Willkie Second Million

Gold script and text on dark blue background.

Wendell Willkie, a Republican, produced memorabilia for every million he raised for his presidential campaign in 1940. He was not liked by the big figures in the Republican party due to his views being in line with his opponent at the time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Willkie supported minimum wage, unemployment insurance, a limit on workers’ hours, and did not agree with the isolationist views of the more prominent party members. This sat well with moderate Republicans. He was seen as a “dark horse” becoming prominent with Democrats and Republicans with no prior notice to running. He also supported the civil rights movement and was opposed to racism. Willkie believed in bipartisanship for the betterment of the country. He lost the election in 1940; 449 to 82.