Harry S. Truman: Dewey Defeats Truman

St. Louis Globe-Democrat

1948-11-04

picture

Dewey, Thomas E. (Thomas Edmund), 1902-1971
Political campaigns
Railroad trains
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Saint Louis (Mo.)

1940-1949

After succeeding Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman found himself in a changed world. Truman was the second President to have an aircraft made available for his use, “The Independence.” However he still preferred to use the Presidential Railroad Car to campaign and tour the country. In 1948, Truman made one last swing through the Midwest by rail late in the election campaign against Thomas Dewey. Polling data showed that Dewey was sure to win and Truman was being abandoned by other politicians who did not want to be associated with a lame duck President. Truman’s Whistle Stop Tour carried him across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri and helped him prove the polls were wrong by defeating Dewey in the election. The Presidential Car found itself as the platform for one of the most iconic photographs in American History as Truman held up a paper proclaiming his defeat just after his victory had been announced.

The election was on November 2nd.

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