1952

42A-1067124

Robert Taft, although quite willing to run, was not nominated in 1952. Instead, the Republicans put up the popular Dwight D. Eisenhower. This caused a split in the Republican Party between Taft's and Eisenhower's supporters. Eisenhower, however, succeeded in winning Taft over to his camp (42A-1067124). 

Adlai Stevenson, reluctant to run at first, was nominated by the Democrats after Truman announced that he wouldn't run again. Stevenson appealed to the more liberal intellectuals, hence this advice from "Coach Truman." (42B-1067125) But in the wake of McCarthyism, the people were suspicious of Stevenson's wit and preferred the homespun wisdom of Eisenhower.

42B-1067125

The Republicans campaigned on the slogan "it's time for a change," and criticized the Democrats for scandalous practices. But the Republicans were not immune from accusations themselves. Vice presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon had to appear on television to defend himself from allegations of illegal financing while a senator. Nixon was seen as a blemish on the Republican Party (42C-1067126, 42D-1067127). But his famous "cloth coat," or "Checkers" speech brought a favorable response from the American people and he remained on the ticket to be elected to the White House with "Ike."