Dewey Defeats Truman: The Headline That Got It Wrong

On November 3, 1948, the Chicago Tribune published an early edition with the front-page headline “Dewey Defeats Truman,” incorrectly declaring Thomas E. Dewey the winner of the U.S. presidential election. In reality, incumbent President Harry S. Truman had won. The erroneous headline became one of the most famous blunders in American journalism.

Historical Context

The 1948 presidential election pitted Democratic incumbent Harry S. Truman against Republican New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey. Going into Election Day, most polls and political pundits predicted a Dewey victory. Truman had assumed the presidency after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death in 1945 and faced a divided party and low approval ratings. Many newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, prepared stories anticipating a Dewey win. The Tribune, a staunchly Republican paper, had a history of opposing Truman’s policies.

What Happened

As election returns came in on the night of November 2 and into November 3, early leads in some Eastern states favored Dewey, though the race was far from decided. Facing a printing deadline, the Tribune’s editors relied on those early returns and the widespread expectation of a Dewey victory. The paper’s first edition for November 3 carried the banner headline “Dewey Defeats Truman.” However, as later returns from the Midwest and West came in, Truman pulled ahead and secured 303 electoral votes to Dewey’s 189. On November 4, Truman appeared at St. Louis’s Union Station holding a copy of the Tribune and smiling broadly, creating an iconic photograph.

Significance & Legacy

The incident underscored the fallibility of polls and early election projections, and it became a cautionary tale for journalists about the dangers of rushing to report results before they are final. It also highlighted the unpredictability of American politics and the resilience of Truman’s come-from-behind victory. The photograph of Truman with the erroneous headline has been reproduced countless times, embedding the event in popular culture and serving as a reminder of the importance of accuracy in news reporting.

Conclusion

The “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline remains one of the most memorable media mistakes in U.S. history. It illustrates how even major news outlets can err when under deadline pressure, and it cemented Harry Truman’s underdog status in the annals of presidential elections.