1952: Dewey's Re-Election

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Lets say the Thomas Dewey really defeated President Harry S. Truman for the Presidency in 1948. Who would be the Democratic nominee? Who would there running mate be? Would Dewey have been re-elected in 1952? Discuss with maps.

[MarkWarner08]

Dewey might have lost to Stevenson or Sam Rayburn.

[Lincoln Republican]

First of all, how Dewey wins in 1948:

Dewey adds Ohio, Illinois, and California, to give him a razor thin victory.

Dewey/Warren                267
Truman/Barkley               226
Thurmond/Wright              38

[Lincoln Republican]

There is no conceivable reason why Dewey would lose in 1952 after winning in 1948.

Dewey proves to be a solid, capable and effective President in his first term.

Dewey is reelected by a solid margin.  Considerably smaller than the margin that Eisenhower got, but a solid win nonetheless for Dewey.

Democrats would likely go with Stevenson and Sparkman, same as in actual.  I don't see why they wouldn't.  Stevenson was a party favorite at the time.

Stevenson wins his home state of Illinois.

Dewey/Warren                  317
Stevenson/Sparkman        214

[RBH]

Perhaps this works for Dewey/Warren v. Eisenhower/Stevenson:

I'd imagine that Dewey wouldn't have a lot of luck in dealing with Korea.

[Boris]

There is no conceivable reason why Dewey would lose in 1952 after winning in 1948.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War

Although, admittedly, no sitting President has ever lost re-election during a time of war, but I assure you, that had Harry Truman or Lyndon Johnson ran for President in 1952 and 1968 respectively, they would've lost.

[Lincoln Republican]

Dewey would have shown decisive leadership in the Korean War, just like he showed decisive leadership throughout his career.

True, the famed Dewey decisiveness and leadership was lacking somewhat in the actual 1948 campaign, but had he won in 1948, I have no doubt he would have shown true Presidential leadership in the conflict.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

While Truman wasn't liked for his Korean War policies at the time, I think that a more resolute prosecution of the Korean Conflict would have expanded it into World War III.   It is doubtful but possible that the Conflict never happens if Dewey's Secretary of State does not do as as Acheson did and repeat MacArthur's statement of what constituted our defense perimeter, a statement that left Korea outside that perimeter.

[Lincoln Republican]

There is no conceivable reason why Dewey would lose in 1952 after winning in 1948.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War

Although, admittedly, no sitting President has ever lost re-election during a time of war, but I assure you, that had Harry Truman or Lyndon Johnson ran for President in 1952 and 1968 respectively, they would've lost.

I would disagree with you on 1968. I believe that if Johnson had run again that their would have been a low turnout but I think that Johnson would have lost the popular vote but he would have had  a razor thin victory in the leectoral college.

If Truman had run in 1952, and he did foolishly think about doing so, he would have been annihilated by Eisenhower.

If Johnson had run in 1968, he decided to withdraw after Eugene McCarthy made a strong showing in the New Hampshire primary, Johnson would have been clobbered by Nixon.