Alf Landon started off in an oil business and made a life out of it. He was able to get a political degree in law and began his political career when he joined the Republican Party in 1912. He had an extensive knowledge of law that he was able to help the careers of Theodore Roosevelt in his campaign as well as the Progressive Party. Landon helped propose programs that dealt with women's suffrage and other issues in society.
In 1932, Landon was elected as the Govenor of Kansas and became one of the main people in the Republican Party. Landon was reelected in 1934 and was chosen in 1936 to be representing the Republican Party to be running against Franklin Roosevelt. This was Landon's chance to be President and could get back Republican control over the Congress since Hoover's loss to Roosevelt in the election before seated more Democrats in Congress thus giving them the majority. Landon had lots of success and the Republican Party thought that he would be a fititng opponent and even had a chance to win against Roosevelt. The Republican Platform was solid and it included many things that they stood by including the President having too much power over Congress, Government Intervention shouldnt happen in the economy, as well as the rights and liberties of the American people have been voilated by the Roosevelt.
The Republican stood by :
1. To maintain the American system of Constitutional and local self government, and to resist all attempts to impair the authority of the Supreme Court of the United States, the final protector of the rights of our citizens against the arbitrary encroachments of the legislative and executive branches of government. There can be no individual liberty without an independent judiciary.
2. To preserve the American system of free enterprise, private competition, and equality of opportunity, and to seek its constant betterment in the interests of all.
Although the Republicans lost by a large margin, Landon was a great leader and continued to be the govenor or Kansas and continued to be a influential Republican Leader and advisor,
I think it is interesting that this figure was able to propose ideas advocating for women's suffrage, prohibition of child labor, and antitrust legislation. It seems that he can be deemed very progressive, which is interesting because during this time the progressive movement was starting to die out. I wonder how he influenced T. Roosevelt and how it enforced some of T. Roosevelt's views
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