Who Chicago Tribune wrongly declare the winner over President Truman in the 1948 election? Explained
During the 1948 presidential election, the Chicago Tribune famously made a significant mistake by incorrectly announcing Thomas E. Dewey as the victor over the then-incumbent President Harry S. Truman. The newspaper’s headline, “Dewey Defeats Truman,” is now emblematic of premature and inaccurate reporting. The Tribune’s editorial team, basing their declaration on initial returns and polling information, prematurely concluded that Dewey would win, resulting in the headline being published before the final results were verified. Nonetheless, Truman staged an unexpected turnaround, clinching a resounding electoral triumph and earning a second term in office.