Video: 'Thomas Dewey presidential candidacy acceptance speech 1944'

(Wednesday, June 28, 1944, 9:13 p.m. CWT; during World War II) — Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York accepted the presidential nomination tonight at the 1944 Republican National Convention at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, pledging his countrymen “a lasting peace” when Germany and Japan have been taught by force to say: “Never again.”

When the convention opened on June 26, 1944, Dewey was the front-runner for the nomination.

1940 presidential nominee, Wendell Willkie, again vied for the nomination, but when he lost the Wisconsin primary, the lack of support from the Republican Party became evident.

General Douglas MacArthur withdrew his name from consideration in May.

Video: 'Republicans Nominate Dewey (1944)'

Conservative opposition to Dewey coalesced briefly around Governor John W. Bricker of Ohio, but Bricker withdrew in favor of Dewey, removing the last vestige of opposition.

Dewey was nominated on the first ballot with 1,056 votes to 1 for MacArthur.

Dewey became the second Republican candidate to accept his party’s nomination in-person at the convention.

Bricker was nominated vice president on the first ballot, winning 1,057 votes (there were also 2 abstentions).

The Dewey-Bricker ticket would oppose the Democratic ticket of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York and U.S. Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri (nominated in July 1944) in the 1944 general election.