Replies

The issue in 1940 -- the only real issue -- was isolation versus intervention. Taft, Vandenberg et al were strong isolationists, while Wilkie was for providing more US aid to the allies. Yes, as the fall campaign developed, in typical American fashion, both sides tried to appeal to all voters. Eventually Wilkie accused Roosevelt of a secret plan to lead America to war.
FDR in tern suddenly discovered isolationism and promised he would "not send American boys into any foreign wars."

When war came in December 1941, all the Republican isolationists supported it.

Foreign policy was a major issue, but not the only one. The economy was also a major issue, with Willkie making reference to "seven years of depression" under FDR. Willkie also made a big issue of the president's bid for an unprecedented third term.

Not every Republican supported the war when it finally broke out. Rep. Jeannette Rankin (R-Mont.) voted against declaring war--as she had done in 1917.

I would have supported Taft and Vandenberg in 1917. But in 1940 it’s a different world. Hitler’s Nazi Germany is on the march, and so is the Soviet Union. It’s a New World Order and it is clearly not compatible with Constitutional Republican government or free society.

Something has to be done, and we need to go do it.

"Not every Republican supported the war when it finally broke out. Rep. Jeannette Rankin (R-Mont.) voted against declaring war--as she had done in 1917."

I stand corrected, should have said: all the leading Republican candidates for president supported the war when it came.
I base that statement on having never heard of one who didn't.

Even Senator Robert Taft, who did not later-on support the Cold War (since the Soviets never attacked us directly), did support the war against Axis powers.

Why and how Wilkie defeated both Dewey and Taft in 1940 is an interesting question.
But we should note that Taft was again and again defeated -- in 1944 and 1948 by New York Governor Thomas Dewey, and in 1952 by General Eisenhower.

So there was obviously something about Taft which didn't quite sit right with the average Republican voter of those times.