Roosevelt accepts nomination for fourth term 70 years ago this hour (July 20 1944)


Video: 'Franklin Delano Roosevelt renominated as President of United States. HD Stock Footage'

(Thursday, July 20, 1944, 8:20 p.m. PWT; during World War II) — President Franklin Roosevelt of New York accepted the nomination for an unprecedented fourth term tonight during a speech from an observation car on the presidential train located at a naval base in San Diego, California, (on his way to a military conference in Hawaii) to the 1944 Democratic National Convention at Chicago Stadium in Chicago (click here for full audio/transcript of Roosevelt’s speech).

Roosevelt had defeated Sen. Harry Flood Byrd, Sr. of Virginia, who was not a candidate, 1086-89 on the first ballot earlier today.

The vice presidential balloting would be held on the following day, on July 21, 1944.