Teddy defeated Taft in nine out of ten primaries, including Taft's own home state of Ohio. But the other states held conventions that nominated delegates favoring Taft. At the Republican national convention, Taft's re-nomination was a sure thing. The chairman of the convention gaveled down so many Roosevelt motions that one delegate raised a point of order stating that the steamroller was exceeding the speed limit. After that, whenever the chairman spoke, the Roosevelt delegates would toot whistles and rub sandpaper together to imitate the sounds of a steamroller.
When Taft was finally nominated, Roosevelt and the progressive wing of the party walked out and met later to form the Progressive Party, which of course nominated Teddy for President. Teddy declared that his "hat was in the ring" and that he was stripped to the buff and feeling fit as a bull moose, and the party symbol was born (as well as the nickname for the entire campaign).
Teddy explained away his "no third term" pledge by explaining he had meant no consecutive third term. One of his supporters further explained that a man might say he does not want a second cup of coffee, but that does not mean he will never want another cup of coffee in the future. Vaudeville comedians had a lot of fun with "another cup of coffee?" jokes.
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5.
Nov 27, 2001 8:56 AM
In response to message posted by H2O:
Hi H2O. You are right about conventions not being nearly so interesting in m ...
-- posted by Mugwump53
4.
Nov 27, 2001 7:27 AM
sure were colorful and active in days past! Too bad we don't have more action today. Now the nomination is sewed up well in advance, no more marathon, multi-rounds of balloting where a little-known su ...
-- posted by H2O
3.
Nov 26, 2001 11:01 AM
This is really a tale, John. I imagine what a firecracker of a nomination this must have been, from what you describe. Another cup of coffee. Don't we all want that! ...
-- posted by jerrib
2.
Nov 25, 2001 1:26 PM
In response to message posted by Tina_Coruth:
Another interesting question (but then I have learned to expect that ...
-- posted by Mugwump53
1.
Nov 25, 2001 6:28 AM
Hi John,
When I read your preview last week, it slipped my mind that Taft was the president who wanted to serve on the Supreme Court instead of being President!
I didn't know that Taft asked Maj ...
-- posted by Tina_Coruth
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