Stan Haynes

Roosevelt to Roosevelt: Presidential Nominating Conventions from 1904 to 1944

From the author:

“The 2024 nominating conventions are now part of American political history. My recent book, Roosevelt to Roosevelt: Presidential Nominating Conventions from 1904 to 1944, was published a few months before the conventions and was well-received. Kirkus Reviews called it ‘a fascinating portrait of the time’ and a ‘thought-provoking look at the mechanics of American politics.’ I had the honor of speaking about the book at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York, at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton, Virginia, before the Friends of Sagamore Hill (Theodore Roosevelt’s historic home) in Oyster Bay, New York, and at several other venues.

“Roosevelt to Roosevelt is my third book on the history of presidential nominating conventions. The four decades from 1904 to 1944 were perhaps the most crucial ones for the United States during the twentieth century. The era began with one Roosevelt, Theodore, in the White House, and ended with another, Franklin, residing there.

“Then, unlike today, conventions mattered. Their outcomes altered history. How did the victors at conventions prevail, and why were the losers defeated? Roosevelt to Roosevelt tells those intriguing stories.

“My two prior books on the history of American presidential nominating conventions, The First American Political Conventions and President-Making in the Gilded Age, chronicled the conventions held during the nineteenth century. The New Yorker has called me ‘the most exhaustive chronicler of the conventions.'”

Reviews:

“[A] well-researched and well-written narrative . . . . [T]he historical recollections are anything but boring as they reveal the intriguing stories of past presidential contenders who negotiated the everchanging tides of power and politics . . . . Haynes’ enthusiasm for US political history illuminates the subject matter at all times, and it’s difficult not to be swept away by these true tales . . . . Fans of political history will undoubtedly enjoy this unique offering.”–US Review of Books (RECOMMENDED)

“[A] captivating journey through four decades of American political evolution. Haynes masterfully navigates the tumultuous landscape of the early twentieth century, offering insights into the inner workings of nominating conventions and the personalities that shaped them . . . . Against the backdrop of two world wars, economic upheaval, and social change, Haynes skillfully illuminates the pivotal moments that determined presidential nominees and, consequently, the course of history . . . . Roosevelt to Roosevelt is highly recommended . . . .” — Readers’ Favorite (5 star review)

“This book is not only for fans of Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, but for all who enjoy our great history. What interesting times they were, those conventions of the early 20th century. This is the best book I’ve read on political conventions. You will not only be entertained by the rich personalities of the era, but also greatly educated.”—Brian Tadler, Friends of Sagamore Hill (home of Theodore Roosevelt)

“Haynes presents a detailed account of the U.S. presidential nominating conventions and candidates from 1904-1944, with a particular emphasis on the Roosevelts . . . . The book provides a truly astonishing amount of detail about the people, events, and settings for each convention . . . . [M]any of the anecdotes, like one describing alcohol flowing “freely for conventioneers” six months into Prohibition, paint a fascinating portrait of the time. A meticulously researched, thought-provoking look at the mechanics of American politics.”—Kirkus Reviews

[Recorded on October 24, 2024]