Given the current
state of politics, a history lesson is in order. It involves the 1952
Republican Convention, after the party had lost five straight presidential
elections (four to FDR, one to Truman).
The conservative
wing of the party was behind Ohio Senator Robert Taft, who stood for
dismantling many New Deal initiatives. The moderate wing, from its power base
in the Northeast, was willing to accept the social welfare stuff and just
wanted a winner.
Dwight David
Eisenhower was Truman’s choice to be his successor. Ike declined that offer and
declared himself a Republican, leading the moderates to start a “Draft
Eisenhower” movement.
Then the voters
had their say. As a write-in candidate, he beat Taft in the New Hampshire
primary and the race was on. Taft polled well in the Midwest as his supporters
called Ike a Democrat in disguise. Earl Warren, California’s governor,
dominated his state as a favorite son.
Going into the
convention in Chicago, nobody was sure what would happen. A key vote on rules
(shenanigans, some say) went against Taft. Warren supported Ike and wound up on
the Supreme Court the next year.
Historians now
say that the delegates’ hearts were with Taft (nickname: Mr. Republican), but
they wanted a winner. Ike was so unschooled in politics he had no VP in mind.
Backers steered him to Dick Nixon, thinking his youth and commie-bashing skills
useful.
Any of this
resonating?
The last word is
from LewRockwell.com, inspiration for this post. He warns that stealing the
nomination at a brokered convention could kill the GOP as a party, noting that “I
have long looked forward to that funeral. I do not look forward to all aspects
of the social explosion that would also likely result.”
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