This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/4/2021
A gigantic 17x23.5” original press of the Chicago Tribune is featured here with the most famous displayable 20th Century “error” headline: “DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMA.” Some light edge chipping is present but otherwise presents in NM-MINT condition.
The incorrect banner headline ran on the front page of the Chicago Daily Tribune on November 3, 1948 the day after the incumbent US President, Harry S. Truman won an upset victory over then Governor of New York, Thomas E. Dewey. Truman famously held up the paper at a public appearance following his successful election victory, smiling triumphantly at the error.
The Tribune heavily relied on their famous veteran Washington political analyst, Arthur Sears Henning who had earlier predicted the winner of four of five of the previous Presidential elections. A case of bad polling was also at play as they had an almost unanimous Dewey victory on election night. The early edition of the Tribune therefore went to press with the banner headline “DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN.”
Henning also reported that Republicans would retain control of the House and Senate which would work with President Elect Dewey. He continued with his bold predictions that Dewey and Warren won a sweeping victory in the presidential election yesterday. The early returns showed the Republican ticket leading Truman and Barkley pretty consistently in the western and southern states.” He even added “indications were that the complete returns would disclose that Dewey won the presidency by an overwhelming majority of the electoral college.”
Even as the race grew ever closer throughout the evening, Henning continued to stick to his guns and thousands of papers continued to roll of the presses. It wasn’t until the late evening dispatches that the Tribune began making amendments to their paper.