Video: 'President Franklin D. Roosevelt Is Nominated For 4th Term 1944 | HD Stock Footage'
(Thursday, July 20, 1944, 8:20 p.m. PWT; during World War II) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York accepted the Democratic nomination for an unprecedented fourth term of office tonight during an address from an observation car on the presidential train located at a naval base in San Diego, California, (FDR on his way to a military conference in Hawaii) to delegates at the 1944 Democratic National Convention at Chicago Stadium in Chicago.
Roosevelt had defeated Sen. Harry Flood Byrd, Sr. of Virginia, who was not a candidate, 1086-89 on the first ballot earlier in the day.
Video: 'Franklin Roosevelt’s Address to the Democratic National Convention'
Despite the obvious physical decline in the president’s appearance, as well as rumors of secret health problems, Roosevelt’s fourth nomination as president was largely unchallenged.
The contention lay in the vice-presidential nomination. Henry Wallace had been elected vice president in 1940. He was FDR’s preferred choice and was very popular with rank and file Democratic voters.
Video: 'Democratic Convention Chicago 1944'
However, conservative party leaders, such as Southerner James F. Byrnes, strongly opposed his renomination. They regarded Wallace as being too far to the left, too “progressive” and too friendly to labor to be next in line for the presidency.
They proposed Missouri Senator Harry S. Truman as FDR’s new running mate. Roosevelt knew little about Truman, but he reluctantly agreed to accept Truman as his new running mate to preserve party unity.
Video: 'Truman and Unity: a Compromise Candidate'
On July 21, 1944, with a pool of 17 candidates vying for 1143.5 votes, Wallace led in the first ballot with 429.5 votes, while Truman got 319.5 votes, but Wallace was short of the majority.
The party leaders went to work talking to delegates, cutting deals and applying pressure to persuade them to select Truman. Truman won the second ballot by 1031 votes to 105.
