In 1908, William Jennings Bryan was once again the Democratic Candidate against…

The “Bills”: William Jennings Bryan and William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft

President Theodore Roosevelt had been in the White House for 7-and-a-half years. He had been elected as VP under Republican William McKinley in his second term (1900). When McKinley was assassinated only months later, TR “rose like a rocket” into the top spot, and commanded the position as if he had been born to it.

In 1904, he was unanimously nominated by the Republicans for his own term. TR was immensely popular, and won in a walk over the Democratic candidate, Judge Alton Parker, a nice fellow, but bland as dishwater.

President Theodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt, in a moment of either magnanimity or insanity, shot himself in the foot, claiming he would not run for a “third” term. He would come to regret that decision.

Instead, he chose his successor: a very reluctant William Howard Taft. The two had been close personal friends for twenty years. A fine attorney and jurist, Taft’s heart had always gravitated to the Supreme Court rather than the White House. Having served as Secretary of War under TR, he had national exposure, and all the right qualifications – except passionate desire. That however, was superbly filled and countered by the Taft family, including his ambitious wife, Helen.

To please her, his devoted brothers, and TR himself, Taft agreed to be the candidate.

The country was at peace and prospering economically. Many new progressive policies (such as the Pure Food and Drug Act, curbing monopolies, and growing support for organized labor) had been instituted. Times were pretty good. With Theodore Roosevelt’s clout and strong backing, Big Bill Taft was a perfect successor.

William Jennings Bryan…Again

William Jennings Bryan in 1896.

In 1908, William Jennings Bryan was only 48 years old; still quite a bit younger than most of the previous Presidents. He had already run for President twice and lost twice – to William McKinley, in 1896 and 1900.

Bryan originally was a surprise candidate: A midwesterner, a lawyer of mediocre training, and a mediocre Congressman for two terms. Part of him was also a frustrated clergyman. His main claim to fame, from 1896 on, was his oratory, in an age when oratory really counted. His supporters were mesmerized.

Politically, WJB was a populist and a strong exponent of free coinage of silver, perceived helpful to suffering farmers and small businesses in the midwest. By 1908, however, the “bimetallism” issue had fizzled out completely.

Bryan: Sitting Out ‘04

The surprising emergence of “The Boy Orator of the Platte” as he was nicknamed, had turned William Jennings Bryan into a powerful voice in Democratic party leadership – for the next quarter century.

In 1904, however, even having lost two previous elections, he was still the likely candidate.

But….

Judge Alton Parker

WJB was a very savvy and wily politician as well as an aggressive candidate and proponent of issues of concern to the “common man.” He knew, in 1904, that nobody was going to beat Theodore Roosevelt, who was at the top of his game and the top of his popularity. TR was also becoming politically very progressive, effectively instituting several issues the Democrats had espoused. Bryan loved being the candidate and loved campaigning aggressively – but he certainly did not wish to be a sure loser. Again.

So wily as he was, he slyly lobbied to nominate Alton Parker, a modest and little known judge from upstate New York – the weakest possible candidate the Democrats could find. Of course, Parker lost heavily. No harm-no foul on WJB.

WJB: The Aging Bill Returns

WJB in 1908. Same guy, less hair.

The Democrats had lost three elections in a row: 1896, 1900 and 1904. Considering that Democrat Grover Cleveland (the last Democratic President – 1884 and 1892) was commonly perceived as more Republican than Democrat, the powers that were needed a powerful voice in 1908. Once again, they turned to Bryan.

The conservative elements of the Democratic party were less than thrilled, but the populist and liberal Democrats were delighted. Bryan would always be their hero! He won the nomination on the first ballot!

The cartoonists had lots of fun!!

To balance the ticket, they nominated John Kern, an attorney from Indiana, who had twice run for Governor – and lost. The NY Times quipped that Democratic national ticket was consistent because “a man twice defeated for the Presidency was at the head of it, and a man twice defeated for governor of his state was at the tail of it.”

It may have been an omen.

Big Bill Taft

William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft was well known in Republican circles. He had been immensely effective – and popular – as the Governor General of the Philippines for five years, overseeing a daunting task of merging interests and cooperation among a half dozen or more fractious Filipino parties, insurgencies and religious sectors. He even declined two nominations to the Supreme Court, his dearest ambition, to further Filipino goals. When President Roosevelt finally summoned him home as Secretary of War, he knew it was a “stepping stone.”

In 1905, the country was a peace with little for a Secretary of War to do. Serving as TR’s “trouble-shooter” extraordinaire, he traveled nearly continuously to put out fires wherever they were. Taft’s personal good nature, natural tact and sense of fairness won him friends and admirers wherever he went.

He was also nominated on the first ballot!

The progressive leadership of TR and the incorporation of several “reform” policies was undercutting the Democratic platform, and had already made serious inroads into public acceptance. It was becoming (and indeed would become) a matter of who – or which party – would be the champion of progress.

The numbers tell it all.

So in 1908, while the Democrats and the Populists and the other “fringe” parties might churn up the causes to espouse, it was widely perceived by the general public, that the Republicans could lead and activate it better.

Taft won in a walk – and Bryan lost even more heavily than in his two previous attempts. He would never run again.

Sources:

Rasenberger, Jim – America: 1908 – Scribners, 2007

Sullivan, Mark – Our Times (Vol. 2): America Finding Herself – Scribners, 1927

https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1908

https://millercenter.org/president/taft/campaigns-and-elections

https://www.history.com/topics/us-politics/william-jennings-bryan