What would have happened had FDR not sought a third term?

For the first time in history, the Postmaster General would rise to the Presidency. In 1940 when FDR was nominated for a third term, the next highest amount of votes, 72 delegates or 7%, went to James Farley. It's not surprising. read more

I don't think Farley would have had many problems with the election, though he might not have earned as many votes as FDR. The New Deal political machine that would win 3 more elections was firmly in place. Midwest was troubling, but West was New Deal country and locked. read more

On July 18, 1940, Roosevelt was nominated for a third presidential term at the Democratic Party convention in Chicago. The president received some criticism for running again because there was an unwritten rule in American politics that no U.S. president should serve more than two terms. read more

FDR announces that while he will not campaign for the nomination, if he is drafted to run at the convention, he will do so. The gambit backfires. Jim Farley, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, visits FDR at the president’s private home in Hyde Park to urge him against even a tacit run for a third term. read more