In the 1934 musical Anything Goes, one character denigrates himself by comparing himself to the Republican nominee. Is this targeted at a certain candidate? Would musical-goers have been mostly Democratic?

by TheLordHighExecu

In the song "You're the Top," two characters praise the other and insult themselves using 1930's pop culture references -- "ovaltine" or "the nose of the Great Durante." To denigrate himself, Billy Crocker compares himself to the "nominee of the G.O.P. -- or Gawp!" What does this reference mean?

Gama_Rex

The reference isn't an insult against any specific Republican so much as a recognition that the GOP was on life support and in danger of extinction. The 73rd Congress elected in 1932 had a Senate that was 59 D, 36 R, 1 other, and a House that was 311 D, 117 R, 5 other, and the 74th Congress elected in 1934 was even more lopsided (Dems would max out in the 75th Congress at 75/96 in the Senate and 334/435 in the House).

FDR beat Hoover by 18(!!!) in the 1932 election and would beat Landon by even more in 1936. The association GOP=Depression made the party brand toxic throughout the 1930s.