Willkie McNary

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The 1940 presidential election saw a shocking Republican nomination when Wendell Willkie was chosen to lead the ticket. Willkie was an American lawyer and corporate executive and largely not a political figure. To counteract this lack of political experience, his running mate was Charles McNary, who had been a senator of Oregon for 23 years and was highly experienced. 

Willkie gained momentum late into the process and passed expected winners, William Taft and Thomas Dewey. Both Taft and Dewey were staunchly isolationist and wanted to avoid getting involved in World War II. Republicans at the time wanted to help their allies, which Willkie was in favor of. Willkie lost the election in a landslide, losing to popular incumbent Franklin Roosevelt. Roosevelt was running an unprecedented third term, and his soaring popularity showed up during the election leading to his massive victory.