If you were Hughes's campaign manager in 1916, what would you have done ........

[Psychic Octopus]

Have him not snub Hiram Johnson.

That was an accident that Hughes claimed to know nothing about.

[Psychic Octopus]

Other than not snubbing Hiram Johnson, I would have Teddy Roosevelt and Taft campaign with Hughes to show Progressive/moderate and conservative voters at the same time that I was being supportive of their interests. That should energize both wings of the GOP and might allow Hughes to pull off a narrow win.

Well, TR did campaign quite heavily for Hughes. However, he was a mixed blessing in the sense that he advocated war.

[Psychic Octopus]

Other than not snubbing Hiram Johnson, I would have Teddy Roosevelt and Taft campaign with Hughes to show Progressive/moderate and conservative voters at the same time that I was being supportive of their interests. That should energize both wings of the GOP and might allow Hughes to pull off a narrow win.

Well, TR did campaign quite heavily for Hughes. However, he was a mixed blessing in the sense that he advocated war.

I would still have Taft campaign with Hughes as well, since Taft was much more popular among conservatives than TR (despite the fact taht they had the same policies). Also, I would tell TR to shut up about getting into WWI immediately and adopt Hughes's platform of becoming more prepared for WWI but being opposed to getting into the war at this moment.

Tell THEODORE ROOSEVELT to shut up? Ha, impossible. I do remember reading that Taft had organized the LEP to help Hughes, however he refrained from making public speeches.

[Psychic Octopus]

Other than not snubbing Hiram Johnson, I would have Teddy Roosevelt and Taft campaign with Hughes to show Progressive/moderate and conservative voters at the same time that I was being supportive of their interests. That should energize both wings of the GOP and might allow Hughes to pull off a narrow win.

Well, TR did campaign quite heavily for Hughes. However, he was a mixed blessing in the sense that he advocated war.

I would still have Taft campaign with Hughes as well, since Taft was much more popular among conservatives than TR (despite the fact taht they had the same policies). Also, I would tell TR to shut up about getting into WWI immediately and adopt Hughes's platform of becoming more prepared for WWI but being opposed to getting into the war at this moment.

Tell THEODORE ROOSEVELT to shut up? Ha, impossible. I do remember reading that Taft had organized the LEP to help Hughes, however he refrained from making public speeches.

I'd tell TR that Wilson would get reelected if he didn't remain quiet about entering WWI before the election. That might have shut him up. I know TR was extremely critical of Wilson. Also, as previously mentioned, I would make sure Taft delivered many public speeches on Hughes's behalf, to energize the conservative vote for Hughes. I think amny conservatives might have been upset that Hughes campaigned with TR but not with Taft, and thus might have decided to sit this election out or even vote for Wilson.

Perhaps. The election certainly is an odd one, of course.