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.

Government as umpire and mediator; develop conciliation instead of rushing disputes to the President's doorstep — Alf Landon, 1936

Similar by solution solution · rationale

ScoreCycleCandidateIssuePosition
0.541932Franklin D. RooseveltRailroad regulation and consolidationSix-point railroad program — conditional federal support, receivership reform, ICC regulation of trucks and holding companies, consolidation
0.481932Franklin D. RooseveltNational economic planningIndustry leaders to organize cooperatively for the common good; government regulates only as a last resort
0.471936Franklin D. RooseveltCivil service and patronageImmediately extend the merit system to all non-policy-making federal positions
0.461932Franklin D. RooseveltAdherence to the World CourtAdhere to the World Court; arbitration of disputes; consultation to enforce the Kellogg-Briand Pact
0.451932Norman ThomasIndependence of the Supreme CourtA Workers' Rights Amendment; curb the Supreme Court's power over Congress; proportional representation; direct election of the President
0.441936Alf LandonIndependence of the Supreme CourtAn independent Supreme Court secure from executive or legislative invasion; maintain the balance between States and nation
0.441932Norman ThomasPublic ownership of major industriesTransfer the principal industries — banking, natural resources, utilities — to social ownership by compensation, not confiscation
0.431932Herbert HooverRegulation of securities issuance and exchangesNo federal 'blue sky' law — securities regulation belongs to the states, and the President should not police booms
0.421936Alf LandonFederal 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
0.421936Alf LandonNeutrality, arms embargoes and staying out of foreign warsPromote peace by all honorable means; no League, no World Court, no plan that could involve the U.S. in a war it had no part in beginning
0.421932Franklin D. RooseveltRegulation of utility rates and holding companiesEight-point federal utility program: publicity, Federal Power Commission control of holding companies, prudent-investment rate base
0.421936Franklin D. RooseveltAmending the Constitution to enlarge (or restrain) federal powerMeet constitutional obstacles by 'clarifying amendment' -- and say nothing about the Supreme Court
0.421932Herbert HooverRight to organize and bargain collectivelyCollective bargaining by representatives of the employees' own choice, 'without the interference of any one'
0.411932Herbert 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
0.411932Franklin D. RooseveltPublic works as employment policyExpand self-sustaining public works and temporary federal work (forests, flood control, waterways), with advance planning
0.411936Franklin D. RooseveltExecutive reciprocal trade agreements (1934 Act)Continue the reciprocal trade agreements to lower barriers against American exports
0.411936Franklin D. RooseveltAntitrust and concentration of economic powerVigorously enforce the antitrust laws and restore their efficacy against new corporate devices
0.411936Franklin D. RooseveltRight to organize and bargain collectivelyGuard the worker's right to organize and bargain collectively
0.411932Franklin D. RooseveltOverall role and scale of the federal governmentGovernment as a check on concentrated economic power — "individualism" redefined as equality of opportunity
0.411932Franklin D. RooseveltTariff levelsA "competitive" tariff set through a scientific Tariff Commission, with anti-log-rolling rules and a public counsel
0.411932Norman ThomasEqual rights and opportunity for Black AmericansEconomic, political and legal equality for the Negro; a federal anti-lynching law; enforce the First Amendment
0.411932Norman ThomasFarm and home mortgage reliefGovernment aid to farmers and small home-owners against foreclosure and tax sales; moratorium on interest debated
0.401932Franklin D. RooseveltCampaign finance and lobbyingContinuous publicity of political contributions; stronger Corrupt Practices Act; curb paid lobbies
0.401936Norman ThomasPublic ownership of major industriesThe New Deal 'has not worked'; build the cooperative commonwealth
0.391936Alf LandonRight to organize and bargain collectivelyLabor's right to organize in any union it prefers, free from coercion by employer, fellow employee or anyone else; organizers' lawful activity protected