Simone Lawson
In March 2019, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed that Republicans in Congress amended the Constitution to prevent Franklin Delano Roosevelt from being re-elected. She was referring to the 22nd Amendment, which states that No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. However, Roosevelt died in 1945, two years before the amendment was passed in 1947. While the amendment was indeed a reaction to Roosevelt's four terms as president, it did not affect his re-election. Critics accused Ocasio-Cortez of misrepresenting the facts, but some sources defended her claim, noting that talks of a term-limits amendment began during Roosevelt's presidency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Speaker | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez |
| Commonly known as | AOC |
| Party | Democratic Party |
| Topic | The 22nd Amendment |
| Claim | Republicans amended the Constitution to prevent Roosevelt's re-election |
| Fact | The 22nd Amendment was passed in 1947, two years after Roosevelt's death |
| Historical Context | Roosevelt was elected for an unprecedented fourth term in 1944 |
| Roosevelt's opponent, Thomas Dewey, supported a two-term limit in 1943 | |
| Republicans won control of Congress in 1946 and passed the amendment in 1947 |
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What You'll Learn
The 22nd Amendment
In March 2019, Democrat U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated that Republicans amended the Constitution to prevent Roosevelt from being re-elected. This assertion was criticised by some as being historically inaccurate. While it is true that Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms in office were the impetus for the 22nd Amendment, the amendment was not passed until after Roosevelt's death.
Ocasio-Cortez's comments sparked a debate on Twitter, with some users accusing her of misrepresenting the facts, while others defended her, arguing that the legislative process for the 22nd Amendment began in 1944, before Roosevelt's death. The National Constitution Center supported this defence, explaining that talk of a presidential term-limits amendment started in 1944 when Republican candidate Thomas Dewey stated that a potential 16-year term for Roosevelt was a threat to democracy.
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Roosevelt's four terms
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, was the first and only president to be elected to four terms. He was elected for a historic fourth term in 1944, defeating his Republican opponent Thomas Dewey with 54% of the popular vote.
Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms in office were the impetus for the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, which limits presidents to two terms. The amendment was passed in 1947, two years after Roosevelt died in office, and ratified in 1951. The text of the amendment states, "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once."
The movement for term limits gained momentum during Roosevelt's presidency, with many arguing that four terms or 16 years in office posed a threat to democracy and freedom. In a 1943 speech, Dewey embraced the idea of a two-term limit, stating that it was necessary to prevent a threat to freedom. While Roosevelt's supporters argued that his experience and leadership were crucial during World War II, critics feared he was leading the country towards socialism.
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Republicans' 1940 and 1944 platforms
In March 2019, Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated that Republicans amended the US Constitution to prevent Franklin Delano Roosevelt from being re-elected. She was referring to the 22nd Amendment, which limited presidents to two terms. However, this amendment was passed in 1947, two years after Roosevelt's death and only after the Republicans gained control of the House and the Senate in the 1946 elections. Thus, Ocasio-Cortez's statement was deemed historically inaccurate.
Now, let's take a closer look at the Republican platforms of 1940 and 1944:
Republicans 1940 Platform:
The Republican Party Platform of 1940 reflected the party's principles and objectives, mirroring the Preamble to the US Constitution. They emphasised their commitment to "form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty." They criticised the Roosevelt Administration for failing to achieve these objectives and for exacerbating class divisions.
The Republicans opposed US involvement in foreign wars, citing the negative impacts of World War I, including increased national debt, uncollectible foreign debts, and disruption to their economic system. They blamed the New Deal for the nation's unpreparedness and the risk of entanglement in another world war. They advocated for Americanism, preparedness, and peace.
The party pledged to build national defence capabilities to protect the United States and its interests from foreign attacks while supporting necessary defence measures proposed by the Administration. They criticised the President's inflammatory statements towards other governments and condemned executive acts that could lead to unauthorised wars.
Republicans 1944 Platform:
The 1944 Republican Party Platform reflected the ongoing World War II context. They pledged to prosecute the war to achieve total victory against their enemies, cooperating with the United Nations and supporting their armed forces and Navy. They promised to bring home members of the armed forces as soon as possible after the war's conclusion.
The Republicans criticised the New Deal for its impact on labour, condemning wage freezes and the binding of men to their jobs as detrimental to freedom. They opposed the creation of a Labor Front, seeing it as a step towards totalitarianism. They pledged to end political trickery in labour law administration and ensure equal benefits regardless of political affiliation.
The party emphasised the importance of the Secretary of Labor being a representative of labour and promised fair administration of labour laws. They accepted the purposes of the National Labor Relations Act, the Wage and Hour Act, and other statutes designed to protect American workers. They also commended American farmers for their contributions to the war effort.
Additionally, the 1944 Republican platform included a call for a Constitutional amendment to establish equal rights for women, which remained in subsequent platforms until 1980.
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FDR's death in 1945
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, died on April 12, 1945, at the age of 63. He had been inaugurated for his fourth term as president on January 20, 1945, an unprecedented feat. FDR's health had been undermined by various conditions, including very high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and possibly melanoma. He was also weakened by post-polio syndrome and the stress of leading the nation's recovery from the Great Depression and the Second World War. On March 29, 1945, FDR went to Warm Springs, Georgia, on his doctor's advice to recover from exhaustion. While there, he collapsed while sitting for a portrait painting and complained of a severe headache. Within two hours, he was pronounced dead, having succumbed to a cerebral hemorrhage (stroke).
The news of FDR's death stunned the nation, and all major American radio networks quickly issued bulletins, interrupting their regular programming with news reports mixed with solemn music and interviews with shocked citizens. FDR's death also had significant political implications. Harry Truman, who had become FDR's third vice president in January 1945, assumed the presidency. Truman's first cabinet meeting took place on the evening of FDR's death, and he was soon briefed on critical matters, including the Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb program.
FDR's death also impacted the political landscape. The 22nd Amendment, which limited presidents to two terms, was passed in 1947, two years after FDR's death. While some critics have accused Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) of the Democratic Party of misrepresenting history by claiming that Republicans amended the Constitution to prevent FDR's reelection, there is nuance to this debate. While the amendment was passed after FDR's death, discussions and calls for such a limit had been ongoing before his death, and his unprecedented fourth term was a factor in these discussions.
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Congress's 1947 approval
In March 2019, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) stated that Republicans amended the U.S. Constitution to prevent Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) from being re-elected. She was referring to the 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms. However, critics pointed out that FDR died in 1945, two years before the amendment was passed in 1947.
The history behind the 22nd Amendment dates back to the 1940s, when there was growing concern over FDR's unprecedented four terms in office. In 1943, FDR's 1944 Republican opponent, Thomas Dewey, gave a speech in Buffalo, New York, where he expressed support for a constitutional amendment limiting presidents to two terms. This idea gained traction within the Republican Party, and it was included in their 1944 convention platform.
Following the 1946 midterm elections, Republicans gained control of both the House and the Senate. In early 1947, the 80th Congress, with support from Republicans and southern and western Democrats, introduced and passed the 22nd Amendment. The amendment included an exception for the sitting president, so even if it had been ratified during FDR's tenure, it would not have applied to him.
The 22nd Amendment was a direct reaction to FDR's lengthy tenure, but it did not affect his re-election prospects as he had already passed away before it was passed in 1947. The amendment was a response to the concerns of the time and a desire to limit presidential tenure in the future.
Congress's approval of the 22nd Amendment in 1947 was a significant moment in U.S. history, addressing the issue of presidential term limits and ensuring no future president could serve more than two terms. The amendment has been an important part of the Constitution, shaping the country's political landscape and the balance of power ever since.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, she claimed that Republicans amended the Constitution to prevent Roosevelt from being re-elected.
The 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms, was passed in 1947, two years after Roosevelt died.
Some critics have pointed out that Roosevelt died before the amendment was passed, so it did not affect his ability to be re-elected. However, others have defended AOC, noting that the process to implement the amendment began before Roosevelt's death.
Ocasio-Cortez did not respond to requests for comment, but she tweeted a defence of her claim, citing a Newsweek article.
Ocasio-Cortez made the comment during a discussion about the Green New Deal, which she has sponsored in the House. She was drawing a comparison to Roosevelt's New Deal, which was a period of unprecedented government intervention in the economy.
