Home » History » American Presidents » ELECTION SURPRISES: TRUMAN'S 1948 VICTORY

ELECTION SURPRISES: TRUMAN'S 1948 VICTORY

© John S. Cooper

Probably the biggest surprise in the history of presidential elections, Harry Truman defied the odds in winning re-election in 1948. When the campaign started, no one except Truman himself expected he would win. In the 1946 elections, the Republicans had captured both houses of Congress. Some leading Republicans even suggested that Truman should appoint his probable opponent, New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, as Secretary of State and then resign, allowing the American people to have their clear and obvious choice that much sooner.

Truman did not compare well to the popular Franklin Roosevelt. He did not appear as confident or commanding. Sayings such as, "To err is Truman" and "I wonder what Truman would do if he were alive" were heard everywhere. War-time price controls had been lifted, mainly through the efforts of the Republican Congress, and the cost of living had increased 30% between 1946 and the 1948 conventions.

The Democratic Convention met in Philadelphia on July 12, 1948. Many delegates held placards saying, "I'm just mild about Harry" in a take-off on the popular song title. Many unhappy delegates felt much like the Republican delegates had in 1932. They did not see any real chance of winning with Truman, but they felt they had no other choice. For Vice President the convention nominated Senate Majority Leader Alben Barkley. Barkely's keynote speech had raised some enthusiasm, and Truman's rousing acceptance speech brought the cheerless delegates to their feet. "Senator Barkley and I will win this election, and make these Republicans like it," said Truman as he got a standing ovation.

The convention was memorable for two exciting events. The first was when young Mayor (and Senate candidate) Hubert Humphrey called on the Democratic Party to move "out of the shadow of states' rights and into the sunlight of human rights." Truman had been an advocate of civil rights, even going so far as to order the U.S. armed forces desegregated. This cost him the support of the segregationist south. When the Humphrey plank was adopted, most of the southern delegates walked out of the convention. These right-wing southern Democrats formed the Dixiecrat Party and nominated Governor Strom Thurmond (now a Republican and President Pro Tem of the Senate) for President.

The left wing of the party had already bolted. They were rallying around the candidacy of Henry Wallace, former cabinet member and Vice President who had been replaced on the ticket by Harry Truman in 1944. They called themselves the Progressive Party.

The copyright of the article ELECTION SURPRISES: TRUMAN'S 1948 VICTORY in American Presidents is owned by . Permission to republish ELECTION SURPRISES: TRUMAN'S 1948 VICTORY in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.