Excellent account of the 1948 election

Interesting parallels to current political situation- Loved learning how the country was so sure that Dewey was going to win and how Truman was able to upset the expectations. Biggest lesson learned: Every vote is important. Make sure to cast your ballot!

3 people found this helpful

Well Done

This book amazed me. As a Truman fan, I learned so much about the 1948 election and some of the fears surrounding it. The book fairly traces all of the political sides to the election and was an eye opener for me. I thought I was familiar with this, but found so much more that I did not know. A J Baime is an excellent writer and Scott Aiello's narration truly brought this book to life for me.

3 people found this helpful

Every Bit As Good as McCullough’s Truman!

Wow! AJ Baime has done it again! Just as in his other books, history reads like a novel. He takes you into the minds of Truman and Dewey and into the feeling and atmosphere of the time (and the similarity to our own current time is extraordinary!) David McCullough’ Truman will always be the pinnacle of Presidential literature, but WOW AJ Baime is right there! While McCullough took us through the complete timeline of Truman’s life, AJ Baime lets us stop and be “time tourists” in some of the key months....experiencing everything in vivid detail. I’m not a professional reviewer, so I’ll stop there, but whether you love American history like I do, or just love a great story, I know you’ll love “Dewey Defeats Truman!”

2 people found this helpful

Excellent and Timely

To think about the parallels between the election issues of 1948 and the America of today is powerful and a must read. On the one hand you realize the press had 48 even more wrong than 2016. That similarity is crazy, as is the states won, and the campaign tactics used by Trump and Truman. Descriptions of rally’s and speeches could be easily used to describe Trump in 2016.

More importantly though this book highlights the racial issues that dominated 1948 and shows we may have made progress but it is crazy that 2020 will be as much about race, civil rights, and police brutality as the 1948 election was.

The book is well written, easy to follow, unbiased in its reporting of the events and a must read for anyone looking to understand how history certainly repeats itself.

2 people found this helpful

Fabulous

Excellent read. All the facts were woven into an exciting narrative. I learned a lot about Truman and the time period.

1 person found this helpful

Way to Go, Harry!

This comprehensive look at Truman's 1948 election victory proves the adage that the more things change, the more they stay the same. While Truman was criss-crossing the country on his campaign train, newspapers of the day were reporting that two white men charged with murdering a Black man were freed by an all-white jury; China's government, which was falling inexorably into Communist hands, was stirring up unease in Eastern Europe and Asia; Russia was sabre rattling and flexing its military muscle on the international stage; the Republican party was gerrymandering voting districts in an attempt to block the Black vote while also offering physical threats to Black citizens who attempted to register to vote. And oh yes, Truman won the tightly contested election but could have lost by as few as 16,000 votes if matters had gone only slightly in Dewey's favour in the usual swing states. Aielio's narration is good.

Very enjoyable

Great History piece told in an engaging format that made for easy and entertaining listening. Highly recommended and if you particularly like/admire Harry Truman read the previous book as well.