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THE BULL MOOSE CAMPAIGN OF 1912 - Page 3

© John S. Cooper

When the votes were counted, there were no surprises. Wilson won an electoral landslide taking 435 electoral votes to 88 for Roosevelt and 8 for Taft. Wilson did not, however, capture a majority of the popular vote. Roughly six million people voted for Wilson, compared to four million for Roosevelt and three and a half million for Taft. But since the Republican Party split between Teddy and Taft, Wilson took most of the states with a plurality (less than a majority, but more than anyone else) vote. Since all the electoral votes of a state go to whoever wins the most votes, Wilson won forty states, most with less than a majority of the popular votes.

Wilson went on to serve two terms and make great changes in our economic system. He came around to Roosevelt's way of thinking, and strengthened the regulatory powers of the federal government. He also created the Federal Reserve System we still use today.

Taft often said he lost on the Dr. Fell Principle:

I do not like you, Dr. Fell, The reason why I cannot tell, But this I know and know full well, I do not like you, Dr. Fell.

Taft retired, taught law, and was later appointed Chief Justice, which is what he always wanted. He was one of our most successful Chief Justices, and had a major impact on the re-organization of the Supreme Court and the entire Judicial branch.

Teddy Roosevelt tried for the presidency again in the 1920 campaign. He was one of the leaders for the nomination when he suddenly died in early in 1919. He had contracted a form of jungle fever while exploring the River of Doubt in Brazil in 1913 and 1914. This led to surgery and other medical problems. He died of a blood clot in January of 1919.

This election is singular for another reason. It is the only election in which a "third party" finished ahead of one of the two major parties of the time. The Bull Moose or Progressive Party finished in second place, with the Republican Party in a distant third place. We have rarely been treated to such an active and interesting campaign. Let's hope the coming one surprises us.

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