1948

41A-1067119

Harry S Truman, placed in the Presidency by Roosevelt's death, was nominated to run in 1948 against the Republican candidate, Thomas E. Dewey. The Progressive Citizens of America nominated former vice president Henry Wallace who ran on an equal rights and disarmament platform. Walt Kelly, creator of Pogo, caricatured Wallace's eccentricity, Truman's blindness, and Dewey's machine-like efficiency in this cartoon (41A-1067119). Dewey did run a smooth campaign, which Kelly often satirized. Here he is shown with Hubert Humphrey, printing policies favoring big business (41B-1067120). He is depicted as an adding machine in this cartoon, which parodies the attitude of all three candidates toward the New Deal (41C-1067121). Dewey ran confidently, playing up his image as an experienced political leader.

41B-1067120

Both Truman and Dewey campaigned extensively; Truman blasted the Eightieth Congress for its refusal to cooperate in carrying out his programs and supported civil rights. 

It was expected that Dewey would win, so it is surprising, considering the predictive records of past cartoonists, that Dorman H. Smith drew this cartoon, and later its sequel, when the prediction was borne out by Truman's "unexpected" victory (41D-1067122, 41E-1067123).