Video: 'Wendell Willkie addressing the crowd at the Republican National Convention after ...HD Stock Footage'

(Friday, June 28, 1940) — Wendell Willkie of New York informally accepted the nomination for President of the United States this afternoon at the 1940 Republican National Convention meeting at Philadelphia Convention Hall.

“I stand before you without a single pledge or promise or understanding of any kind except for the advancement of your cause and the preservation of American democracy,” Willkie told the delegates in what was the first personal appearance by a presidential nominee at a GOP national convention.

Willkie was nominated early this morning, defeating Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft by 655-318 votes on the sixth ballot (before shifts gave him a 998-2 victory vote).

Video: 'Us Presidential Nominations Aka Wendell Wilkie Nominated (1940)'

A dark horse candidate with a background in business, Willkie had never held public office before but won the nomination because he was seen as a moderate whose views were the closest match to those of the electorate.

Senate Minority Leader Charles L. McNary of Oregon was nominated vice president on the first ballot, defeating Rep. Dewey Short of Missouri 848-108 votes.

The Willkie-McNary Republican ticket would face the Democratic ticket of incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who would seek an unprecedented third term, and his new running mate Henry A. Wallace in the 1940 presidential election.