WI: Woodrow Wilson in 1932

[Octosteel]

One of the most ambitious men that the US has ever had for the Presidency, it's well known that Wilson, despite having suffered a stroke, desired a third term. The stroke ultimately is what made it impossible. His faction was still tremendously loyal to him even as an invalid.

But let's say Wilson doesn't have his stroke and instead is perfectly lucid and in control of his faculties and lives to a ripe old age in his 80s. But instead of going away quietly, he just stays over, haunting the party, taking direct control over his faction? He presumably would be rebuked in 1920, but he can try in '24 and probably end up forcing a compromise pick. '32 is probably Smith's year who is promptly destroyed. Which leaves 1932, and Wilson, always a believer that he would save the nation as the most intelligent most brilliant man around, is nominated and defeats Herbert Hoover.

What does a Wilson Presidency look like in 1932? What are the dynamics in the Democratic Party that he has just hung over the party and now leads it? How does Wilson respond to the Great Depression? Does he run for an unprecedented fourth term? If so, how does he react to the war in Europe?

 

[Lalli]

I highly doubt that Wilson would had elected anymore in 1932 due his high age even if him would had been good health for his age. Remember how much Biden was ridiculed over his high age in 2020, almost 90 years later? Wilson wasn't much younger on that time and people lived much shorter life. So not way that Wilson has realistic chances in '32 even if he would be alive and health. No one would expect him serving even one term.

 

[luxtaythe2nd]

As said above, Wilson probably wouldn't have won. A new Republican nominee would probably win the election. I would suspect someone like George W. Norris or Calvin Coolidge. Norris is more likely to win the nomination, and after winning the 1932 election (maybe with John J. Blaine, a Hoover-like figure, as his VP?) would implement some kind of New Deal program. So basically a Republican version of FDR, with the Pearl Harbor response too. Since OTL Norris died in September 1944 and Blaine in April 1934, Norris would be succeeded by Alf Landon. Landon was a notoriously bad campaigner OTL, so he either loses the Republican nomination or loses the election to a Democratic candidate.

 

[Octosteel]

As said above, Wilson probably wouldn't have won. A new Republican nominee would probably win the election. I would suspect someone like George W. Norris or Calvin Coolidge. Norris is more likely to win the nomination, and after winning the 1932 election (maybe with John J. Blaine, a Hoover-like figure, as his VP?) would implement some kind of New Deal program. So basically a Republican version of FDR, with the Pearl Harbor response too. Since OTL Norris died in September 1944 and Blaine in April 1934, Norris would be succeeded by Alf Landon. Landon was a notoriously bad campaigner OTL, so he either loses the Republican nomination or loses the election to a Democratic candidate.

Norris had no change of winning the nomination nor election. He was highly distrusted by the party in general and even ong the progressives, he wasn't seen as one of the solid Republicans. Far more likely, if it's going to be from the Republicans, is Borah. Even less likely than Borah but far more than Norris is Hiram Johnson. But the reality is none of these guys are beating Hoover for the renomination. His control over the party, as battered as it was by the midterms, was still too strong.

 

[luxtaythe2nd]

Norris had no change of winning the nomination nor election. He was highly distrusted by the party in general and even ong the progressives, he wasn't seen as one of the solid Republicans. Far more likely, if it's going to be from the Republicans, is Borah. Even less likely than Borah but far more than Norris is Hiram Johnson. But the reality is none of these guys are beating Hoover for the renomination. His control over the party, as battered as it was by the midterms, was still too strong.

Didn't find that while searching for Norris, thanks for informing me.

 

[Admiral Bloonbeard]

As said above, Wilson probably wouldn't have won. A new Republican nominee would probably win the election. I would suspect someone like George W. Norris or Calvin Coolidge. Norris is more likely to win the nomination, and after winning the 1932 election (maybe with John J. Blaine, a Hoover-like figure, as his VP?) would implement some kind of New Deal program. So basically a Republican version of FDR, with the Pearl Harbor response too. Since OTL Norris died in September 1944 and Blaine in April 1934, Norris would be succeeded by Alf Landon. Landon was a notoriously bad campaigner OTL, so he either loses the Republican nomination or loses the election to a Democratic candidate.

Norris had no change of winning the nomination nor election. He was highly distrusted by the party in general and even ong the progressives, he wasn't seen as one of the solid Republicans. Far more likely, if it's going to be from the Republicans, is Borah. Even less likely than Borah but far more than Norris is Hiram Johnson. But the reality is none of these guys are beating Hoover for the renomination. His control over the party, as battered as it was by the midterms, was still too strong.

Norris is what modern Republicans would call the ultimate RINO.

 

[David T]

Wilson's stubbornness about the League of Nations (as well as memories of how unpopular his administration was in its last years) will make it impossible for him to win the nomination in 1932. Even Newton Baker had to (in effect) give up on the League to have any chance in 1932. Also, Wilson would simply be regarded as too old. Prior to 1960, no president was even 70 at the *end* of his administration; Wilson would be 76 at the *start* of his new administration.

 

[Lalli]

Wilson's stubbornness about the League of Nations (as well as memories of how unpopular his administration was in its last years) will make it impossible for him to win the nomination in 1932. Even Newton Baker had to (in effect) give up on the League to have any chance in 1932. Also, Wilson would simply be regarded as too old. Prior to 1960, no president was even 70 at the *end* of his administration; Wilson would be 76 at the *start* of his new administration.

And first 70 years old president was elected in 2016. Even that someone was 65 years old was before 1932 very rare. So it is just hard imaginate that someone who has turned 76 years would be picked as candidate.

 

[David T]

Wilson's stubbornness about the League of Nations (as well as memories of how unpopular his administration was in its last years) will make it impossible for him to win the nomination in 1932. Even Newton Baker had to (in effect) give up on the League to have any chance in 1932. Also, Wilson would simply be regarded as too old. Prior to 1960, no president was even 70 at the *end* of his administration; Wilson would be 76 at the *start* of his new administration.

Maybe even more important, in the 1930s the US decision to enter the World War was very unpopular. A 1937 Gallup poll had 70% of the respondents saying it had been a mistake for the US to enter the World War. https://books.google.com/books?id=81lvtOy1Ar0C&pg=PA14 Perhaps things like the Nye Committee hearings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nye_Committee increased the unpopularity, but I doubt that the percentage would have been much lower in 1932, when the country was full of griping about the Allies not paying their debts. Indeed, a living Wilson, even if not nominated, might be an electoral burden to Democrats.