LIBRARY
Presidential Campaigns in U.S. History: Thomas Dewey
Links
- Harry Truman: The UpsetA Youtube video highlighting one of the biggest upsets in political history, even the polls got it wrong.
- PBS: American History - the election of 1948Truman and the Democrats were in trouble in 1948. As Election Day neared, the polls predicted a resounding defeat come November.
1948: The Great Truman Surprise
Courtesy of American Presidency Project
RED: Republican: Thomas Dewey - the favorite before the election, Dewey managed 189 electoral college votes, and 45.1% of the popular vote
BLUE: Democratic: Harry S. Truman - garnered 303 electoral college votes, and 49.5% of the popular vote
YELLOW: States Rights party: Strom Thurmond barely registered with the electoral college vote (39) or the popular vote 2.4%, but went on to become the longest serving Senator in U.S. history when he retired, reaching age 100 while in office.
Dewey on the Campaign Trail
Results
The most famous incorrect Newspaper Headline is believed to be linked to this presidential election, when the Chicago Daily Tribune printed a newspaper that anticipated Truman's defeat by Dewey. Truman gleefully held the paper aloft after his victory was announced.