<P> The United States presidential election of 1940 was the 39th quadrennial presidential election , held on Tuesday , November 5 , 1940 . The election was fought in the shadow of World War II in Europe , as the United States was emerging from the Great Depression . Incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt , the Democratic candidate , broke with tradition and ran for a third term , which became a major issue . The surprise Republican candidate was maverick businessman Wendell Willkie , a dark horse who crusaded against Roosevelt 's perceived failure to end the Depression and his supposed eagerness for war . </P>
<P> The United States presidential election of 1940 was the 39th quadrennial presidential election , held on Tuesday , November 5 , 1940 . The election was fought in the shadow of World War II in Europe , as the United States was emerging from the Great Depression . Incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt , the Democratic candidate , broke with tradition and ran for a third term , which became a major issue . The surprise Republican candidate was maverick businessman Wendell Willkie , a dark horse who crusaded against Roosevelt 's perceived failure to end the Depression and his supposed eagerness for war . </P>
what was the significance of the 1940 presidential election
what was the significance of the 1940 presidential election
Incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt , the Democratic candidate , broke with tradition and ran for a third term
Incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt , the Democratic candidate , broke with tradition and ran for a third term