Alf Landon

Alfred Mossman "Alf" Landon (September 9, 1887 – October 12, 1987) was an American Republican politician from Kansas, notable nationally for his 1936 nomination as the Republican opponent of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Later life

Following his defeat in the 1936 Presidential election, Landon retired from national politics and finished out his term as governor of Kansas. Later in life he was often asked his opinion, and he did not hesitate to take strong stands.

Related Topics:
1936 Presidential election - Kansas

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In the 1930s, he disagreed with Republicans who supported the Neutrality Act; he feared it would mislead Nazi Germany into thinking the United States was unwilling to fight. In World War II he argued against lend-leasing military equipment, urging instead that Britain be given $5 billion outright. After the war, he backed the Marshall Plan while opposing high domestic spending.

Related Topics:
1930s - Republicans - Neutrality Act - Nazi Germany - United States - World War II - Britain - Marshall Plan

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In 1961, he urged the U.S. to join the European Common Market. In November 1962, when he was asked to describe his political philosophy, Landon said: I would say practical progressive, which means that the Republican party or any political party has got to recognize the problems of a growing and complex industrial civilization. And I don't think the Republican party is really wide awake to that. Later in the 1960s, Landon backed President Lyndon Johnson on Medicare and other Great Society programs.

Related Topics:
1961 - European Common Market - 1962 - 1960s - Lyndon Johnson - Medicare - Great Society

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On December 13, 1966, Landon gave the first "Landon Lecture" at Kansas State University. Landon's lecture, titled "New Challenges in International Relations" was the first in a series of public issues lectures that continues to this day.

Related Topics:
December 13 - 1966 - Kansas State University

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Landon died October 12, 1987, 34 days after his 100th birthday. His daughter, Nancy Landon Kassebaum, was a United States Senator from Kansas. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978, she was re-elected in 1984 and 1990. When he died, he was the earliest U.S. governor of any state still living, a title he assumed in 1984 on the death of George Alexander Parks, another centenarian. When Landon died, the title went to Albert B. Chandler of Kentucky.

Related Topics:
October 12 - 1987 - Nancy Landon Kassebaum - United States Senator - Kansas - U.S. Senate - 1978 - 1984 - 1990 - George Alexander Parks - Albert B. Chandler - Kentucky

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