November 2, 1948
The Whistlestop campaign came to an end in early November after President Truman had traveled nearly 22,000 miles, sometimes making more than 16 speeches a day in his re-election bid. Up until the very day of the election the betting odds favored New York Governor Thomas Dewey by 4 to 1 odds. But, that wasn't the first time, or the last, that pollsters and pundits would have it all wrong...
Truman spent a quiet evening on November 2nd at the Elms Hotel in Excelsior Springs, Mo. with only Secret Service Agents for company. The President went to the Elms Hotel in an effort to escape reporters. Truman's daughter, Margaret, was offered money all evening long by reporters in an effort to get a "scoop." Conversely, Governor Dewey, in a New York hotel suite, made plans to go down to the ballroom and announce his victory; an announcement he wasn't fated to make.
After eating a plain meal, a ham and cheese sandwich with a glass of buttermilk, Truman retired for the night at about 9:00 p.m. The President awoke around 11:00 and learned that although he was still leading in the popular vote, radio announcers like H. V. Kaltenborn continued to predict a Dewey victory.
To the surprise of many Truman defeated Dewey on November 2, 1948 with 303 electoral votes to 189 electoral votes for Dewey. Truman also won the popular vote by more than 2 million votes.
See a political cartoon showing this surprise victory :
Reports of My Death were Greatly Exaggerated
Paul, 11th grade
The Chicago Tribune staff was on strike and so replacements were setting the type. In addition to the false headline, "Dewey Defeats Truman" there were a number of other errors, including typos being X'd out instead of being erased and five lines that were typed upside down.
View photo of Truman holding aloft famed edition of the Chicago Tribune
Clint, 11th grade
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