ELECTION SURPRISES: TRUMAN'S 1948 VICTORY
The Republican Convention nominated Thomas E. Dewey, their 1944 candidate, amid an atmosphere of euphoria. He had been predicted as the next President since 1946 or earlier. Pollster Elmo Roper announced in September that Dewey was leading Truman by 41% to 31%, and that "no amount of electioneering could alter the result." Other leading pollsters like George Gallup and Archibald Crossley also forecast a substantial Dewey victory. The New York Times announced that "Thomas E. Dewey's election as President is a foregone conclusion." The Kiplinger Newsletter declared that "Dewey will be in for eight years - until '57." Just before the election, Life Magazine carried a large picture of Dewey with the caption, "The next President of the United States." Changing Times Magazine, a new weekly, was "WHAT DEWEY WILL DO."
The second thing the convention was memorable for was Truman's announcement that he was going to call the Republican Congress back into session. He said, "On the twenty-sixth day of July, which out in Missouri they call Turnip Day, I'm going to call that Congress back and I'm going to ask them to pass laws halting rising prices and to meet the housing crisis which they say they're for in their platform. At the same time, I shall ask them to act on other vitally needed measures such as aid to education, which they say they're for; a national health program, , civil rights legislation, which they say they're for; funds for projects needed...to provide public power and cheap electricity...." Truman said the job could be done in fifteen days if it wanted to. "What that worse Eightieth Congress does in its special session will be the test. The American people will decide on the record."
Of course, the 80th Congress accomplished nothing in the special session. Truman ran more against the 80th "Do Nothing" Congress than he did against Dewey. He made a strenuous campaign that covered almost 22,000 miles and almost 300 speeches. He called the 80th Congress "the worst in history" which had "stuck a pitchfork in the farmer's back."
Truman embarked on a "whistle stop" campaign, the last time the train played a major role in presidential campaigning. Everywhere his train stopped, he drew large crowds. He was a poor speech reader, and did much better when he spoke off the cuff, appearing friendly and warm. At the end of each speech, he would introduce his wife (The Boss) and
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