Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________

The New Deal History and Geography

Presidential Election of 1936

“As Maine goes, so goes the nation” was once a popular phrase in U.S.
politics. Maine used to hold its presidential elections in September—two
months earlier than other states—because rough weather made voting in
November difficult. Political analysts considered Maine a bellwether state;
that is, the candidate who carried Maine usually won the entire election.
The saying “As Maine goes, so goes the nation” lost much of its
meaning in the presidential election of 1936, when Maine voters selected
Republican presidential nominee Alfred “Alf” Landon over Democratic
incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt. Only one other state, Vermont, joined
Maine in choosing Landon. This outcome led Roosevelt’s campaign
director, James Farley, to joke “As Maine goes, so goes Vermont.”
Although Landon earned 36.5 percent of the popular vote, he received
only 8 votes in the electoral college (compared to Roosevelt’s 523 electoral
votes). It was an overwhelming victory for the Democrats.

1936 U.S. Presidential Election Results

Candidate Home State Party Popular Vote Electoral Vote

Franklin D.
New York Democratic 27,757,333 523
Roosevelt
Alfred M.
Kansas Republican 16,684,231 8
Landon

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

17 The New Deal
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________

The New Deal History and Geography

MAP ACTIVITY
1. With a highlighter or pen, fill in the box next to “Democratic (Roosevelt)” in the
map’s key. Use the same highlighter or pen to shade the states carried by the
Democratic nominee in the presidential election of 1936. (Note: Not until ratification
of the 23rd Amendment in 1961 was Washington, D.C., allowed to choose electors
for president and vice president.)
2. Use a second highlighter or different colored pen to fill in the box next to
“Republican (Landon)” in the map’s key. Use the same highlighter or pen to shade
the states carried by the Republican nominee in the presidential election of 1936.

ANALYZING MAPS
1. Region In what region of the United States did Alf Landon carry states: New
England, Middle Atlantic, or South Atlantic?

____________________________________________________________________
2. Place Did Landon, the governor of Kansas, carry his home state?

____________________________________________________________________
3. Make Inferences In 1936 Maine had 5 electoral votes. How many electoral votes
did Vermont have?

____________________________________________________________________

EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Study the map of the 1932 presidential election in your textbook. In 1932,
which states selected the Republican candidate, Herbert Hoover, over
Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt? How do these states compare with those
that selected the Republican candidate, Alfred Landon, over Roosevelt in
1936? Write a brief paragraph comparing the results of the two elections.

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

18 The New Deal