“Yardstick” was used in the 1930s to show how lowered electric rates from the Tennessee Valley Authority measured against private power. Wendell Willkie became the spokesman for the power companies, and the ex-Democrat won the 1940 Republican nomination, then yielded to FDR, who pushed for the TVA. But George Norris of NE is considered the father of the TVA, a still political force in TN, MS, and AL.
Willkie's book is around here somewhere, belonged to my grandpa I suspect. Even the koolaid drinkers of that generation started to turn against FDR over his push for a 3rd, and then 4th term. Willkie's foreword thanks President Roosevelt for allowing the book to be published during the time of paper rationing, some such ****.
Figures a metooliberal, both of whose parents (it sez here) were lawyers, would be ex-Demwit. He's a mixed bag, showing the traditional GOP suppot for civil rights and the 1st amendment, but for the most part supporting the New Deal.
FDR's decision to run in 1940 was the last straw for his VP Garner (1st of 3), who thought he might be endorsed to run as FDR's successor during the period FDR considered retirement. Willkie died in 1944, predeceasing Roosevelt.