Five days in Philadelphia
Subtitle: the amazing "We want Wilkie!" convention of 1940 and how it freed FDR to save the Western World
By: Charles Peters.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Public Affairs
Published: 2005
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 274
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.