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FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT – DEMOCRAT
Franklin D. Roosevelt spent twelve years and forty days in the Presidency. During that time, his actions precipitated both intense loyalty and opposition. F.D.R.’s enemies saw him as “that Red in the White House,” while his admirers felt he acted on behalf of the poor, the minorities and the working class.
After Groton, Harvard and Columbia University Law School, F.D.R.’s political career began in 1910 when he ran for the New York State Senate. He won by a slim margin and was re-elected in 1912. F.D.R. gave his support to Woodrow Wilson at the 1912 convention and this led to his appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He supported Alfred E. Smith at the 1920 convention, but the delegates chose James M. Cox, who in turn chose F.D.R. as his running mate. The election was lost, and F.D.R. joined a law firm until suddenly struck by infantile paralysis. After much pain, he slowly improved which gave him the hope needed to mentally overcome his handicap. Later he said, “If you have spent two years in bed trying to wiggle your big toe, everything else seems easy.”
F.D.R. made a brief return to national politics in 1924 as head of Alfred E. Smith’s campaign in New York State. At Madison Square Garden, F.D.R. was able to take ten steps alone to reach the rostrum for his convention address. He received a tremendous ovation for his courage and triumph over his disease.
Smith finally won the Democratic nomination in 1928 and he wanted F.D.R. to run for Governor of New York. F.D.R. refused, but after the convention nominated him by acclamation he accepted. While Republicans complained of his “unfortunate” condition, F.D.R. traversed the state with great enthusiasm. His victory by twenty-five thousand votes was slim but allowed him to carry on Smith’s progressive programs with additions of his own. His re-election in 1930 was a great victory. He won by some seven hundred thousand votes, making him the front runner for the 1932 presidential nomination.
F.D.R.’s four presidential victories produced a large number of campaign items. Most jugates are scarce and sell for over one hundred dollars, but there are several very common designs that sell for twenty-five to fifty dollars. Single picture buttons were frequently issued for more than one campaign so these are difficult to date accurately. Picture buttons are generally twenty dollars and up except for a few of the most common designs. The 1 ¼” slogan button was a primary feature of the 1940 campaign against Willkie. There are even more Willkie slogan buttons that protest F.D.R.’s unprecedented try for a third term.
Taken (and revised) from The Encyclopedia of Political Buttons 1896-1972 by Ted Hake.
Franklin D. Roosevelt - FDR Memorabilia Available for Purchase
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