Work in progress — cycles are added one at a time. Every quote is machine-verified against an archived source; follow the links to read it.

Maintain equal opportunity and rights for Negro citizens — Herbert Hoover, 1932

Similar by solution solution · rationale

Score	Cycle	Candidate	Issue	Position
0.61	1932	Norman Thomas	Equal rights and opportunity for Black Americans	Economic, political and legal equality for the Negro; a federal anti-lynching law; enforce the First Amendment
0.53	1932	Norman Thomas	Independence of the Supreme Court	A Workers' Rights Amendment; curb the Supreme Court's power over Congress; proportional representation; direct election of the President
0.51	1932	Franklin D. Roosevelt	Overall role and scale of the federal government	Government as a check on concentrated economic power — "individualism" redefined as equality of opportunity
0.51	1936	Alf Landon	Teachers' loyalty oaths and academic freedom	No loyalty oath for teachers that is not required of all citizens
0.50	1936	William Lemke	Minimum wages	A 'living annual wage' -- $1,800 for a family of five -- by federal law and a constitutional amendment if necessary
0.47	1932	Herbert Hoover	National Prohibition	Resubmit the Eighteenth Amendment so each state may decide, with constitutional guarantees against the saloon and against interference with dry states; enforce the law meanwhile
0.47	1936	Franklin D. Roosevelt	Amending the Constitution to enlarge (or restrain) federal power	Meet constitutional obstacles by 'clarifying amendment' -- and say nothing about the Supreme Court
0.46	1932	Norman Thomas	National Prohibition	Repeal the Eighteenth Amendment — the candidate preferring a binding national referendum
0.45	1936	Alf Landon	Right to organize and bargain collectively	Labor's right to organize in any union it prefers, free from coercion by employer, fellow employee or anyone else; organizers' lawful activity protected
0.45	1936	Alf Landon	Amending the Constitution to enlarge (or restrain) federal power	Wages, hours and child labor by State law and interstate compact -- and a constitutional amendment giving the States power if the courts forbid
0.45	1932	Herbert Hoover	Independence of the Supreme Court	Preserve the independence of the Supreme Court from party control
0.45	1936	Franklin D. Roosevelt	Concentrated economic power vs. the average citizen (rhetorical framing)	Take power from the 'economic royalists': the mandate of 1932 is to end economic tyranny
0.44	1936	Alf Landon	Independence of the Supreme Court	An independent Supreme Court secure from executive or legislative invasion; maintain the balance between States and nation
0.43	1936	Alf Landon	Equal rights and opportunity for Black Americans	Equal opportunity for colored citizens: protect their economic status and personal safety; further their employment
0.43	1932	Herbert Hoover	Tariff levels	Unconditional most-favored-nation treatment; no reciprocal bargains or preferences
0.42	1932	Franklin D. Roosevelt	National Prohibition	Repeal the Eighteenth Amendment by state conventions; legalize beer now; states control liquor and bar the saloon
0.42	1936	Frank Knox	Amending the Constitution to enlarge (or restrain) federal power	New federal activities only when legalized by constitutional amendment -- 'the horse and buggy method'
0.42	1932	Herbert Hoover	Overall role and scale of the federal government	Preserve 'ordered freedom' and equality of opportunity; reject a state-controlled or state-directed economy as 'tyranny'
0.41	1936	Franklin D. Roosevelt	Civil service and patronage	Immediately extend the merit system to all non-policy-making federal positions
0.41	1932	Herbert Hoover	Restriction of immigration	Continue the executive order practically prohibiting immigration except relatives of residents
0.40	1932	Albert C. Ritchie	National Prohibition	Repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment as a matter of states' rights
0.40	1936	Frank Knox	Overall role and scale of the federal government	Fair, honest, economical and efficient government; preserve free enterprise against 'amateur economic planners'
0.40	1932	Franklin D. Roosevelt	Regulation of utility rates and holding companies	Eight-point federal utility program: publicity, Federal Power Commission control of holding companies, prudent-investment rate base
0.40	1936	Alf Landon	Federal youth work and education programs (CCC, NYA)	Continue the Civilian Conservation Corps, add education fitting enrollees for private jobs, and take the politicians out of its administration
0.39	1936	Franklin D. Roosevelt	Working hours and labor standards	Revive the NRA's principles 'by one device or another' (imputed; the President would not say)