Roosevelt and Hoover Presidential Campaign and Elections - Research Paper Example

The 1932-1933 Roosevelt/Hoover presidential campaign Reporting The 1932 United s presidential election came as the 37th quadrennial presidential election as reported in The New York Times and The Oregonian Newspaper. Both the News agencies had surveyed that the presidential election would happen on a Tuesday, November of 1932 owing to the backdrop of the Great Depression. The two newspapers had sensationalized the way the two presidential candidates, Republican Herbert Hoover and Democrats Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR), conducted their campaign policies. Just like the old times, it was a duel of economic and political policies between the incumbent Republicans and the aspiring Democrats. For instance, the two newspapers (The New York Times and The Oregonian Newspaper) seemed to align themselves in the perception that the Republicans, even though they were at the helm, the Great Depression, happening on their watch, ruined their structured campaign promises, an issue that the Democrats exploited by promising a new era of prosperity. An incisive look of the operations of these two newspapers and their impact on the United presidential elections may trace back in their later years of analyzing the climate of the country before the 1932-1933 elections. Their impact was so huge, aiding individual opinions, hence creating what was described as the ‘formidable wave of change’ (Forward With Roosevelt). Later on, there was an overwhelming Democratic Party victory, something that, even the unpredictable OregonianStar, had to settle for (Muldoon). The New York Times had taken its stance that Americans needed change since it had reached what they described as ‘intolerable impasse’ (Register And Vote Democratic). The diction running through the editors of these two historical papers largely had a lot to discredit Hoover’s term as the president, and one can conclusively say that they were not for his re-election. One column shared by both the Oregonian and the New York Times pointed that the people had faced a harsh reality. They reported that citizens did not only have to deal with the painful strain of depression, but also expressed disgust towards the ineptitude of the government of the day not doing enough to save the country (Mapes). One does not need an explanation to conclude the side with which the editors had inclined to. But as Seatte Star would put it, Hoover gave the Republicans a hard time in nominations for he felt obligated to run again for the top office so as he could at least vindicate himself. So, Hoover, was never chosen, but rather he imposed his cause. The Oregonian analyzed this move as the attempt by the Republicans not to give in to the pressure for it would have been like admitting that the President, and the Republican cohorts had failed (“Roosevelt Promises National Relief). In order for them to remain politically relevant, the president had to retain his people in the thick of re-election bid. The Oregonianon, the other hand pointed the democrats as standing in an excellent position to take over the presidency. Just like Roosevelt’s words. ‘I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people’, the papers seemed to have pledged to rally the minds of the Americans into pegging their hopes on FDR and sent home the incumbent president, Herbert Hoover (Oshinsky). According to the New York Times, the string of success for democrats came as early as during their Democratic nominations. The paper reported how well the nominations went down to the well-esteemed governor (Franklin D Roosevelt) of the most populous state in the United States as he was reelected in a landslide in 1930 (Don’t Be Fooled By Figures). This seemed to contrast with the reporting of The Settle Star’s home edition. For example, in the three years leading to the election, The Settle was of the opinion that little if none was left to secure Herbert Hoover’s re-election to the office (Roosevelt Sweeps The Nation). In a seemingly same point of reporting, the papers indicated that the country was already in turmoil and desperation had crawled in among the Americans who sought for a new way out of the biting economic and social challenges, a thing that Roosevelt exploited to his advantage. The Oregonian Newspaper, once a conservatism, news agency supported FDR’s election more than it talked of the incumbent president, Herbert Hoover (Roosevelt Wins By 735,000). For instance, the heading of The OregonianStar on March 4, 1933 read ‘Roosevelt Promises National Relief… and the man of courage is at the Helm’ (Roosevelt Wins By Landslide). Out of such assertions, one could automatically insinuate that the news agency was influencing somehow the election of Roosevelt in the expense of the sitting president. In a quick counter tactic from the Times, even though they seemed to operate on the edge, proclaimed that the economy was wrecked by the great depression and that the president had made drastic measures to reinstate it from the downward slide (The President Elect). This appeared as a loophole for the Oregonianpundits, who not only laughed the idea off, but also showed that the economic damage had been compounded by the ill-conceived desperate attempts by then sitting president, Hoover, to tame the meltdown. One of the issues raised by the OregonianStar polarizing the presidential campaigns for Hoover was that the industrial production was at its lowest ebb, that the farmers all over the country were facing unprecedented ruin as well as the level of unemployment was at an alarming level (Roosevelt Smashes Traditions). Such leads necessitated heading from the OregonianStar such as ‘quick action to be put up to Congress’. The spite of contempt that Oregonianhad hurled on a Hoover’s era of ruin, as they put it, managed to hoodwink millions of Americans against the Republican Party. What this meant is that, indirectly, the incumbent president was not worth of another term and an alternative, and one would believe this to be Roosevelt, could only save the American economy already down the drain (Turnquist 1). The trend of disapproval, later leading Roosevelt to a massive victory, was thus evident in The Oregonian Newspaper, unlike the lukewarm New York Times editions from the time. If one may go by what The OregonianStar and The New York Times covered the 1932-1933 presidential elections, one would thus begin to define these news agencies not only by the political hopes for leadership change attached to them but also in influencing the mood of the voters (Muldoon 1). Just like all the other local dailies of the time, The New York Times had to shift gears since the political wave was changing. A survey done later, after the election by The Oregonian Newspaper, demonstrated that every other newspaper and main media streams had shown such an adverse public opinion on Hoover’s presidential attempts to be reelected. One such cause was indeed the nosediving economy due to the biting Great Depression that every media personality agreed could not save Hoover another term (Brence 1). It was not then a surprise for the once defiant paper, The OregonianStar, which famed for its conservative stance during previous presidential elections for rooting for the Republicans, sighted that majority of the learners, ‘… favored Herbert Hoover for re-election’ (ALTSCHULER 2). The truth of the time was that Hoover’s media coverage was a dull coverage despite the unyielding hope from the OregonianTimes. For instance, the exuberance with which newspapers greeted Roosevelt’s campaign indicates it all (Roosevelt Smashes Traditions). As this was not enough, there was a buzz with the way Roosevelt’s speech became a hit column for every newspaper while at the same time, Hoover’s speech of less than a month earlier, had not received any attention for even printing (Family Of Wealth). The indicators were crystal clear that the voters, as well as the editors of these newspapers, had adopted the noticeable change in their way (Muldoon 1). Ironically, the uncertainty of the Roosevelt era would hold down none of these papers from campaigning for him. In conclusion, where a populous opinion is needed, the news agency, especially newspapers, plays a significant role (Guest Columnist 1). Looking at the point out of the OregonianStar that student’s supported Hoover’s re-election is just a representation of the demography of the small minority versus the vast support from The New York Times and other selling newspapers for the Democrat’s candidate, Roosevelt (Krock). Therefore, there was a common feeling that newspapers carried the consensus by supporting FDR. Largely enough, the New York Times and the OregonianStar voted in Franklin giving little if any support for incumbent Hoover. Work cited ALTSCHULER GLENN C. Roosevelt and Stalin: my enemys enemy is my friend. The Oregonian 08 Aril 2015. Print. Brence, Michelle. Washington, D.C.: Visiting the Korean War, MLK and FDR memorials. The Oregonian 30 June 2014. Print. “Don’t Be Fooled By Figures.” THE NEW YORK TIMES 17 Oct. 1931. Web. 15 April 2015. “Family Of Wealth Gave Advantages.” THE NEW YORK TIMES. 13 April 1945. Web. 15 April 2015 “Forward With Roosevelt.” THE NEW YORK TIMES 16 August 1931. Web. 15 April 2015. Guest Columnist. Progress and the quest for peace on the Columbia River. The Oregonian 29 Sep. 2012. Print. Homas C. Cochran. The Great Depression and World War II: 1929-1945. The Oregonian, 1968 pp. 14: Print. “Hoover’s Latest Insult to Veterans.” The Oregonian. November 8,1932. Web. 15 April 2015 Krock, Arthur. Roosevelt Sweeps The Nation; His Electoral Vote Exceeds 500; Lehman Wins; Charter Adopted. THE NEW YORK TIMES. Web. 15 April 2015 Mapes, Jeff. FDRs charming speech at Timberline dedication on Mt. Hood: The Photo Vault. The Oregonian. 15 Aug. 2013. Print. Muldoon, Katy. Franklin D. Roosevelt Big Day In Oregon. The Oregonian Newspaper. 28, 1937. Web. 15 April 2015 “Roosevelt Wins By 735,000: Democrats Sweep Congress.” THE NEW YORK TIMES. 28 Nov. 1932. Web. 15 April 2015. “Register And Vote Democratic: For Lasting peace & Security For All.” THE NEW YORK TIMES 24 July 1931. Web. 15 April 2015. “Roosevelt Promises National Relief.” The Oregonian 4 October 1931. Web. 15 April 2015. “Roosevelt Smashes Traditions and Pledges a New Deal for America: Garner Nominated Running Mate” The Oregonian. July 3, 1932. Web. 15 April 2015 “Roosevelt Sweeps The Nation; His Electoral Vote Exceeds 500; Lehman Wins; Charter Adopted.” THE NEW YORK TIMES. 26 Nov. 1932. Web. 15 April 2015. “Roosevelt Wins By Landslide; Leading Willkie In 37 States.” The Oregonian 01 Dec. 1932. Web. 15 April 2015. “The President Elect.” The Oregonian. November 9,1932. Web. 15 April 2015 Turnquist, Kristi. 4 Ken Burns films to watch after The Roosevelts: An Intimate History. The Oregonian 13 Sep. 2014: Print. ---. If not Reagan, then who? FDR? (Letters to the Editor). The Oregonian. 24 Nov. 2014. Print. Read More