[BillyBoy]

Good read. Al Smith's alarm at FDR no doubt struck a chord with many others. The 1940 Republican Party candidate, Wendell Wilkie, had actually been a lifelong midwest DEMOCRAT up until FDR's reign. Wilkie was a business owner who ended up bogged down in all the federal regulations that he brought several lawsuits against new deal programs, then switched to the Republican party and became their suprise nominee.

Unfortunately, all these facts will no doubt fall on deaf ears for some freepers who INSIST the Democrats were the "true" conservative party back when the south voted 'RAT. FDR got over 90% of the vote in some so-called "conservative" southern states, but the co-alition of midwestern and western Republicans almost defeated him.

[G.Mason]

"Unfortunately, all these facts will no doubt fall on deaf ears....."

Sad but true.

Excellent post and comments.

My thanks to you both.