1948 Progressive National Convention

[2] Henry Wallace who formed the Progressive Party in 1948 was deemed one of the most liberal idealists in the Roosevelt administration.

[2] He was the secretary of agriculture before he served as FDR's vice president during his (1941–45) third term, but was dropped from the ticket for the 1944 election.

In a speech, Wallace had broken with administration policy and became a public advocate for peaceful coexistence with the Soviet Union.

Taylor, a first term Democratic Senator, shared Wallace's concerns about President Truman, but was worried about his own career.

[4] A former country music singer, Taylor did not have a lucrative career to fall back on, and took his time considering Wallace's offer.

[4] Finally, Taylor accepted Wallace's offer, motivated by fears about rising Cold War tensions.

[2] Underrepresented groups such as women, blacks, Hispanics, Jews, and youth were very active in the Progressive movement.

Democratic nominee President Harry S. Truman with running mate Senator Alben Barkley from Kentucky, defeated Republican nominee Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York and running mate Governor Earl Warren of California.