Bull Moose Party

US political party founded 1912 by supporters of the former president Theodore Roosevelt. The Bull Moose ticket split the Republican Party completely; as a consequence the Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson, won the 1912 presidential election by an overwhelming majority.

In 1908, when his presidential term was expiring, Roosevelt brought about the nomination, by the Republican convention, of W H Taft. Relations between Roosevelt and Taft cooled during latter's presidency and Roosevelt voted against Taft at the 1912 Republican convention. Asked how he felt about the split, Roosevelt replied ‘Like a bull moose’; the name was promptly adopted by the new party. Roosevelt's election platform included legistlation for workers' protection and strict regulation of corporations.

The Bull Moosers had declared their intention of forming a permanent progressive third party, but US public opinion was against having more than two major parties, and Roosevelt himself destroyed the chances of his new party when he declined to stand again.