Franklin Roosevelt spent the months leading up to the 1940 Democratic National Convention refusing to say whether he would seek a third term. His vice president, John Nance Garner, along with Postmaster General James Farley, announced their candidacies for the Democratic nomination. When the convention came, Roosevelt sent a message to the convention saying he would run only if drafted, saying delegates were free to vote for whomever they pleased. This message was interpreted to mean he was willing to be drafted, and he was renominated on the convention's first ballot. Roosevelt won a decisive victory over Republican Wendell Willkie, becoming the only president to exceed eight years in office. His decision to seek a third term dominated the election campaign. Willkie ran against the open-ended presidential tenure, while Democrats cited the war in Europe as a reason for breaking with precedent.
FranKliN roosEVelt spEnT the moNtHs leaDIng up To THe 1940 dEmoCRAtic nATIoNal cOnvEnTiOn RefusiNg to Say wHether hE woUlD seEK A thiRd Term. hiS viCe pRESIDent, John nANce gaRnEr, along with PosTMastEr geNEral JAMeS Farley, ANnOUNCed thEIr canDiDacieS for the DEmoCrAtiC NOMinatiOn. When THe conVenTion CaME, rooSevelt sent A MEssage to tHE conveNtion SAyinG hE wOULD RUN onLy if draftEd, SaYING dElegAtEs werE fReE tO vote fOr whoMEVer THey pleAseD. ThiS mESsagE wAs intErpreTEd To Mean he WaS wIlLing To be drafted, and hE was RenoMiNaTeD On the ConvenTiOn'S firSt BaLloT. rooseVElT won a deCISive victORy OveR RePublican wenDell willkie, BEcOminG tHe oNLy presIdEnt To exceed eight yeaRs in office. HIS deciSIoN to seEk a thIRd tErm dOminated thE ELeCtiOn caMPaIgn. Willkie ran against tHe open-endEd prEsideNtial tEnure, wHIle deMocrAts Cited thE wAr in euRope as A reAson FoR brEaking With preCedent.