1948 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 1948 election. At the 1948 Democratic National Convention, President Harry S. Truman won nomination for a full term. Truman had become president upon the death of his predecessor and 1944 running mate, Franklin D. Roosevelt. As the 25th Amendment had not yet been passed, there was no method for filling a vice presidential vacancy, and Truman served without a vice president during his first term. Truman's nomination faced significant opposition from the South, as did the party's platform on civil rights.^[1] Though Truman attempted to convince Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas to join the ticket, Douglas declined.^[1] Truman instead selected Senate Minority Leader Alben W. Barkley, the preferred choice of many Democratic delegates, and a border state Senator who could appeal to both the Northern and Southern wings of the party.^[1] The Truman–Barkley ticket won the 1948 election, defeating the Republican (Dewey–Warren), Progressive (Wallace–Taylor), and Dixiecrat (Thurmond–Wright) tickets.

Candidates

Finalists

Senator
Alben W. Barkley
from Kentucky
(1927–1949; 1955-1956)
Associate Justice
William O. Douglas
from Connecticut
(1939–1975)^[2]

Others

Secretary of Defense
James Forrestal
from New York
(1947–1949)^[3]
Former Secretary of Commerce
W. Averell Harriman
from New York
(1946–1948)^[3]
Associate Justice
Robert H. Jackson
from New York
(1941–1954)^[3]
Representative
John W. McCormack
from Massachusetts
(1928–1971)^[4]
Senator
Joseph C. O'Mahoney
from Wyoming
(1933–1953; 1954-1961)^[4]
Senator
Richard B. Russell Jr.
from Georgia
(1933–1971)^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lawrence, WH (15 July 1948). "Truman, Barkley Named by Democrats; South Loses on Civil Rights, 35 Walk Out; President Will Recall Congress July 26". New York Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
^ Sigelman, Lee; Wahlbeck, Paul (December 1997). "The "Veepstakes": Strategic Choice in Presidential Running Mate Selection". The American Political Science Review. 91 (4): 858. doi:10.2307/2952169. JSTOR 2952169.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Truman May Pick New York Man for Running Mate". St. Petersburg Times. 10 August 1947. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b Lawrence, WH (14 July 1948). "Barkley to Be Truman Running Mate; Floor Fight Looming on Civil Rights; Convention Due to Wind Up Tonight". New York Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

[lawrence2-1] Lawrence, WH (15 July 1948). "Truman, Barkley Named by Democrats; South Loses on Civil Rights, 35 Walk Out; President Will Recall Congress July 26". New York Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

[sigelman-2] Sigelman, Lee; Wahlbeck, Paul (December 1997). "The "Veepstakes": Strategic Choice in Presidential Running Mate Selection". The American Political Science Review. 91 (4): 858. doi:10.2307/2952169. JSTOR 2952169.

[pete-3] "Truman May Pick New York Man for Running Mate". St. Petersburg Times. 10 August 1947. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

[lawrence-4] Lawrence, WH (14 July 1948). "Barkley to Be Truman Running Mate; Floor Fight Looming on Civil Rights; Convention Due to Wind Up Tonight". New York Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

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Democratic	1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Republican	1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Others	Dixiecrat 1948 American Independent 1968 Independent 1980 Independent 1992 Reform 1996
Vice presidential confirmation	1973 confirmation 1974 confirmation
List of Democratic National Conventions List of Republican National Conventions

1948 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection

Candidates

Finalists

Others

See also

References