1932 United States Presidential Election

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

It is 1932 and President Alfred E. Smith, the first Catholic President, and the first Democrat to hold the office in forty years, finds himself in a battle for re-election. His term has been marked by tax and tariff cuts, as well as a four year quest to give Socialist programs greater efficiency and lower budgets. 1930 marked one of the first years in recent memory to have a good amount of economic growth thanks to relaxing of some of the more stringent regulations of the Debs-Stedman years. However, the initial recession that occurred in 1929 has left more than a few folks sore at Smith and his policies, which a number have begun to refer to as "Neo-Liberal". In social policy, Smith has relaxed immigration quotas immensely, leading to a even greater amounts of new Americans joining the country. Nativist opponents have accused him of attempting to stack the electoral books in his favor, but nevertheless, the legislation for htis plan has gone through.

Economists from every ideological corner have been debating what is to be blamed for economic maladies and what is to be credited with economic recovery. Nevertheless, with the divisiveness of the electorate and of Congress, his legacy is a mixed bag, and it is with this that the Socialists and Republicans are hoping to make gains in 1932. From Smith's left comes, of course, the Socialists led by former New York Mayor Norman Thomas. A Presbyterian minister and great orator, he is stirring the Socialists like only Debs in previous years could. Meanwhile, the Republicans have nominated Calvin Coolidge, their 1924 nominee, yet again to represent them. "Silent Cal" and his campaign hark back to a much calmer era of American politics. However, in a much more left-leaning world, the "front-porch campaign" and quips about laissez-faire economics aren't likely enough to win Republicans the election. In order to attract progressive and liberal Republicans to the ticket, Gifford Pinchot was nominated for Vice President. Pinchot has a progressive record of expanding government services and conservation and is a good counter-balance to the conservative Coolidge. Who will you choose?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Ok, fine, Norm Thomas to end the recession!

Better?

The Debs-Stedman recession was ended in 1930. Read the OP.

We all know Cath is rather biased towards Socialists, so I take what he says about them with a grain of salt. Hell, the only thing he said about F-Doug was that some of his policies were allegedly unconstitutional.

I actually quite like Douglass. However, given lack of familiarity with what his policies might have been, I was intentionally vague. I made some quick assumptions that he might have enforced certain civil rights and anti-Klan acts with a certain amount of vigor, and therefore earned the ire of the Bourbon Democrats and such.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

no William Zebulon Foster?

Would you like him added?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

no William Zebulon Foster?

Would you like him added?

naturally.  do you prefer him or Earl Browder?

I confess, I'm unfamiliar with the various personalities and nuances of the CPUSA.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I go with the Dream Team of Coolidge and Pinchot.  Of course, it will be a landslide for Smith due to the nature of this forum.

Oh, it'd be fantastic if it were a landslide for Smith (or for Coolidge for that matter). However, I fear we are treading much closer to danger than that.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Hmmm... In school right now, so "official" results will be declared later.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I guess this all rests on whether Cath went with his principles or electability.

Principles!? What!?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

With apparently no evidence of direct fraud and so on and so forth, 'twould seem Mr. Thomas has won. I'll put up the recalculated results in a few minutes.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Former Mayor Norman Thomas (Socialist-New York)/Former Congressman James H. Maurer (Socialist-Pennsylvania)       28 (41.8%)
President Alfred E. Smith (Democrat-New York)/Vice President Joseph T. Robinson (Democrat-Arkansas)       27 (40.3%)
Former Governor John Calvin Coolidge (Republican-Massachusetts)/Governor Gifford Pinchot (Republican-Pennsylvania)       12 (17.9%)
Total: 67 (100%)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

LOL

I find it strange that, apparently, you find the idea of me not possessing any principles amusing. It is of course true, but that is for myself to decide. I'm not sure where this apparent assumption about me got out.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

LOL

I find it strange that, apparently, you find the idea of me not possessing any principles amusing. It is of course true, but that is for myself to decide. I'm not sure where this apparent assumption about me got out.

What the heck are you talking about? My "LOL" was about the election's results.

'Kay cool. I was worried there for a second.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1932 United States Presidential Election
Despite growing business in the East, that failed to alleviate the economic problems of the West. With the Dust Bowl drought beginning during his presidency and workers agitating in the industrial states, Thomas was able to cobble together a geographically broad coalition and win in a close election. With Coolidge taking away the votes of conservatives and some industrialists in the North, Smith was denied a second term. Over the next four years, Thomas would work to repay his electorate. While he would succeed in addressing rural concerns, specifically concerning the Dust Bowl, in many ways he would leave his supports unsatisfied and his opponents enthusiastic. Smith, meanwhile, in many ways one of the greatest icons of 1920's America, an iconic Governor, Vice Presidential candidate, and three-time Democratic nominee, would see his career come to a close before he'd hoped. Coolidge himself would see a similar fate.

Former Mayor Norman Thomas (Socialist-New York)/Former Congressman James H. Maurer (Socialist-Pennsylvania) 281 electoral votes, 41.8% of the popular vote
President Alfred E. Smith (Democrat-New York)/Vice President Joseph T. Robinson (Democrat-Arkansas) 221 electoral votes, 40.3% of the popular vote
Former Governor John Calvin Coolidge (Republican-Massachusetts)/Governor Gifford Pinchot (Republican-Pennsylvania) 29 electoral votes, 17.9% of the popular vote