http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/796409721

Five days in Philadelphia the amazing "We want Wilkie!" convention of 1940 and how it freed FDR to save the Western World

There were four strong contenders when the Republican Party met in June of 1940 to nominate its candidate: the crusading young attorney and rising Republican star Tom Dewey, two solid members of the Republican establishment, and dark horse Wendell Willkie, utilities executive, favorite of the literati and only very recently even a Republican. The leading candidates campaigned as isolationists. The charismatic newcomer Willkie was a liberal interventionist, just as anti-Hitler as FDR. After five days of floor rallies, telegrams from across the country, multiple ballots, rousing speeches, backroom deals, terrifying international news, and, most of all, the relentless chanting of "We Want Willkie" from the gallery, Willkie walked away with the nomination. [In this book, the author] shows, these five days and their improbable outcome were as important as the Battle of Britain in defeating the Nazis.

Open All Close All