AUGUST 6

On this date in 1912, the Bull Moose Party held a convention in Chicago, IL.  Duh okay, how many said, "What the heck was the Bull Moose Party?"  Well, here's the skinny.

Republican Theodore Roosevelt was president of these United States for two terms ending in 1909.  For the 1908 election, he endorsed William H. Taft of Cincinnati, his secretary of war, and Taft won.  In the next four years, Teddy R. became more and more disappointed in Taft and his policies.  Turns out William Howard was a lot more conservative than Roosevelt imagined.

So, at the 1912 Republican National Convention, Mr. Roosevelt put his name into nomination opposing Taft.  The conventioneers selected Taft to run for a second term.  This sneezed off Teddy to no end.  He collected a large number of his friends and like-thinking left-leaning Republicans and started a new party.  It was called the Progressive Party.  From that base, Roosevelt ran as a third party candidate in 1912.

Still wondering about the bull moose?  Well, when a reporter asked Roosevelt about his age and if he felt physically strong enough to serve again, Teddy answered, "I feel strong as a bull moose."  The name stuck.  Everyone called the Progressive Party the Bull Moose Party. 

The election?  All Roosevelt managed to do was split the Republican vote.  Democrat Woodrow Wilson was elected President and the Democrats took control of the Senate at the same time.

It's a terrible idea for a party to allow itself to be split over policy.  But . . . don't be surprised if it happens again.