The Election of 1932 came at one of the darkest points in American history. With the Great Depression deepening and public faith in President Herbert Hoover collapsing, the stage was set for a dramatic political realignment. Franklin Delano Roosevelt emerged as the Democratic challenger, offering hope, reform, and a promise of a “New Deal” that would reshape the nation.
The Stock Crash of 1929
Following his landslide victory in the 1928 election, President Herbert Hoover aimed to continue the prosperity of the previous years. However, on October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed, signaling the end of the prosperous “Roaring Twenties.” This crash, combined with deregulation, reduced international trade, and unequal wealth distribution, plunged the nation into economic turmoil.
By the early 1930s, unemployment surged to 23–25%, banks failed, people lived in shanty towns called “Hoovervilles,” crime rates soared, and businesses struggled with layoffs and wage cuts. This era, known as “The Great Depression,” saw widespread blame directed at the Republican Party’s laissez-faire economics, which many believed contributed to the crisis.
Hoover’s Response to the Great Depression
President Hoover faced the daunting task of addressing the economic chaos. He enacted several measures, including the Revenue Act of 1932, which raised taxes, attempted to bail out banks and businesses, and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which increased import duties. Despite these efforts, many believed these actions worsened the crisis.
Hoover also dealt with the “Bonus Army,” a group of World War I veterans demanding their military bonuses. When Congress rejected the bill to grant these bonuses, Hoover ordered the police and military, led by Generals George S. Patton and Douglas MacArthur, to disperse the veterans. This led to violent clashes, fires, and casualties, further damaging Hoover’s reputation.
Ironically, Hoover had entered the presidency with an international reputation as a humanitarian for his relief work in Europe during and after World War I. Many voters in 1932 contrasted that image with his inability to help Americans at home, deepening the public sense of betrayal.
Despite the economic disaster and political fallout, Hoover decided to run for re-election in 1932 with Charles Curtis as his running mate.
The Return of Franklin D. Roosevelt
The Democratic Party aimed to capitalize on the country’s instability. Several candidates vied for the nomination, but Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Governor of New York, emerged as the frontrunner. Roosevelt had previously been James Cox’s running mate in the 1920 election.
Roosevelt won the Democratic nomination and selected John Nance Garner, the Speaker of the House from Texas, as his running mate. In his acceptance speech, Roosevelt promised to repeal Prohibition and deliver a “New Deal” to the American people, declaring: “This is more than a political campaign; it is a call to arms.”
Radio & Campaigning
Roosevelt’s campaign was dynamic, with him traveling the country and delivering inspiring speeches. He also used radio more effectively than Hoover, speaking in a warm, conversational tone that resonated with ordinary voters. This foreshadowed his famous “Fireside Chats,” which would later help him build trust during his presidency.
Hoover’s campaign struggled as many blamed him and the GOP for the Depression. The aftermath of the Bonus Army attack remained fresh in voters’ minds. Both candidates engaged in personal insults, with Hoover calling Roosevelt a “Chameleon in Plain Sight” and Roosevelt firing back by labeling Hoover a “Fat, Timid, Capon.”
The Prohibition Debate
One of the key issues of the 1932 election was Prohibition. Roosevelt openly supported its repeal, which appealed to urban voters and working-class Americans who saw the ban on alcohol as a failure that had fueled organized crime. Hoover, while not passionately “dry,” was tied to the Republican platform that supported Prohibition, making him appear out of touch.
Shifts in Voting Demographics
The election of 1932 marked a political realignment. Many African Americans, who had traditionally supported the Republican Party since Lincoln, began shifting toward the Democrats, attracted by Roosevelt’s promise of economic relief. This shift would grow in future elections, becoming a cornerstone of the Democratic coalition.
Roosevelt also appealed strongly to farmers, Southern whites, urban progressives, and working-class immigrants, laying the foundation for the long-lasting “New Deal Coalition.”
Third-Party Voices
While the main contest was between Roosevelt and Hoover, third-party candidates also appeared on the ballot.
- Norman Thomas of the Socialist Party, running for the third time, won nearly 900,000 votes, reflecting disillusionment with the two-party system.
- William Z. Foster, representing the Communist Party, also ran but attracted far less support.
Though these candidates had little chance of winning, their campaigns captured the anger and frustration of those who felt capitalism had failed them.
The Results
Franklin Delano Roosevelt won a landslide victory in the Election of 1932, becoming the 32nd President of the United States. Roosevelt secured 472 electoral votes and 57.4% of the popular vote. Herbert Hoover received only 59 electoral votes and 39.6% of the popular vote, marking the worst performance for a Republican president seeking re-election since William Howard Taft in 1912.
Roosevelt’s victory ended nearly 20 years of Republican dominance in the White House.
Conclusion
The Election of 1932 marked a turning point in American political history. Hoover, once seen as a great humanitarian, was cast aside as the face of failure, while Roosevelt’s “New Deal” message reshaped American politics. The realignment of African American voters, the promise to repeal Prohibition, and Roosevelt’s use of radio all signaled new directions for U.S. campaigns.
Coming off the Republican dominance seen in the elections of 1920, 1924, and 1928, Roosevelt’s win ended their grip on the presidency and prepared the ground for a Democratic era. In the next article, we’ll cover the Election of 1936, where Roosevelt sought re-election amid the ongoing challenges of the Great Depression.