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Let me preface this write-up with the fact that I’ve been reading “FDR” by Jean Edward Smith, which is considered to be one of the most comprehensive biographies on the man.

Today, aside from being the US’ 250th, is also 1 year since the Development Diary XXX: Yippie! was posted. Although I had some issues with the set-up, I was frankly not extensively informed on the specifics to make a post about it. However, recently I’ve been reading multiple Roosevelt biographies for a different project altogether, and FDR’s in particular has been so eye-opening in regard to the new TNO lore that I simply must dissect that year-old post.

I will start with the **Lore** section of that post, which opens with FDR at Joseph Robinson’s funeral. Here FDR laments that Robinson had brought his court-packing scheme to the grave with him. The problem with this entire thing is that FDR DIDN’T go to Robinson’s funeral OTL, and his refusal to do so is actually what ultimately killed his court-packing bill.

“Roosevelt declined to attend Robinson's Arkansas funeral—a final, tragic error. FDR reacted to the news of Robinson's death with bitterness, identifying the majority leader with the loss of his Court plan 18 Robinson was beloved by his Senate colleagues and died in harness fighting for a proposal in which he did not fully believe. The president's failure to go to Little Rock was a slap in the face few senators could forgive. Roosevelt's popularity plummeted. Vice President Garner—who attended the funeral-brought the bad news: "You are beat, Cap'n. You haven't got the votes."!!º On July 22 the Senate rejected the bill, 20 in favor, 70 against.”

The subsequent segment goes over Roosevelt’s shortcomings in his 2nd term, and his reluctance to seek a 3rd term. While it is true that Roosevelt seesawed on seeking a 3rd term, he was pushed much further in that direction by the rapid escalation in Europe.

“On Monday, June 10, Roosevelt headed for Charlottesville, Virginia. FDR, Jr., was graduating from law school, and the president had been invited to give the commencement address. As Roosevelt boarded the train, he received word that Italy had declared war on France, launching thirty-two divisions against the lightly held Alpine passes and the Côte d'Azur. Whatever doubts FDR held about his future course vanished with Mussolini's attack.” Page 448

The next issue is Harry L. Hopkins being the Democratic nominee. As early as 1939, FDR knew that Hopkins was dying. Furthermore, Hopkins was frankly NOT a good candidate. Before FDR moved to seek a 3rd term, James Farley, his campaign manager, was seen as the lead Democratic candidate. I see no scenario in which the detested Hopkins is picked as the candidate instead of Farley if FDR somehow declares at the start that he isn’t seeking another term.

“Tuesday began badly for the president as well. Hopkins, often condescending when dealing with politicians but now even more abrasive because of his illness, was probably the last man in Washington who should have been entrusted with managing a campaign. Delegates were infuriated by his assumed power over the convention and resentful at the way he exercised it. "Harry seems to be making all his usual mistakes," Eleanor told friends at Val-Kill, where she listened to the proceedings over the radio. "He doesn't seem to know how to make people happy." Pages 457-458

Now all of this looks like there’d be absolutely no way that FDR wouldn’t seek a 3rd term, but there is a saving grace. OTL, after FDR won renomination, the real battle was over his Vice President. FDR preferred Henry Wallace, but literally everyone else, his wife, his advisors, the establishment, DID NOT want Wallace as VP. This got so heated that FDR was genuinely going to decline his renomination if Wallace wasn’t chosen, which in of itself was a fierce battle at the convention to get approved. OTL, FDR’s choice was eventually victorious, but it had the party on the edge.

“What is clear is that if he had not won, Roosevelt would not have run for a third term. In the White House, FDR listened to the proceedings in the upstairs study, playing solitaire. "His face was grim," Sam Rosenman remem-bered. As the vote tally seesawed, Roosevelt asked Missy for pad and pencil and began writing. He gave the draft to Rosenman. "Sam, take this inside and go to work on it. Smooth it out and get it ready for delivery. I may have to deliver it very quickly, so please hurry it up." Should Wallace lose, FDR would decline the nomination. “If I ever saw him with his mind made up it was that night," said Rosenman.” Pages 461-463

So, what’s the fix here? I’d say it’s rather straightforward. Have events proceed as they did OTL up to FDR being re-nominated for an unprecedented 3rd term. Then, have the already close battle over his VP result in Wallace NOT winning. FDR subsequently refuses renomination, the convention is thrown into chaos, and Farley is chosen as the candidate in an incredibly contentious subsequent ballot.

Farley, was frankly ill-prepared. OTL he had no experience in civic matters, and his Catholic faith (not unlike Al Smith in 1928) was seen as a handicap. If you’re trying to have the Republicans win in 1940, then a mess of a convention followed by a paltry candidate in Farley is the best choice.

“James Farley also eyed the office. An energetic fifty-one, Farley was immensely popular with the party's professional politicians. But his Catholicism was a handicap, and his lack of familiarity with policy issues was dumbfound-ing. Ignorance of economics and foreign affairs has never been a bar to high office, but in 1940 the nation required more than Farley could offer. Chicago's Cardinal Mundelein, the Democratic party's unofficial prelate, attempted to talk Farley out of running, but to no avail. "I will not let myself be kicked around by Roosevelt or anyone else," said Farley.” Pages 442-443

I still have issues with the rest of the setup pertaining to the 40s, but that’s all I will say for today. I don’t know how much this segment of the lore is relevant in-game, likely only in a few events if that, but I couldn’t resist bringing this info up as the initial post was quite contrived when it came to FDR.