Bull-Moose Party
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Progressive Party
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|---|---|
| Chairman | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Dissolved | 1916 |
| Split from | Republican Party |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Ideology |
New Nationalism Progressivism |
| Political position | Center-left |
| International affiliation | None |
| Colors | Light green |
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American third party. It was formed by former President Theodore Roosevelt after he lost the presidential nomination of the Republican Party to his former protégé, President William Howard Taft. The new party was known for taking advanced positions on progressive reforms and attracting some leading reformers. After the party's defeat in the presidential election, the party went into rapid decline, disappearing by 1918. The Progressive party was nicknamed the "Bull Moose Party" after journalists quoted Roosevelt saying that he felt "fit as a bull moose" following an assassination attempt on the campaign trail shortly after the new party was formed.
As a member of the Republican Party, Roosevelt had served as president from 1901 to 1909, becoming increasingly progressive in the later years of his presidency. In the 1908 presidential election, Roosevelt helped ensure that he would be succeeded by Secretary of War Taft. After Taft took office, he hewed closer to the conservative wing of the party. This and other actions alienated Roosevelt from his former friend. Progressive Republican leader Robert La Follette had already announced a challenge to Taft for the 1912 Republican nomination, but many of his supporters shifted to Roosevelt after the former president decided to seek a third presidential term, which was permissible under the United States Constitution prior to the ratification of the Twenty-second Amendment. At the 1912 Republican National Convention, Taft narrowly defeated Roosevelt for the party's presidential nomination. After the convention, Roosevelt, Frank Munsey, George Walbridge Perkins, and other progressive Republicans established the Progressive Party and nominated a ticket of Roosevelt and Hiram Johnson at the 1912 Progressive National Convention. The new party attracted several Republican officeholders, although most Republican official remained loyal to the Republican Party.
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