Wendell Willkie

Wendell Lewis Willkie (1892–1944) was an American corporate lawyer who was the Republican Party nominee for the 1940 presidential election, despite having never held a prior elected political office. Member of the GOP's liberal wing, Willkie campaigned against aspects of the New Deal he thought were wasteful or inefficient. He was also a firm internationalist, but in his pursuit of the isolationist vote, he waffled badly on the issue of World War II.

Although Willkie in 1940 received more votes than any previous GOP candidate (22.3 million votes), he lost to incumbent Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt in an Electoral College landslide: 449 to 82, carrying ten states. Ironically, Roosevelt employed Willkie as an ambassador-at-large after the election. Willkie attempted to gain the nomination again in 1944, but ultimately he dropped out. He died of a heart attack shortly after.

Wendell Willkie in The War That Came Early
Wendell Willkie was the Republican Party's main candidate in the 1940 Presidential Election, seeking to defeat the Democratic incumbent, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Willkie did little to distinguish himself from Roosevelt. He had no intention of dismantling the New Deal, for example. On matters of foreign policy, Willkie attacked Roosevelt for sending too few armaments to Britain and France in their war against Germany. Adding to Willkie's problems, the isolationist wing of the Republican Party concluded that Willkie was too interventionist, and nominated Alf Landon. While Landon didn't campaign much, he did syphon votes from Willkie. In the end, Roosevelt won a third term with at least a plurality, if not a majority, in nearly every state.

Wendell Willkie in "Joe Steele"
Wendell Willkie was a token presidential candidate run by the Republican Party in 1940. He was thoroughly defeated by President Joe Steele. Many were surprised that anyone would risk running against Steele. The Republicans didn't bother running anyone against Steele in the next three elections.

Wendell Willkie in Southern Victory
Wendell Willkie was the Republican Party's candidate in the 1940 presidential election. Like every Republican presidential candidate since 1884, he was soundly defeated, taking only his home state of Indiana and finishing a distant third to Socialist Al Smith and Democrat Robert Taft.