So said the banner headline of the November 3rd, 1948 Chicago Daily Tribune. Papa was around on that date but I didn’t become aware of the headline’s significance until the 1950’s when my interest in current affairs and journalism began. You see President Truman pulled an election upset of the New York Governor on November 2nd. Due to time contraints in setting type and printing their first edition, the newspaper relied on polling and its own political expert to assume a Dewey win. Truman obtained a copy of the newspaper with the incorrect headline and his photo with it became very famous. He had a broad smile on his face. I’d say he was beaming.
Such mistakes/assumptions are rather rare but nonetheless embarrassing. I do recall my journalism teacher stressing the importance of checking the facts before publishing in the school newspaper. Professional newspapers failed in 1916 when it was reported that President Wilson did not win. Or, in 1960 when JFK was declared the winner in California. Ditto Al Gore in Florida in 2000 which I believe was television rather than newspaper. Back to print media, Hillary Clinton’s photo was featured as President on the cover of some Newsweek issues in 2016. It’s election season so we might watch for mis-calls of winners and losers next week.
BTW: I met Governor Dewey twice. He was a very nice man. He was gracious to me when I visited his law office in New York City. He was a friend of Nana’s family. He had a huge office with massive windows looking out over the city. I was a young lawyer but the discussion that stuck with me was his comment that he was keeping an eye on the construction of two side by side towers. He pointed out the site and described the work progress to date. He had a better view than any sidewalk superintendent but his interest/pride in the project was genuine. I also saw him at our wedding. When 9/11 happened, my vision of him pointing and gesturing out his window towards the towers increased the poignancy of the day for me.