Stars, Stripes, Eagles and Cogs: The 1936 election.
An extract from "The Elections that Made America" by Eric Foner; dated 2008.
The year was 1936; four separate political parties stood against each other for the highest office in the land and the most contentious election in American history was about to occur. This would be an election to split the nation down ideological, religious, cultural lines. Never before had so much hinged on one vote, nor has it since. In the run-up to the elections campaigning was fierce; the Democrats had lost their stronghold of the South, the Republicans could no-longer rely on the conservative vote elsewhere, the America First Union was party was quite unpopular with first & second generation immigrants and the other ethnic minorities of the nation, while some still saw it as a veiled leftist party and the Combined Syndicalists of America were still the victims of the first Red Scare in some places.
Richard Curtis, the Republican Party Candidate.
The leaders would matter as much as their parties in this election; Hoover had remained president by default in 1932 and by now was wildly unpopular: his inaction to help the victims of the New England hurricane and the great heatwave because of his "Rugged Individualist" policies. However, now that he was gone Charles Cuitus could explore his more interventionist and progressive policies; he was a long-time champion of both Women's' suffrage and Native American rights, and unlike his former running partner he was an economic interventionist who thought that the government should invest more to help the private sector to create more jobs. His most important attribute was the fact that he was a great unifier; with Time once printing: "...it is in the party caucuses, in the committee rooms and in the cloakrooms that he patches up troubles and puts through legislation.", if it had just been the standard American two-party-race, Cuitus would have mostly certainly won; but alas he had to face a splintering party and a nation under extremist stress.
John N. Garner, the Democrat Party Candidate.
Next was the Democrat candidate: John N. Garner. He was viewed as the most unpopular candidate nationally; with his support coming from Texas and the Pacific coast. His laissez-faire policies and traditional Southern values gained him few allies or supporters. The traditional Democratic stronghold of the South had collapsed and defected to America First Union, and the rest of America was not very receptive towards the idea of government that would "let the people be" in its current situation. Only the Californians saw a small government as a good idea in these times, as after all the Golden state was one of the most prosperous. This was due to the trade in the pacific region; which had actually grown as Atlantic trade declined, and the region's other industries such as airplanes and of course Hollywood. While his Dixie ideas towards "what made an American" weren't exactly compatible with the West's ideals however the rest of the candidates were dangerous interventionists at best, and radical syndicalists at worst to the so called "Pacific Liberals".
Huey P. Long, the American First Party Candidate.
The next candidate was Huey Pierce Long; known as the Kingfish to his followers. He was seen as the anti-establishment vote against the two party system that had dominated since the civil war. It also made sense that it was the America First Union Party that broke the Democrat hold over the South. The party itself was made of a few different factions; there was Long himself who want to enact the "Share our Wealth" or SOW program: which would see that every American family would have at least 1/3rd of GDP per capita income. Next there was the pilot and celebrity Charles Lindbergh: he focused on improving the agrarian sector of America and rejuvenating the declining countryside. Then there was Ford and his industrialists; who wanted to see the factories of the "Rust belt" extended to the rest of the country and implement more industrialist policies (Which some dubbed 'Fordism') which included a Corporate House in congress to help give the nation a "More prosperous and harmonious economy". There were also Father Coughlin's avid radio followers; even though his broadcasts had been shut down by the government he still had support and was the most popular member of the party on the Great Lakes (being a native). He, along with Fritz Kuhn, represented a more anti-semitic part of the party and because of this the party wasn't popular with the Jewish population. Then finally there were Kuhn's 'All-American Patriots'; who saw military action and interventionism as the cure to America's woes. They argued that the only way to make America great again was to militarise and enforce the Monroe doctrine far more fiercely; with some radicals even arguing that "Monarchies do not belong in the Americas." (effectively wanting war with Canada and the Caribbean Confederation). While this kind of internal discord would damage most other parties to incompetency, Long used this to his strength. It gave the party the ability to cater to supporters from all over America; Ford with the Rich & industrialists, Lindbergh with the Farmers, Kuhn with the soldiers & 'patriots' (including the Klu Klux Klan & the NRA), Coughlin with the Catholic Faithful and Long with the average American. These various factions of the party gave it wide support from man of the non-socialist working class.
John 'Jack' Reed, the Combined Syndicates of America's Candidate
Then finally, there was John 'Jack' Reed: the leader of the Syndicalist movement in America. He was a massive unifying force in the American left: The party encompassed all of its forebears: The Socialist Party of America, The Socialist Labour Party and the short-lived American Syndicalist Union, into strong, unified, albeit thinly spread political movement. The IWW (the political movement from which the CSA was born and its in-house union) was crucial in giving women the vote nationally and the party is popular amongst the feminist movement. The party's heartlands (if one could call them that, the party was relatively new to the political scene) was focused mostly on the areas of the north-east (bar New England) & the Great Lakes. One Canadian journalist remarked that "When taking a ferry from Ontario to any of the Great lake cities: one would always see that accursed Red & Black IWW banner before the Star Spangled one.". The party's main influence was with the trade unions of the county; even in the Liberal paradise that is the West Coast there are unions that were affiliated or active a part of the IWW. This gave the CSA large support for the average person; which put them at odds with the America First Union Party and quite a few skirmishes between Long's Minutemen and Reed's Vanguard; in these cases the police tended to let the groups batter eachother and get civilians out of the way.
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
Two pieces of artistic work that would been seen as possibly affecting the election itself, with 'Modern Times' supporting the CSA and
'Gone with the Wind' also supporting the CSA; albeit the Dixie one.
The Chaplin film was seen as so inflammatory it was actually censored a week after its premiere;
yet this did not stop it being shown in secret by the IWW.
These were the men and the parties that would shape the future of America and quite possibly the world. One vote would change the nation irreversibly; there were no more swing states, every electoral college vote would matter and every state would have its voice heard. The candidates would scurry all around the nation; from California to the Carolinas, from Montana to Mississippi, no stone was left unturned. The CSA spread the widest net; even holding rallies in the Pacific Liberal territories. However, where the CSA went the AFP followed and clashes were commonplace. The Republicans and Democrats mostly stayed away from these two "Rambling Hyenas" as one reporter from the Washington Post put it and focused on their own states: The Democrats on the West Coast & in the South and the Republicans focusing on the countryside; trying to maintain some hold on their former heartlands. The old geographical, social-economical and ethnolinguistic backers that the GoP and the Democrats had to rely on were gone, and in the void had come perhaps the most competitive election since 1860 or 1912.
This was a race that would do what many had attempted to do and failed: destroy the United States of America. The nation would fracture as a result of this ballot; and the result of it was a true surprise to all.