Having taken the fight to Dewey and the GOP, Truman came home to await voters’ verdict

Smiling and appearing confident despite gloomy polls and weather to match, President Harry S. Truman returned home to Jackson County, Missouri, two days before the 1948 election. He had raced through the final days and weeks of his underdog campaign riding his railroad car from town to town across the country and blaming Republicans for most everything wrong.

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STAR'S ARCHIVES

Dewey Stock Up: Latest Campaign Swing Makes G.O.P. Leaders More Confident Than Ever

Published Oct. 19, 1948

Albany, N.Y., Oct. 18. – A greater degree of confidence in a landslide victory November 2 was felt tonight by Republican leaders as the big “Dewey victory special” returned here after an 8-day, 4,500-mile campaign swing through ten Mid-West and border states.

A Truman Fear: Pattern That Developed Axis Dictatorship Seen Emerging in America

Published Oct. 26, 1948

President Truman opened his desperate last-week election drive here tonight with a biting charge that reactionary forces, “working through the Republican party” were following the pattern that developed Axis dictatorships.

Rebuke by Dewey: Truman Tactics in Campaign Branded a New Low in “Mud-Slinging.”

Published Oct. 27, 1948

Chicago, Oct. 26. – The gloved approached to the presidential campaign ended tonight for Gov. Thomas E. Dewey when he accused President Truman of “openly sneering” at American ideals and scattering “reckless abuse” which he said has reached a new low of “mud-slinging.”

Size of Dewey Victory is Estimated by Brownell

Published Oct. 29, 1948

Washington, Oct. 28. (AP) – Herbert Brownell, Dewey-Warren campaign manager, predicted today that Governor Dewey will be elected over President Truman “by a ratio of approximately 4 to 1 in the electoral college.”

Tide for Dewey: About Thirty-Five States Are Expected to Be Carried by G.O.P. Nominee

Published Oct. 31, 1948

New York, Oct. 30 – A landslide victory in electoral votes for Thomas E. Dewey over President Harry S. Truman is forecast for Tuesday.

Faith in Victory: Truman, Speaking Before a St. Louis Crowd, Sees a Democratic Triumph

Published Oct. 31, 1948

St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 30. – President Truman came to Missouri tonight to tell the home folks what kind of campaign he has made and why he thinks the Democratic ticket will win Tuesday.

Truman is Home: A Crowd of 400 Persons Greets Him at the Depot in Independence

Published Nov. 1, 1948

President Truman, weary from two months of campaigning, returned to his home in Independence yesterday and told a crowd of 400 persons: “It’s grand to be home.”

Sees Boost for Truman: Gallup Poll Now in President’s Favor, McGrath Says

Published Nov. 2, 1948

New York, Nov. 1. (AP) – J. Howard McGrath, Democratic national chairman, said tonight the final Gallup poll -- which today predicted the election of Gov. Thomas E. Dewey -- actually favors President Truman.