Dem Party Begged Eleanor Roosevelt to run for NYSenate in 1948

[Captain Hilts]

In fact, Harold Ickes, who had a thorny relationship with her went to Hyde Park to beg in person. It was believed that putting her on the NY state ticket would blunt Gov. of NY, Thomas Dewey's chances of winning the state as presidential candidate.

She did not run for a variety of reasons, but she certainly was qualified to do so.

There are no set 'quallfications' for senator.

I think Paterson should just appoint a seat-warmer until the primary.

[wyldwolf]

1. Qualifications: The right age and a desire to serve

[Captain Hilts]

3. Right, and one of many reasons ER demurred was age. She was 64. Too old to start out. nt

[SheilaT]

2. Since there are no set qualifications

for Senator, other than an age one, then anyone who is old enough is literally qualified to be a Senator.

However, not everyone is suitable for the position.

And some of the names bandied about here on DU display a simple-minded assumption that someone who is prominent because of family name and connections is a suitable candidate for a position.

[Captain Hilts]

4. I think those are valid points.

If CKS is serious about wanting to be a senator, then have her run in 2010 without the advantage of incumbency.

Hell, Paterson should appoint his mother to serve out the term. Or Spritzer's wife, she's earned it and has a law degree.

[whistler162]

5. Link?

[Captain Hilts]

6. I've read about it in various books. First, in Eleanor: The Years Alone...

and other memoirs. It's really ironic that Harold Ickes, of all people, went to Hyde Park to ask her to run. They agreed on a lot of issues, but they'd also locked horns a fair amount of times. He felt she favored Harry Hopkins, and she did.

[liberalpragmatist]

7. Some tried to recruit Eleanor for Vice President in '48 as well

Some of Truman's people floated the idea (possibly in a bid to keep the Roosevelt's from torpedoing his reelection bid; FDR's children were trying to draft Ike as a Democrat in '48). She also turned down those entreaties.

[LostinVA]

8. I think she would have been a terrific President, too

A really smart lady who had a great mind for policy. Plus, she was very big on social justice, even when it made her a major target of the Right (and Left).