1940 Presidential Election

The United States presidential election of 1940 was fought in the shadow of World War II as the United States was emerging from the Great Depression. Incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), a Democrat, broke with tradition and ran for a third term, which became a major issue. The surprise Republican candidate was maverick businessman Wendell Willkie, a dark horse who crusaded against Roosevelt's failure to end the Depression and eagerness for war.

In the months preceding the election, President Roosevelt was shown to have a safe lead over the Republican presidential hopeful. However, after successfully urging Congress to declare war on Germany in early 1939, Roosevelt's approval ratings dropped significantly. Later that year, it became known publicly that Germany had created the first A-Bomb, despite the president's assurance to the contrary. In early of 1940, the Shade threat in Europe became public knowledge as well. This too Roosevelt tried to keep secret for fear of low support for the war. By October 1940, President Roosevelt's approval ratings were at the lowest of any president's in America's history. In November, Wendell Willkie won the election in the closest presidential race ever. Source: https://www.270towin.com/1940_Election/index.html

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