Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1904'
(Thursday, June 23, 1904, 1:30 p.m. CST) — U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt of New York was unanimously nominated for a full second term today by delegates at the 1904 Republican National Convention meeting at Chicago Coliseum in Chicago.
The popular Roosevelt, who had become president nearly three years ago upon the assassination of William McKinley, had easily ensured himself of the nomination.
A threat had come from the Old Guard favourite Ohio Senator Mark Hanna, the loyal kingmaker in Republican politics, but he died early in 1904, which ended any opposition to Roosevelt within the Republican Party.
Video: 'The Election 0f 1904 Explained'
There were also very informal talks with future president William Howard Taft about trying for the nomination, but Taft refused these motions as evidenced by a letter to Henry Hoyt, the Solicitor General, in 1903.
Roosevelt was nominated by 994 votes to none.
Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbanks, was nominated for vice president by acclamation.
The Roosevelt-Fairbanks ticket would oppose the Democratic ticket of Alton B. Parker-Henry G. Davis (nominated in July 1904) in the 1904 general election.