Today is September 24. On this day in 1864, Abraham Lincoln presided over a country at war with itself and a party split to its roots over the question of how to plan for the nation’s reconstruction—to such an extent that on this day, Lincoln reluctantly accepted the resignation of Montgomery Blair, his Postmaster General and a valued advisor, owing to disputes over plans for Reconstruction.
Yet the campaign for the presidency was “now being prosecuted with the utmost vigor,” as one could read in the New York Times.
On this day in 1932, with the nation mired in the Great Depression, you could read Will Rogers in the New York Times saying “This is a year that will bring out lots of votes, for the voter has nothing to do but vote; his 1932 employment consists entirely of voting.” Managing the economic crisis was assuredly a full time job.
Yet Herbert Hoover prepared to give a large speech in Iowa and Franklin Roosevelt had just given what became a famous address to the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco.
On this day in 1944, the US prepared one of the most ambitious postwar occupations in history for Germany, while American forces in the Pacific prepared an assault on the Philippines on the way to Japan.
Yet President Roosevelt had just officially launched his campaign for a fourth term, while Thomas Dewey took his turn speaking in San Francisco, challenging Roosevelt’s supremacy.
All these examples suggest the contest for the presidency has been an indispensable part of American democracy, enduring even in the greatest of crises. But somehow, on this day in 2008, John McCain announced the suspension of his campaign for the presidency and asked for an extension in preparing for this week’s presidential debate.
UPDATED to add: Bob Mackey adds 1940, and also “man up”.
UPDATED AGAIN to add: G.D. has an initialism that has to be seen to be appreciated.
20 comments
September 24, 2008 at 1:39 pm
silbey
asked for an extension
No extensions! The syllabus is very clear.
September 24, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Levi Stahl
But will Obama be able to exceed expectations quite enough to satisfy the pundits when debating an empty chair?
September 24, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Ben Alpers
Eric:
Well played, sir!
September 24, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Matthew Yglesias » A Look Back
[…] Rauchway takes a look at some historical September 24ths that didn’t seem to require suspension of political […]
September 24, 2008 at 3:08 pm
ch.annel2-i.s-n.ow-a.ngry » Blog Archive » The absolute primacy of the need to vote
[…] 24th, 2008 Today is September 24. On this day in 1864, Abraham Lincoln presided over a country at war with itse… Yet the campaign for the presidency was “now being prosecuted with the utmost vigor,” as one […]
September 24, 2008 at 3:11 pm
andrew
Does this mean election day will be pushed back for one week? How exactly does one suspend a campaign, rather than campaign under the guise of not campaigning?
For my part, I’m shocked at how politicized elections have become. And so partisan too!
September 24, 2008 at 3:13 pm
dana
Nice.
September 24, 2008 at 3:22 pm
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[…] Eric Rauchway points out that the Great Depression did not prompt Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt to suspend their […]
September 24, 2008 at 3:40 pm
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[…] Some fun perspective from past elections from Eric Rauchway: […]
September 24, 2008 at 3:47 pm
re: extension? « The Edge of the American West
[…] I sympathize with the demands of balancing both legislative and campaign issues, I cannot, in accord with historical policy, grant your request for an extension on the debate. Dean’s excuses can only be granted in the […]
September 24, 2008 at 4:01 pm
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September 24, 2008 at 4:42 pm
AWC
A fine post, my friend.
Need we point out that FDR persevered in 1944 despite having one foot in the grave. Democracy stops for no emergency.
September 24, 2008 at 4:52 pm
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September 24, 2008 at 5:11 pm
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September 24, 2008 at 7:38 pm
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September 24, 2008 at 11:06 pm
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September 25, 2008 at 7:44 am
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[…] Eric Rauchway, Matthew Yglesias notes three other September 24’s in which campaigns were not suspended: – […]
September 25, 2008 at 10:32 am
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[…] The important thing is for the American project to go on: Today is September 24. On this day in 1864, Abraham Lincoln presided over a country at war with itself and a party split to its roots over the question of how to plan for the nation’s reconstruction—to such an extent that on this day, Lincoln reluctantly accepted the resignation of Montgomery Blair, his Postmaster General and a valued advisor, owing to disputes over plans for Reconstruction. […]
September 25, 2008 at 10:58 am
eric
Wait, what? He hasn’t even read the plan? You must be kidding me.
September 25, 2008 at 5:03 pm
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