65 - Harry S. Truman: 'Dewey Defeats Truman' Chicago Tribune Newspaper - An Iconic Front Page

Harry S. Truman: 'Dewey Defeats Truman' Chicago Tribune Newspaper - An Iconic Front Page Iconic front page of the Chicago Daily Tribune of November 3, 1948, 17 x 24, featuring the infamous erroneous banner headline: "Dewey Defeats Truman." Handsomely suede-matted and framed to an overall size of 24 x 30.5. In fine condition, with light scattered staining. When the decision to print this paper was made, returns were coming in very slowly and time was running out before the deadline for the edition. The Tribune staff decided anyway to proclaim that Thomas E. Dewey would be the next President. Dewey had been heavily favored to win the 1948 presidential election in the face of Truman's declining popularity. Meanwhile, by early November at the Tribune, a temporary but necessary typewriter-based typesettingmethod (results visible in front-page body text) was requiring more printing time than usual and was now under strain against early-reporting election needs. The Republican-leaning Tribune, along with their specially hired election prognosticator, judged it safe to put out its early morning issue before a sufficient vote count had been completed. But after the newspaper was delivered to the street, more returns came in and showed that Truman would in fact be reelected. The already delivered 'error' newspapers were gathered for return by staff members sent out to pick them up from newsstands and homes in the Chicago area.