′14″N 81°41′35″W / 41.504°N 81.693°W / 41.504; -81.693