FDR v. Alf Landon

In the Presidential Election of 1936, Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Gov. Alf Landon of Kansas in a landslide. Gov. Landon carried only two states-- Maine and Vermont-- which constituted one of the greatest election defeats in American history.

FDR is justifiably regarded as one of America's greatest presidents, who successfully battled both the Great Depression in the 1930's and the Axis powers in World War II. He is one of American history's charismatic and larger than life figures. People around the world admire and revere him. All of my life I have enjoyed reading about him and watching media productions about his life. I don't need any prompting to recite some of his best-known quotations, such as: " The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." His Pearl Harbor address to the nation is similarly familiar to most Americans.

By comparison, very little about Gov. Alf Landon is generally known. He was a two term Governor of Kansas who ran unsuccessfully as the Republican candidate against FDR and then spent the rest of his life in Kansas. He turned down an invitation to serve in FDR's Administration as a cabinet member and never ran for public office again. He never came remotely close to enjoying the fame and importance enjoyed by FDR. There is no monument to him in Washington, and I believe many Americans today don't even know who he was.

Despite the foregoing, as well as my overwhelming admiration for FDR, if I were forced to choose to live the life of one of these men, I would unhesitatingly select Alf Landon ! My reasons have nothing to do with political success, fame, or enduring importance; rather, they have everything to do with personal happiness, family, and longevity. As is well-known, FDR died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 63. Prior to his untimely death, he suffered from polio most of his adult life and had to be moved like the severely disabled person he was, since ordinary walking was impossible. He suffered from migraine headaches, high blood pressure, and other serious ailments.

By comparison, Landon lived to age 100 in fine health. He had a happy family life and lots of friends. His first wife died and he lived with his second wife, who survived him, for 57 years. He became a millionaire by age 42 and prospered as a Kansas businessman. One of his three kids married Sen. Howard Baker and served as a US Senator from Kansas. Landon had enduring good spirits and was undaunted by his presidential defeat. Two things demonstrate his equanimity and good humor to me: he genuinely admired FDR, was never bitter, and named his granddaughters' two ponies "Maine" and "Vermont".

FDR had well-known infidelity and marital problems with Eleanor Roosevelt,was often lonely despite the many people around him, and got worn down and died early due to bad health and the unrelenting demands of his office. He had limited time for normal family life, although the causes he gave his life for will make him famous for ages to come.


So what about you? Which man's life would you select if you were forced to make a choice between them, as improbable as that circumstance might be?






So, what about you? Whose life appeals to you more, if you were forced to choose between them for yourself?