- Item
- 1940-09-23
Part of Richards Studio Photographs
A large crowd of approximately 1500, including several hundred railroad employees, blocks the track while listening to Wendell Willkie speak on September 23, 1940, from the rear platform of the "Willkie Special" at the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in South Tacoma. Mr. Willkie, a lawyer and utilities executive, was the Republican candidate for president in 1940. He was the first Republican candidate for President to visit Washington state in 24 years. Mr. Willkie made four stops during his brief one hour stay in Tacoma which included short speeches at Lincoln High School, Willkie-McNary campaign headquarters, the Wheeler-Osgood plant and Union depot. He was enthusiastically greeted throughout the city before departing for Seattle's Sick's Stadium. Candidate Willkie was defeated by incumbent Franklin Delano Roosevelt but only lost the popular vote by 5 million. ALBUM 2. (T.Times, 9-23-40, p.1, T.Times, 9-24-40, p. 1)
Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Presidential elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Political campaigns; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroads--Tacoma--1940-1950;