Five days in Philadelphia
Subtitle: 1940, Wendell Wilkie, and the political convention that freed FDR to win World World II
By: Charles Peters.
Publisher: Public Affairs
Published: 2005
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 274
ISBN-13: 13:1586484507; 10:1586484508
Subjects: Willkie, Wendell L. -- 1892-1944.; Roosevelt, Franklin D. -- 1882-1945.; Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1940.; World War, 1939-1945 -- United States.; Political candidates -- United States -- Biography.; Presidents -- United States -- Biography.; United States -- Politics and government -- 1933-1945.
Genres: Biography.
Description: There were four strong contenders when the Republican Party met in June of 1940 to nominate its candidate: the crusading young attorney and rising Republican star Tom Dewey, two solid members of the Republican establishment, and dark horse Wendell Willkie, utilities executive, favorite of the literati and only very recently even a Republican. The leading candidates campaigned as isolationists. The charismatic newcomer Willkie was a liberal interventionist, just as anti-Hitler as FDR. After five days of floor rallies, telegrams from across the country, multiple ballots, rousing speeches, backroom deals, terrifying international news, and, most of all, the relentless chanting of "We Want Willkie" from the gallery, Willkie walked away with the nomination. As Peters shows, these five days and their improbable outcome were as important as the Battle of Britain in defeating the Nazis.--From publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [251]-260) and index.
Table of contents: value: 1: Danger looms; value: "World of tomorrow"; value: "A stunning combination of intellect and homely warmth"; value: The hurricane of events; value: 2: The greatest convention; value: "Just the next president of the United States"; value: Monday, June 24, 1940; value: Tuesday, June 25, 1940; value: Wednesday, June 26, 1940; value: Thursday, June 27, 1940; value: Friday, June 28, 1940; value: 3: "Saving freedom at a moment of great peril"; value: "I still don't want to run"; value: "The convention is bleeding to death"; value: The deal and the muster; value: "Sail on O ship of state!"