The party split grew , and in 1912 , Taft and Roosevelt were rivals for the Republican nomination . The 1912 Republican National Convention was bitterly divided . At Taft 's request , Harding gave a speech nominating the president , but the angry delegates were not receptive to Harding 's oratory . Taft was renominated , but Roosevelt supporters bolted the party . Harding , as a loyal Republican , supported Taft . The Republican vote was split between Taft , the party 's official candidate , and Roosevelt , running under the label of the Progressive Party . This allowed the Democratic candidate , New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson , to be elected
1912 Republican National Convention
1912 Republican National Convention
Warren G. Harding