the-scenes supporter of the prominent isolationist group America First.10 This

isolationist sentiment dominated party thinking. Willkie, who had joined the GOP in

1936, disagreed and argued even more strongly than FDR for involvement in the

European war. A small but influential group of businessmen with Republican ties

supported his candidacy and had interests in continued trade with European markets.

They also rejected the notion that German aggression had no impact on the United

States. These industrialists began organizing local "Willkie for President" clubs

throughout the country in order to cultivate grass-roots support for Willkie's

nomination. This managed mobilization paid off at the 1940 Republican National

Convention where Willkie emerged victorious after a near-deadlocked convention. As

the proceedings began, throngs of supporters filled the galleries and chanted Willkie's

name. The Republicans, not used to such an energetic display from their supporters,

took this highly-orchestrated event as a sign of strength and selected Willkie to head

their ticket. Although Willkie did have a degree of popularity, he did not have an

established political base and had to rely on his financial backers to establish

relationships with local GOP organizations quickly. While the party faithful supported

him loyally, he did not have the familiar relationship with his supporters that a Taft or

Dewey would have had and could not mobilize voters as effectively.11

 Had the major campaign issue been the New Deal or Roosevelt's unprecedented

third-term candidacy, the Republicans might have won the election. When Axis

aggression dominated the discussion, however, Willkie found himself tied to the

Republican position of non-intervention. By September, he had embaced isolationism


10 Patterson, Mr. Republican, 242.

11 Herbert S. Parmet and Marie B. Hecht, Never Again: A President Runs for a Third Term (New York:
MacMillian Company, 1968); Warren Moscow, Roosevelt and Willkie (Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice-Hall, 1968); Johnson, The Republican Party and Wendell Willkie.