"BY MIDNIGHT, JFK LEADS NIXON BY A MILLION VOTES"

JFK TAKES EARLY LEAD OVER NIXON

Hyannis, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On the evening of November 8, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy was watching presidential election returns come in along with his family and campaign staff at the compound here in Hyannis.

"The first result to come in was Connecticut which Kennedy carried by 306,000 votes."

From there, things continued to go well for JFK so that "by midnight, he was ahead by almost a million votes."  If it had been 1948, the Chicago Tribune might have come out with an early headline 'KENNEDY DEFEATS NIXON!'*

But in the early morning hours of November 9, as the results in the Western states came in, the Kennedy lead was cut in half.

Nonetheless, at 3:20 a.m. eastern time, JFK's Republican opponent, Vice President Richard M. Nixon said...

"If the present trend continues, Senator Kennedy will be the next president."

*Early returns in the 1948 presidential election heavily favored Republican New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey.  The Chicago Tribune prematurely published an edition with the headline "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN".  The President was pictured holding up the paper with a big grin after he was declared the winner.

SOURCE

"Kennedy:  The Life and Death of a U.S. President," by Charlotte Montague, Chartwell Books, 2017. 

   

 

JFK Casts His Ballot

Boston Public Library

Nov 8 1960

AP Photo

ANY WORKING MAN WHO VOTES REPUBLICAN OUGHT TO HAVE HIS HEAD EXAMINED

DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN?

Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On November 2, 1948, American voters went to the polls to participate in the presidential election of 1948.  The following morning,  the Chicago Tribune published the now famous headline based on early returns:  "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN". 

The newspaper was apparently caught up in the pre-election polls that showed President Harry S Truman had little chance to win.  Governor Thomas E. Dewey was the clear favorite.

In order to boost his chances, HST completed a nation-wide whistle stop campaign speaking to crowds from his railroad car.  He appealed to hard-working American citizens when he said...

"Any working man or farmer who votes against the Democratic party ought to have his head examined."

By the Fall of 1948, Mr. Truman, who took office on the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945, was even unpopular in his own Democratic party.

Unwilling to "dump" Truman at the convention, some delegates wore buttons which read..."I'm Just Mild About Harry," a play on the popular song of the day "I'm Just Wild About Harry."

Nevertheless, Truman shocked everyone, when he won.  It was to go down as the greatest upset in presidential election history.  The President was photographed grinning broadly while holding the Tribune's headline up for all to see.

The final totals were...

Electoral Votes: Truman (D)      303

                                    Dewey (R)          189

                                   

Popular Votes:   Truman (D)  24,179,347

                                 Dewey (R)      21,991,292

                                

USPS Stamp

     

TRUMAN DEFEATS DEWEY

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1762

CHICAGO TRIBUNE SAYS DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Sixty-seven years ago today, November 2, 1948, despite a premature newspaper headline, President Harry S Truman defeated Republican challenger Thomas E. Dewey in what was to go down as the greatest upset in presidential election history.

By the Fall of 1948, Mr. Truman, who took office on the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945, was even unpopular in his own Democratic party.
Unwilling to "dump" Truman at the 1948 Democratic Convention, some delegates wore buttons which read: "I'm Just Mild About Harry." a play on the popular song of the day "I'm Just Wild About Harry."

President Truman, woefully behind in all the polls, had gone on a whistle stop campaign across the nation.  At many of his stops, speaking from a platform on the rear car of his train, Truman said:

"Any working man or farmer who votes against the Democratic party ought to have his head examined."

Apparently, many voters changed their minds in the voting booth.

The final totals were...

Electoral Votes:   Truman (D)      303
                                    Dewey (R)         189
                                    Thurmond          39

Popular Votes:  Truman (D)  24,179,347
                                 Dewey (R)     21,991,292
                                 Thurmond       1,175,930

Truman on Whistle-Stop Campaign

Truman Library Photo