Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection, 1948
This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 1948 election. At the 1948 Democratic National Convention, President Harry S. Truman won nomination to a full term. Truman had become president upon the death of his predecessor and 1944 running mate, Franklin D. Roosevelt. As the 25th Amendment had not yet been passed, there was no method for filling a vice presidential vacancy, and Truman served without a vice president during his first term. Truman's nomination faced significant opposition from the South, as did the party's platform on civil rights.[1] Though Truman attempted to convince Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas to join the ticket, Douglas declined.[1] Truman instead selected Senate Minority Leader Alben W. Barkley, the preferred choice of many Democratic delegates, and a border state Senator who could appeal to both the Northern and Southern wings of the party.[1] The Truman-Barkley ticket won the 1948 election, defeating the Republican (Dewey-Warren), Progressive (Wallace-Taylor), and Dixiecrat (Thurmond-Wright) tickets.
Candidates
Finalists
- Senate Minority Leader Alben Barkley of Kentucky
- Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas (declined)[2]
Others
- Secretary of Commerce Averell Harriman[3]
- Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson[3]
- Secretary of Defense James Forrestal[3]
- Wyoming Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney[4]
- Massachusetts Representative John W. McCormack[4]
- Georgia Senator Richard Russell, Jr.[1]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 Lawrence, WH (15 July 1948). "Truman, Barkley Named by Democrats; South Loses on Civil Rights, 35 Walk Out; President Will Recall Congress July 26". New York Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ↑ Sigelman, Lee; Wahlbeck, Paul (December 1997). "The "Veepstakes": Strategic Choice in Presidential Running Mate Selection". The American Political Science Review. 91 (4): 858. JSTOR 2952169.
- 1 2 3 "Truman May Pick New York Man for Running Mate". St. Petersburg Times. 10 August 1947. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- 1 2 Lawrence, WH (14 July 1948). "Barkley to Be Truman Running Mate; Floor Fight Looming on Civil Rights; Convention Due to Wind Up Tonight". New York Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.