The loneliest campaign; the Truman victory of 1948 [Unknown Binding]

Irwin Ross (Author)

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“Ross has captured the flavor of 1948 politics and Truman's upset victory while weaving together a very readable, enjoyable, and informative narrative.”–Best Seller --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Unknown Binding
• ASIN: B00005WA9P
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,366,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Readable, Informative Look at 1948 Campaign, November 27, 2010

By 

K.A.Goldberg (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Loneliest Campaign: The Truman Victory of 1948 (Hardcover)

Author Irwin Ross examines the 1948 election, when President Harry S. Truman defeated Governor Thomas Dewey of New York in a supposed upset. The campaign played out in the pre-TV era of railroads and radio, when the South still voted Democratic, and when Republicans still had a potent Eastern/liberal wing. Many wrote off Truman's chances due a divided Democratic Party. Angry Southerners deserted to Strom Thurmond's (anti-civil rights) Dixiecrat campaign, while some liberals preferred former Vice President Henry Wallace on the Progressive Party ticket. These third-party desertions cost Truman electoral votes in the South and perhaps the East, but may have increased his appeal to black voters and anti-communists in critical states like Ohio, Illinois and California. The author contrasts the President's "give em hell" style against Governor Dewey's cautious approach (based on Dewey's lead in the polls). The author, and for that matter Dewey, should have focused more on the fact that in 1948 the USA enjoyed peace and prosperity - conditions that favor incumbents (Truman). Finally, we see how voters surprised the pundits and experts, choosing Truman by a 49%-45% margin (Electoral Votes: Truman-303, Dewey-189, Thurmond-39). Overall, this is a readable and informative effort.