1912 Presidential Election Had A Tough Third-Party Candidate

This is the fifth in a five-part series on lesser-known contentious presidential elections in American history.

America has seen its share of third-party presidential candidates, from Strom Thurman and George Wallace to H. Ross Perot and Ralph Nader. But the 1912 election featured the most formidable third-party candidate of all: former President Theodore Roosevelt of New York.

Roosevelt, originally a Republican, ascended to the presidency in 1901 after President William McKinley’s assassination, and he vowed after winning the election of 1904 that he wouldn’t seek another term in the White House; he would regret that decision for the rest of his life.

Instead, his secretary of war and good friend, William Howard Taft of Ohio, won Roosevelt’s endorsement and then the presidency in the election of 1908. Unfortunately, Roosevelt thought many of his progressive programs were being abandoned under Taft, a judicious manager who disliked the spotlight and criticism that comes with being president.

Roosevelt hoped to wrestle the Republican nomination from Taft in 1912, winning several primaries including Taft’s home state. However, party bosses preferred Taft’s conservative politics, and he became the GOP’s nominee.

Rather than step aside or endorse Taft as his party’s candidate, Roosevelt formed his own party: the Progressive Party, coined the "Bull Moose Party."

Meanwhile, the Democrats sought a candidate who was very unlike their previous one, William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska, a pious populist former congressman who lost the presidential election three times. Democrats found their man in 1912 with New Jersey Gov. Woodrow Wilson.

A native Virginian, Wilson touted a more conservative tone than Bryan and was more acceptable to the eastern establishment. He also held a doctorate degree, was a former president of Princeton and a talented speechwriter and orator.

In one bizarre incident, Roosevelt was nearly killed on Oct. 14, when a would-be assassin shot him in the chest during an open-car campaign appearance. Rather than seek immediate medical attention, Roosevelt gave a long, scheduled speech and showed the crowd his wound: "I have just been shot, but it takes more than that to kill a bull moose!"

Taft had a very difficult presidency – weighing more than 300 pounds – he once got stuck in the White House bathtub. Their friendship soured on the campaign trail, with Roosevelt bluntly criticizing Taft’s intelligence and obesity. Taft even broke down in tears when the emotionally charged campaign overwhelmed him.

On Election Day, Taft and Roosevelt split Republican votes, giving a landslide victory to Wilson, who won 40 of 48 states.

Taft suffered a huge defeat, winning just two states and eight electoral votes, the fewest in history for a sitting president.

Roosevelt and Taft went their separate ways: Roosevelt explored the Amazon rainforest, while Taft became the only president to become chief justice of the Supreme Court.

And Taft attended Roosevelt’s funeral in 1919.

Mike Fox is a copy editor with the Bristol Herald Courier. He may be reached at