From Taft To Wilson: The 1912 Election

The 1912 election was a unique contest between an incumbent president, a former president, and a governor. In 1908 Theodore Roosevelt had handed over leader of the Republican Part to William Howard Taft. Over the next four years, he grew increasing disappointed in how Taft handled that leadership. In 1912, Roosevelt tried to wrest the Republican nomination away from Taft. Failing in that, he created his own Progessive Party (nicknamed the Bull Moose Party) and ran as a third party candidate. At the


William H. Taft (Republican)	Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive)	Woodrow Wilson (Democrat)

Democratic convention, Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey won his party's nomination on the 46th ballot. In the general election, Wilson won 42% of the popular vote, while Roosevelt won 27%

The GOP divided by the Bull Moose Party Equals a Democratic Victory, Puck, 1912

and Taft, 23%. Wilson won the electoral college with a commanding 435 electoral votes. The two former friends and allys, now rivals, split the Republican vote, allowing Wilson to become the first Democrat elected to the nation's highest office since Grover Cleveland. Roosevelt's 2nd place finish was the first and last time a 3rd party candidate finished higher than 3rd place.

A more detailed examination of this topic is planned for the future. In the meantime, this small collection of images and sounds is presented.

"Roosevelt The Take-Back Giver," Evansville Courier, 1912

Sheet Music: "Taft (March)" (1912)

Recordings:

Sheet Music: "We're Ready For Teddy Again" (1912)

"Where Will He Land?", Denver Post, 1912

"The Confusion of Tongues--Sad Finish of the Republican Tower of Babel" Puck, June 12, 1912

Recordings:

The Progressive Covenant With The People
Social and Industrial Justice
The Farmer And The Business Man (Edison cylinder)
The Farmer And The Business Man (Victor Records)
The Right Of The People To Rule

Recordings:

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