1944 Republican National Convention

1944 Republican National Convention

1944 presidential election
Nominees Dewey and Bricker
Convention
Date(s)	June 26–28, 1944
City	Chicago, Illinois
Venue	Chicago Stadium
Candidates
Presidential nominee	Thomas E. Dewey of New York
Vice-presidential nominee	John W. Bricker of Ohio

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.

Background

When the convention opened, Governor Dewey was the front-runner for the nomination. 1940 presidential nominee, Wendell Willkie again vied for the nomination, but when he lost the Wisconsin primary, the lack of support from the Republican Party became evident. (Before the election, Willkie would die of a heart attack.) General Douglas MacArthur withdrew his name from consideration in May.

Conservative opposition to Dewey coalesced briefly around Governor John W. Bricker of Ohio, but Dewey was the overwhelming favorite as the party's convention opened in Chicago in June.

Presidential nomination

Presidential candidates

• 
  Governor
  Thomas E. Dewey
  of New York
• 
  Governor
  John W. Bricker
  of Ohio
  (Withdrew -
  Supported Dewey)
• 
  Former Governor
  Harold Stassen
  of Minnesota
  (Withdrawn)
• 
  General
  Douglas MacArthur
  of Arkansas
  (Declined Consideration)

Before balloting began, Bricker withdrew in favor of Dewey, removing the last vestige of opposition. Dewey was nominated on the first ballot with 1,056 votes to 1 for MacArthur.

Dewey became the second Republican candidate to accept his party's nomination in-person at the convention. All subsequent Republican nominees have accepted their nominations in person with the exception of Donald Trump who in 2020 delivered his re-nomination acceptance speech from the White House because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presidential Ballot
Candidate	1st
Dewey	1,056
MacArthur	1
Absent	2

Presidential Balloting / 3rd Day of Convention (June 28, 1944)

• 
  1st Presidential Ballot

Vice Presidential nomination

Vice Presidential candidates

• 
  Governor
  John W. Bricker
  of Ohio
• 
  Governor
  Earl Warren
  of California
  (Not Nominated -
  Declined Consideration)

Bricker was nominated unanimously for the vice presidency. A deal was reached between the Dewey and Bricker factions the previous night in which Bricker would withdraw in favor of Dewey in exchange for the number two spot on the ticket.

Vice Presidential Ballot
Candidate	1st
Bricker	1,057
Absent	2

Vice Presidential Balloting / 3rd Day of Convention (June 28, 1944)

• 
  1st
  Vice Presidential Ballot

Platform

The 1944 Republican platform included a call for a Constitutional amendment establishing equal rights for women. This line was included in all subsequent platforms until 1980, when the debate over the Equal Rights Amendment was occurring.

Cultural impact

During the convention, Chicago's Billy Goat Tavern gained notoriety for posting a notice saying "No Republicans Allowed". This caused Republican conventioneers to pack the place, demanding to be served, and led to increased publicity for the tavern.

See also

• 1944 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection
• History of the United States Republican Party
• List of Republican National Conventions
• United States presidential nominating convention
• 1944 Republican Party presidential primaries
• 1944 United States presidential election
• 1944 Democratic National Convention

External links

• Republican Party platform of 1944 at The American Presidency Project
• Dewey acceptance speech at The American Presidency Project

Preceded by 1940 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Republican National Conventions

Succeeded by 1948 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania