1944 Republican National Convention
Encyclopedia
The 1944 Republican National Convention
was held in Chicago, Illinois, from June 26 to 28, 1944. It nominated Governor Thomas E. Dewey
of New York for President and Governor John Bricker of Ohio
for Vice-President.
When the convention opened, Governor Dewey was the front-runner for the nomination. Former presidential candidate Wendell Wilkie again vied for the nomination, but when he lost the Wisconsin primary, the lack of support from the Republican Party
became evident. Dewey was nominated on the first ballot. He became the first Republican candidate to accept his party's nomination in-person at the convention. Franklin Roosevelt had become the first of either party to do so in 1932.
During the convention, Chicago's Billy Goat Tavern
gained notoriety for posting a notice saying "No Republican
s Allowed," which caused the place to be packed with Republican conventioneers demanding to be served and led to increased publicity for the tavern.
In 1944, Republicans added a line to their platform advocating a Constitutional amendment
legislating equal rights for women; this line was added again every four years at the GOP convention until 1980, when the debate over the Equal Rights Amendment
was occurring.
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
was held in Chicago, Illinois, from June 26 to 28, 1944. It nominated Governor Thomas E. Dewey
Thomas Dewey
Thomas Edmund Dewey was the 47th Governor of New York . In 1944 and 1948, he was the Republican candidate for President, but lost both times. He led the liberal faction of the Republican Party, in which he fought conservative Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft...
of New York for President and Governor John Bricker of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
for Vice-President.
When the convention opened, Governor Dewey was the front-runner for the nomination. Former presidential candidate Wendell Wilkie again vied for the nomination, but when he lost the Wisconsin primary, the lack of support from the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
became evident. Dewey was nominated on the first ballot. He became the first Republican candidate to accept his party's nomination in-person at the convention. Franklin Roosevelt had become the first of either party to do so in 1932.
During the convention, Chicago's Billy Goat Tavern
Billy Goat Tavern
The Billy Goat Tavern is a chain of taverns located in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1937 by Billy Sianis, a Greek immigrant. It achieved fame primarily through newspaper columns by Mike Royko, a supposed curse on the Chicago Cubs, and the Olympia Cafe sketch on Saturday Night Live.It now has...
gained notoriety for posting a notice saying "No Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
s Allowed," which caused the place to be packed with Republican conventioneers demanding to be served and led to increased publicity for the tavern.
In 1944, Republicans added a line to their platform advocating a Constitutional amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
legislating equal rights for women; this line was added again every four years at the GOP convention until 1980, when the debate over the Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
was occurring.