Fianna Fáil leadership election, 1959
Encyclopedia
The 1959 Fianna Fáil leadership election began in June 1959, when Éamon de Valera
resigned as party leader and Taoiseach
to take up the post of President of Ireland
. De Valera had been leader since the foundation of the party in 1926 and had served as Taoiseach on three occasions. His successor was elected by the members of the Fianna Fáil
parliamentary party on 22 June 1959. After one ballot the election was won by Seán Lemass
. He was elected Taoiseach
in Dáil Éireann
on the following day.
had been Éamon de Valera's "heir-apparent" since his appointment as Tánaiste
in 1945. It was widely assumed amongst the general public, and was an accepted fact within the Fianna Fáil
party that Lemass would succeed de Valera whenever "the Chief" decided to retire. In 1959 that opportunity arose when de Valera was elected President of Ireland
.
There were several other contenders for the post of party leader. In the 1930s and 1940s Seán MacEntee
was considered Lemass's closest rival for the top job. However, his poor performance as Minister for Finance
in the 1950s discredited his reputation. Frank Aiken
was also considered a very able Foreign Minister
and a potential candidate. The British embassy in Dublin kept London
informed of the changes. They speculated that Aiken and Lemass would be the two main contenders, however, James Ryan would be elected as a compromise candidate. However, the divisions that they believed existed between Lemass and Aiken were not true.
When the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party met on 22 June Seán MacEntee proposed Lemass as leader, with Frank Aiken
seconding the motion. Seán Lemass was thus elected the second leader of Fianna Fáil.
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
resigned as party leader and Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
to take up the post of President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
. De Valera had been leader since the foundation of the party in 1926 and had served as Taoiseach on three occasions. His successor was elected by the members of the Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
parliamentary party on 22 June 1959. After one ballot the election was won by Seán Lemass
Seán Lemass
Seán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
. He was elected Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
in Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
on the following day.
Standing
- Seán LemassSeán LemassSeán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
, TánaisteTánaisteThe Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :...
and Minister for Industry and CommerceMinister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is the senior minister at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is Richard Bruton, TD...
Declined to stand
- Frank AikenFrank AikenFrank Aiken was a commander of the Irish Republican Army and later an Irish politician. A founding-member of Fianna Fáil, Aiken was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923 and at each subsequent election until 1973...
, Minister for Foreign AffairsMinister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland)The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Government of Ireland. Its headquarters are at Iveagh House, on St Stephen's Green in Dublin; "Iveagh House" is often used as a metonym for the department as a whole.The current... - Seán MacEnteeSeán MacEnteeSeán MacEntee was an Irish politician. In a career that spanned over forty years as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála, MacEntee was one of the most important figures in post-independence Ireland. He served in the governments of Éamon de Valera and Seán Lemass in a range of ministerial positions,...
, Minister for HealthMinister for Health and Children (Ireland)The Minister for Health is the senior minister at the Department of Health in the Government of Ireland and is responsible for health care in the Republic of Ireland and related services.The current Minister for Health is James Reilly, TD... - James Ryan, Minister for FinanceMinister for Finance (Ireland)The Minister for Finance is the title held by the Irish government minister responsible for all financial and monetary matters. The office-holder controls the Department of Finance and is considered one of the most important members of the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Finance is...
Campaign
Seán LemassSeán Lemass
Seán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
had been Éamon de Valera's "heir-apparent" since his appointment as Tánaiste
Tánaiste
The Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :...
in 1945. It was widely assumed amongst the general public, and was an accepted fact within the Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
party that Lemass would succeed de Valera whenever "the Chief" decided to retire. In 1959 that opportunity arose when de Valera was elected President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
.
There were several other contenders for the post of party leader. In the 1930s and 1940s Seán MacEntee
Seán MacEntee
Seán MacEntee was an Irish politician. In a career that spanned over forty years as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála, MacEntee was one of the most important figures in post-independence Ireland. He served in the governments of Éamon de Valera and Seán Lemass in a range of ministerial positions,...
was considered Lemass's closest rival for the top job. However, his poor performance as Minister for Finance
Minister for Finance (Ireland)
The Minister for Finance is the title held by the Irish government minister responsible for all financial and monetary matters. The office-holder controls the Department of Finance and is considered one of the most important members of the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Finance is...
in the 1950s discredited his reputation. Frank Aiken
Frank Aiken
Frank Aiken was a commander of the Irish Republican Army and later an Irish politician. A founding-member of Fianna Fáil, Aiken was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923 and at each subsequent election until 1973...
was also considered a very able Foreign Minister
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Government of Ireland. Its headquarters are at Iveagh House, on St Stephen's Green in Dublin; "Iveagh House" is often used as a metonym for the department as a whole.The current...
and a potential candidate. The British embassy in Dublin kept London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
informed of the changes. They speculated that Aiken and Lemass would be the two main contenders, however, James Ryan would be elected as a compromise candidate. However, the divisions that they believed existed between Lemass and Aiken were not true.
When the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party met on 22 June Seán MacEntee proposed Lemass as leader, with Frank Aiken
Frank Aiken
Frank Aiken was a commander of the Irish Republican Army and later an Irish politician. A founding-member of Fianna Fáil, Aiken was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923 and at each subsequent election until 1973...
seconding the motion. Seán Lemass was thus elected the second leader of Fianna Fáil.