#final campaign

[fdrlibrary]

"Barkley Nominates Roosevelt for Fourth Term"

- The Evening Bulletin, Philadelphia, July 20, 1944

[fdrlibrary]

Commander in Chief

FDR poses with General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz aboard the USS Baltimore shortly after his arrival in Hawaii, July 26, 1944

📷: NPx 48-22:3868(476)

In his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in 1944, President Roosevelt made it clear he would not campaign in the usual manner. "In these days of tragic sorrow, I do not consider it fitting," he asserted. "And besides in these days of global warfare, I shall not be able to find the time." Of course, FDR understood the political value of publicly displaying his role as commander in chief. A prime opportunity came in late July when the President boarded a warship bound for Hawaii to meet with General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz.

The meeting was organized to end a dispute. By July 1944, forces had pushed deep into Japan's empire. In the South Pacific, MacArthur was poised to liberate the Philippines. Nimitz had battle his way across the Central Pacific and would soon control the Mariana Islands - where air bases would make it possible to bomb Japan. Nimitz wanted to bypass the Philippines and focus American efforts on the Central Pacific. But MacArthur was single-minded in his desire to "return" to the Philippines.

On July 26, FDR arrived to settle the matter. After he and the two feuding leaders smiled for the cameras, they made their cases to the President. In the end, FDR resolved the conflict by authorizing a continued advance on both fronts. On July 29, he departed for the mainland, where news photos depicted a confident commander in chief conferring with his two favorite subordinates.

FDR reviews military strategy with Admiral Chester Nimitz (standing), General Douglas MacArthur (left) and Admiral William Leahy (right), July 28, 1944

📷: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/197116

Wounded soldiers from the fighting on Saipan are carried to FDR’s car to meet the President, July 29, 1944

📷: NPx 66-103 (58)

[fdrlibrary]

Marines raise the American flag on Iwo Jima, on this day - February 23, 1945.

📷: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/520748

[fdrlibrary]

Marines aboard a landing craft headed for Tinian Island, July 1944

📷: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/513181

[fdrlibrary]

In the Philippines, U.S. nurse 1st Lt. Phyllis Hocking tends the wounded in a hospital quartered in a church as the congregation kneels during Christmas Eve services, December 24, 1944.

📷: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/542115

[fdrlibrary]

Marines of the 5th Division on Red Beach No. 1 toward Suribachi-yama, at Iwo Jima, February 19, 1945.

📷: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/532543

[fdrlibrary]

General Douglas MacArthur wades ashore during initial landings at Leyte, Philippines, October 1944. 

📷: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/531424