1940 Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie and Tacoma Times staff members in front of the Times office while Mr. Willkie was in Tacoma to address Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple. Mr. Willkie, in glasses, is apparently examining a bound volume of the newspaper. It was not his first time in Tacoma as he had made a brief stop in 1940 while campaigning. (T. Times. 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma);

Wendell Willkie meets staff members at the Tacoma Times. Editor E.T. Short is at far left in photo. Mr. Willkie, the 1940 Republican Presidential nominee, was in town for the day to address the Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day Dinner. In addition to the dinner and meeting with local civic leaders, Mr. Willkie also spoke to the American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post #2. (T. Times, 2-10-44, p. 1, T. Times 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Short, Edgar T.; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma);

In February of 1944, Wendell Willkie (far right) while visiting the Tacoma Times at their plant at 919 Market Street was photographed shaking hands with editor E.T.Short. Standing in the background center was Times publisher Frank W. Power; the other man far left is not identified. Mr. Willkie, the defeated 1940 Republican Presidential candidate, was planning another run at the nomination in 1944 and was in town to address a Lincoln Day gathering at the Masonic Temple. Veteran newsman E.T. Short was known to be critical of Mr. Willkie's political stands. Wendell Willkie did not receive the support he expected in the 1944 Republican race and withdrew early; he died suddenly of heart problems a few months later in October of 1944. (T. Times, 2-12-44, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Short, Edgar T.; Power, Frank W.;

1940 Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie shakes hands with Tacoma Times publisher Frank W. Power at the Times office. Mr. Willkie was in Tacoma to address the Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple. Mr. Power also took the time to introduce Mr. Willkie to his staff, including longtime editor, E.T. Short. (T. Times, 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Power, Frank W.; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

1940 Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie and publisher Frank W. Power in front of Tacoma Times office while Mr. Willkie was in Tacoma to address the Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple. Mr. Willkie also was able to speak to other Times employees, including longtime editor E.T.Short. (T. Times, 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Power, Frank W.; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma);

Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican Presidential nominee and titular head of the party, with two men at the Tacoma Times office in February, 1944. Mr. Willkie was in Tacoma to address the Pierce County Republican Club's 1944 Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple. He is seated closest to the window with a cigarette in his hand. Headlines from the Seattle P-I and Tacoma Times newspapers placed on the table continue to report the latest war news indicating Rome beachheads were in peril due to Nazi attacks. (T.Times, 2-12-44, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Newspapers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Newspaper headlines;

On Friday, February 11, 1944, Sgt. Norma Oaks of the Tacoma Marine Corps recruiting office visited the offices of the News Tribune to file a story about the first anniversary of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. While at the newspaper's headquarters she was introduced to the man who wanted to be her next "Commander in Chief", Wendell L. Willkie. Mr. Willkie was in town to deliver the keynote address at the Pierce County Republican Club's 1944 Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple as part of his campaign to be elected President. Sgt. Oaks wanted the newspaper to write a story about the Marine Corps Women's Reserve, and their need for more women between the aged of 20 and 36 to sign up. (T. Times, 2-10-44, p. 1, T. Times, 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Marines (Military personnel);

Portrait of Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican Presidential nominee and titular head of the party, at the office of the Tacoma Times newspaper. Mr. Willkie was in Tacoma to address Pierce County Republican Club's 1944 Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple. The dinner itself was sold-out but his supporters were able to obtain tickets to listen to him give the main address. Mr. Willkie, an attorney and utilities executive, was originally from Indiana. Although he lost the 1940 election to Franklin D. Roosevelt by a wide margin in electoral votes, the difference in popular votes was quite slim, only five million separating the two. He once again sought the Republican nomination in 1944 but his more liberal views failed to win him the support of his party. He apparently did not endorse the eventual Republican nominee, Thomas Dewey. Wendell Willkie died later in 1944, on October 6, at the age of 52 of heart failure. (T.Times, 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944;