PresidentialPositionsIssuesReceptionTimelineDocuments

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.

Meet constitutional obstacles by 'clarifying amendment' -- and say nothing about the Supreme Court — Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1936

Similar by solution solution · rationale

ScoreCycleCandidateIssuePosition
0.751936Alf LandonAmending the Constitution to enlarge (or restrain) federal powerWages, hours and child labor by State law and interstate compact -- and a constitutional amendment giving the States power if the courts forbid
0.721932Norman ThomasIndependence of the Supreme CourtA Workers' Rights Amendment; curb the Supreme Court's power over Congress; proportional representation; direct election of the President
0.681936William LemkeMinimum wagesA 'living annual wage' -- $1,800 for a family of five -- by federal law and a constitutional amendment if necessary
0.681932Herbert HooverNational ProhibitionResubmit the Eighteenth Amendment so each state may decide, with constitutional guarantees against the saloon and against interference with dry states; enforce the law meanwhile
0.611936Frank KnoxAmending the Constitution to enlarge (or restrain) federal powerNew federal activities only when legalized by constitutional amendment -- 'the horse and buggy method'
0.601932Franklin D. RooseveltNational ProhibitionRepeal the Eighteenth Amendment by state conventions; legalize beer now; states control liquor and bar the saloon
0.601936Alf LandonIndependence of the Supreme CourtAn independent Supreme Court secure from executive or legislative invasion; maintain the balance between States and nation
0.581932Herbert HooverRegulation of securities issuance and exchangesNo federal 'blue sky' law — securities regulation belongs to the states, and the President should not police booms
0.571936Franklin D. RooseveltWorking hours and labor standardsShorter hours, higher wages, end child labor and sweatshops
0.551936Alf LandonExecutive reciprocal trade agreements (1934 Act)Repeal the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act; return treaty power to the Senate and tariff-making to Congress
0.551936Franklin D. RooseveltWorking hours and labor standardsRevive the NRA's principles 'by one device or another' (imputed; the President would not say)
0.551932Norman ThomasEqual rights and opportunity for Black AmericansEconomic, political and legal equality for the Negro; a federal anti-lynching law; enforce the First Amendment
0.541932Franklin D. RooseveltTariff levelsA "competitive" tariff set through a scientific Tariff Commission, with anti-log-rolling rules and a public counsel
0.541932Herbert HooverTariff levelsUnconditional most-favored-nation treatment; no reciprocal bargains or preferences
0.541932Albert C. RitchieNational ProhibitionRepeal of the Eighteenth Amendment as a matter of states' rights
0.541932Herbert HooverIndependence of the Supreme CourtPreserve the independence of the Supreme Court from party control
0.531932Herbert HooverRight to organize and bargain collectivelyCollective bargaining by representatives of the employees' own choice, 'without the interference of any one'
0.531932Franklin D. RooseveltOverall role and scale of the federal governmentGovernment as a check on concentrated economic power — "individualism" redefined as equality of opportunity
0.511932Norman ThomasNational ProhibitionRepeal the Eighteenth Amendment — the candidate preferring a binding national referendum
0.511932Alfred E. SmithNational ProhibitionOutright repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment — the issue Roosevelt was downplaying
0.491932Herbert HooverTariff levelsPreserve the bipartisan Tariff Commission's flexible power to adjust rates without congressional log-rolling
0.491936Frank KnoxOverall role and scale of the federal governmentFair, honest, economical and efficient government; preserve free enterprise against 'amateur economic planners'
0.491936Alf LandonUnemployment insuranceLeave unemployment insurance to State experiment; no federal tax to compel it
0.491932Franklin D. RooseveltAdherence to the World CourtAdhere to the World Court; arbitration of disputes; consultation to enforce the Kellogg-Briand Pact
0.481936Franklin D. RooseveltCivil service and patronageImmediately extend the merit system to all non-policy-making federal positions