The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 79, July 1975 - April, 1976 Page: 193
528 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Garner Switch to Roosevelt
Farley did not need convincing that Garner had the key to victory, for
the speaker was regarded as a formidable figure. Farley contacted Silliman
Evans, publicity director for Garner, and had him bring Sam Rayburn to
his rooms on the eve of the convention, June 27, 1932. Rayburn saw Farley
that night and again on Thursday, June 30. In both instances Farley
dangled the vice-presidential nomination for Garner in front of Rayburn,
who promised nothing except that he did not want a repetition of 1924.
Farley wanted the Texas delegation to cast its vote for Roosevelt on the
first ballot but Rayburn demurred, stating that he had to vote for Garner
for at least two or three ballots.5
After the convention began, Arthur Mullen, Roosevelt's floor leader,
pressed Texas senator Tom Connally to make Roosevelt the second choice
of the Texas delegation. The delegation, however, was divided between
Roosevelt and Al Smith as a second choice. There was considerable anti-
Roosevelt sentiment present, but there was also some solid support. Judge
T. Whitfield Davidson had organized a Roosevelt group in I931, when he
began working sub rosa for the New York governor. His group had concen-
trated on supporting Garner men who were partial to Roosevelt; as a result,
54 of the 18o voting delegates were friendly to Roosevelt.'
At the end of the first ballot, Roosevelt had a commanding lead with a
total of 6661/4 votes. On the second, he gained I 1 2, still short, however,
of the necessary two-thirds (770) needed for nomination. During the second
ballot, Mullen sounded out Tom Connally as to how Garner felt about the
vice-presidency. Connally stated that the subject had not been mentioned
to Garner. Yet he reportedly agreed that in case of a long battle, he would
"switch the Texas votes." In the meantime, Evans and Rayburn kept com-
munications open between Farley, the Texas delegation, and Garner.'
After an all night session, the crisis came at 9:15 on Friday morning,
July I, upon completion of the third ballot. Roosevelt's 682+ votes were
less than the necessary two-thirds and people were saying he was through.
Farley conferred with Louis Howe, Roosevelt's alter ego, who agreed that
5Dallas Morning News, June 24, 1932; Farley, Behind the Ballots, 133-135, 138.
6Farley, Jim Farley's Story, 20o; Dallas Times Herald, June I9, 1932; "The Party and
Roosevelt Record of Karl A. Crowley" (memo), Roosevelt Papers (Franklin D. Roose-
velt Library, Hyde Park, New York), President's Personal File 2871; Texas, Pre-
Convention Democratic National Committee Correspondence; Gregory to House, October
31, I93I, and Davidson to Roosevelt, April 4, 1932, ibid.; Mullen, Western Democrat
274; Davidson to L. V. P., October 6, 1952.
7Dallas Journal, July 13, 1932 (quotation); Mullen, Western Democrat, 275; Tom
Connally with Alfred Steinberg, My Name is Tom Connally (New York, 1954), 141-142;
Roger Butterfield, "Silliman-He's A Wonder," The Saturday Evening Post, CCXIII
(November 23, 1940), 91.193
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 79, July 1975 - April, 1976, periodical, 1975/1976; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101203/m1/225/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.