1940 was before the era of modern Presidential Debates, though televisions did already exist in a few American households. But nevertheless on the night of the First Presidential Debate this fall, Cheops Books will stage a debate between Wendell Wilkie, the Dark Horse Republican candidate of the thriller Dark Horse, and the sitting President FDR, the Democratic candidate. Wilkie was an “internationalist” and drew attention to the war in Europe. FDR, who longed to enter that war, was a closet internationalist. Wilkie criticized the author of the New Deal for wasteful government spending and increasing the national debt. FDR stood on his two term record.
In the thriller novel, Dark Horse, from the Edward Ware Thriller Series, FDR is scheming to use Wilkie to help Churchill who has appealed to him for aid. But that plot will remain in the background on the night of the debate. More details to come.
