GIVE 'EM HELL, HARRY


Truman now decided that he wanted to be President, but he had lost the confidence of the people and the support of the unions.

On June 21st, the Republicans nominated Thomas Dewey as their candidate.





A few weeks later, the Democratic convention began. Moral was low. The party was being split apart. The Democrats didn't want Harry as their candidate. They waited until 2:00 a.m. to finally give him the nomination. He came out in his white suit looking fresh despite the stiffling heat. He gave an inspiring, uplifting speech that surprised everyone, and brought them cheering to their feet.





This was the first convention ever to be televised. It might have helped....


On Sept. 17, while saying goodbyes, Alben Barkley (who would later become his Vice President) told Truman to "give 'em hell, Harry". Reporters picked up on the saying and it became Truman's battlecry.





The grueling "whistle-stop" campaign had begun.


The night of the election, Harry rented a room in a hotel to avoid reporters, and went to sleep. The head of the Secret Service went to New York to be with Thomas Dewey because he was going to be the next President....(so everyone thought).





When Truman awoke, he found that he had pulled off one of the biggest upsets in history.





He had fooled them all, including the press. (I love it!)


Mr. Citizen