Republican candidates on stage at Jason Lee Jr. High School. Arthur Langlie, seated directly behind the speaker, awaits his turn at the podium during a large Republican rally held in the Jason Lee Auditorium. Several supporters cradle "Langlie for Governor" signs and there is one (Paul) "Preus for Congress" sign as well. "Uncle Sam", dressed in typical patriotic garb, has joined the group. A small band is seated below the stage, instruments at rest. The windy and rainy evening failed to keep away the party faithful as both Democrats and Republicans staged rallies at separate locations. This was the final drive for both parties before the November 5th election. ALBUM 2. (T. Times 11-1-40, p. 1, T. Times, 11-2-40, p.12)

Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Signs (Notices);

On September 23, 1940, Wendell Willkie shook hands with another Republican candidate for office while on the rear platform of the "Willkie Special" train. The man to the right is believed to be Paul Preus, Congressional candidate. Mr. Preus was running to represent the people in Pierce and King counties, outside of Seattle. He was from Parkland and a financial agent for Pacific Lutheran College. Mr. Willkie was joined by Mr. Preus and several other notables including Arthur B. Langlie on his brief stopover in Tacoma. (T. Times, Election Guide 8-31-40, p. 7, T.Times, 9-23-40, p. 1, T.Times, 9-24-40, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Wendell Willkie, the Republican candidate for President in 1940, stands at a microphone at the back of a Northern Pacific train car. The "Willkie Special" arrived in Tacoma on September 23, 1940, from Portland on a campaign swing through the west coast states. Although he only stayed in Tacoma for roughly an hour, Mr. Willkie made several stops including one at the Northern Pacific Shops in South Tacoma and a second at the Wheeler-Osgood plant on the tideflats. Wendell Willkie challenged Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1940 elections. Although he lost handily in the electoral voting, his popular vote was only slightly less than Mr. Roosevelt's. 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;

On Monday afternoon, September 23, 1940, Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie addressed a crowd of 200 to 300 Tacomans from an open automobile in front of Lincoln High School. Mr. Willkie and his entourage on the train the "Willkie Special" had pulled into the Northern Pacific Railroad shops a short time before during a planned one-hour visit to Tacoma. Lincoln High School was one of just four planned stops Mr. Willkie made while in Tacoma; the tubas and horns of the Lincoln band greeted him as well as the Pacific Lutheran College chorus. South "G" Street is packed with supporters of Mr. Willkie and curious on-lookers. He was the first Republican candidate for President to visit Washington state in 24 years. 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; Crowds--Tacoma; Lincoln High School (Tacoma);

Henry A. Wallace with supporters during a Democratic campaign visit to Tacoma. He appears to be making his point clear as everyone is smiling broadly. Mr. Wallace grew up in a Republican household where his father was Secretary of Agriculture from 1921-1924. Mr. Wallace, himself, became a Democrat and helped to bring his native Iowa into the Roosevelt camp in 1932. Although he was asked to resign from his Secretary of Commerce post by President Truman, Mr. Wallace still considered himself a Democrat and asked Democrats to continue to support progressive representatives in the upcoming election. He warned against complacency and urged party members to get to the polls and settle any differences within the party later. Mr. Wallace was the US Vice-President from 1941-45 and later was the (Third) Progressive Party's candidate for the 1948 presidential elections. This sepia photograph was taken on October 28, 1946. (T. Times, 10-29-46, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Wallace, Henry A., 1888-1965; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Stumping for his fellow Democrats, Henry A. Wallace tells a crowd of 3000 and a radio audience that a Communist "is a Democrat with a job a Republican wants" at a campaign rally held at the Armory on October 28, 1946. Wallace, Vice President 1941-45, went on to become the Progressive Party's candidate for President in 1948. He was a plant geneticist, agricultural leader, editor, cabinet member, as well as serving as Roosevelt's vice-president in his third term as president. He was asked to resign as Secretary of Commerce by President Truman due to his public criticism of the administration's hard-line policy toward the Soviet Union. Mr. Wallace was to make a run for the presidency in 1948 as the Progressive Party nominee, representing a newly organized third party with a pro-Soviet stance. He received only 2.4% of the vote and left the party in 1950 after disagreeing with its non-support of the Korean War. He withdrew from politics and resumed activity in the agricultural field. (T. Times, 10-29-46, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Wallace, Henry A., 1888-1965; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma;

Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican Presidential nominee and titular head of the party, listens to Governor Arthur Langlie speak at Pierce County Republican Club 1944 Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple, where Mr. Willkie gave the main address. Governor Langlie had campaigned together with Mr. Willkie during the Indiana attorney's presidential run as he had sought the gubernatorial post. Mr. Willkie's speech was carried nationally over CBS. To accommodate the overwhelming demand for banquet tickets, extra tables were placed behind the head table. The Tacoma Times noted that Republicans were surprised at the large number of Democrats who attended the function. (T. Times, 2-12-44, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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 addressing a crowd in the Roof Garden of the Masonic Temple, including members of Stadium and Lincoln High School Bands, during the Pierce County Republican Club's 1944 Lincoln Day dinner. His main address took place in the Temple's Fellowship Hall; however, he made time to have informal conversations with these young people. (T.Times, 2-12-44, p. 1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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 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, 1940 Republican Presidential candidate and titular party head, and Mrs. Willkie in an open automobile after the Pierce County Republican Club's 1944 Lincoln Day dinner at the Masonic Temple where Mr. Willkie gave the main address. Curious onlookers of all ages surround the vehicle. This was not Mr. Willkie's first time in Tacoma; in 1940 during his presidential campaign, he traveled on the "Willkie Special" train throughout Oregon and Washington and made a brief one-hour stop. During his short stay in Tacoma, he was able to speak to throngs at Lincoln High School and the depot, tour the Osgood-Wheeler plant, and stop at his downtown campaign office. (T.Times, 2-12-44, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Willkie, Edith;

An overflowing crowd of over 5000 filled the State Armory to the rafters to hear California Governor Earl Warren, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and future Supreme Court Chief Justice. Local Republicans had anticipated large crowds to hear the popular governor; an additional 1000 seats were borrowed from the College of Puget Sound and the Seattle Armory. Oversized posters of Governor Warren and Presidential candidate Thomas E. Dewey decorated the Armory walls. According to the clock wall, this sepia photograph was taken at 9:50 p.m. on October 14, 1948. (TNT 10-14-48, p. 1, TNT 10-15-48, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Political Elections - Presidential Elections - Vice Presidential Candidates (Republican) - United States - 1948 - Earl Warren (1891-1974) - Washington (State) - Tacoma

California Governor Earl Warren, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and future Supreme Court Chief Justice, and wife Nina blow out candles on their 23rd anniversary cake during a campaign appearance on October 14, 1948 in Tacoma . Four of the Warren children, Dorothy, Virginia, Nina Elizabeth and Bobby, smilingly look on. Acting Mayor C.A. Erdahl presented the cake to the Warrens following the conclusion of Governor Warren's address at the State Armory. It came as a complete surprise to the Warrens, causing Governor Warren to make an inadvertent slip of the tongue when he stated " I'm not quite as nervous as I was 14 years ago," before his family and the crowd's hearty laughter caused him to correct himself. (T.Times 10-15-1948 p.1. TNT 10-15-48, p. 1) TPL-4751 ALBUM 2.

Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Warren, Earl--Family; Warren, Nina; Warren, Dorothy; Warren, Virginia; Warren, Nina Elizabeth; Warren, Robert; Governors; Erdahl, C.A.; Cakes--Tacoma--1940-1950;

California Governor Earl Warren, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and future Supreme Court Chief Justice, greets an unidentified young supporter on October 14, 1948 during a campaign appearance in Tacoma. Prior to his selection as Thomas E. Dewey's running mate in the 1948 elections, Mr. Warren had been both a California district attorney and that state's Attorney General. He was the only person in California history to be elected to three successive terms as Governor; in 1946 he was unopposed in the general election, as he had won the nomination of the Democratic, the Republican, and the Progressive parties. The 1948 presidential election was the only election he ever lost. He resigned during his third term as Governor when he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by President Eisenhower in 1953. ALBUM 2.

Presidential elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Governors;

California Governor Earl Warren, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and future Supreme Court Chief Justice, and Mrs. Warren with former Governor and Mrs. Arthur Langlie during a campaign appearence in Tacoma. The Warrens were met by Mr. Langlie at the Idaho-Washington border en route to Spokane. He was scheduled to give an address at the State Armory on October 14, 1948. Mr. Langlie would be introducing Governor Warren to the expected large crowds. Sepia photograph taken on October 14, 1948. (TNT 10-14-48, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Langlie, Evelyn; Warren, Nina; Governors;

California Governor Earl Warren, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and future Supreme Court Chief Justice, stands on the platform, below his name in heroic sized letters, during rally at Tacoma Armory. Congressman Thor Tollefson on the extreme right. As Election Day drew near, both parties were making concentrated efforts in an attempt to sway voters. Governor Warren had already visited 31 states during speaking engagements and he was to make quick stops in northwest cities of Everett, Seattle, Spokane, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, Portland and Eugene before finally heading home to the governor's mansion in Sacramento. (TNT 10-15-48, p. 1) ALBUM 2.

Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Governors; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950;

President Harry S. Truman, along with First Lady Truman, and their daughter Margaret were visiting the Pacific Northwest in June of 1948. The president would be making an aerial tour of the Oregon and Washington flood areas. President Truman spoke out against Congress and Private Power interests during his visit. View of President Harry S.Truman riding in 1948 Cadillac convertible automobile on 11th Street between Pacific Avenue and Commerce Street in downtown Tacoma. Approximately 9,000 lined the presidential route and another 9,000 gathered to hear Mr. Truman speak at the intersection of 9th & Broadway. (T. Times, 6/11/48, p. 1).

Presidential elections--Tacoma; Presidents--United States--Election--1948; Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cadillac automobile; Salutations--Tacoma;

On Thursday June 10, 1948, President Harry S. Truman stopped off in Tacoma long enough to address a crowd of several thousand Tacomans from a platform built on the corner of South 9th and Broadway. In an address carried live over KMO radio, he blasted the congress for doing nothing to curb inflation and control prices. He also attacked their tax reduction program which he called "a rich man's tax law - for the relief of the rich." While in Bremerton he addressed an enthusiastic crowd emphasizing the need for a strong defense during times of peace. Seattle greeted him with downtown crowds estimated at 100,000. ALBUM 1. (TNT 6-9-48, p. 1, TNT 6-10-48, p. 1, TNT 6-11-48, p. 11) TPL-9675

Presidential elections--Tacoma; Presidents--United States--Election--1948; Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; Visits of state--Tacoma;

President Harry S.Truman delivers a rousing speech to thousands at 9th Street near Broadway and Saint Helens Avenue in downtown Tacoma. Washington Governor Mon Wallgren at far right, Winthrop Hotel in background. President Truman's wife Bess and daughter Margaret accompanied him during his cross-country tour. The President's speech was apparently being carried by radio station KMO; it was his first official visit to Tacoma as President. ALBUM 1. (TNT 6-9-48, p. 1, TNT 6-10-48, p. 1, TNT 6-11-48, p. 1)

Presidential elections--Tacoma; Presidents--United States--Election--1948; Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; Visits of state--Tacoma; Public speaking--Tacoma;

President Harry S.Truman greeting Tacoma Police Department motorcycle officers on 9th Street near Broadway and Saint Helens Avenue in downtown Tacoma. It was Mr. Truman's first visit to Tacoma as president. To assist local police,Tacoma's own anti-aircraft unit, the 530th AAA Automatic Weapons battalion was chosen to furnish the guard of honor for the President's visit. 50 guardsmen would be on duty. The outdoor location of Mr. Truman's speech was changed from 10th & A Streets to 9th & Broadway for security reasons. ALBUM 1. (TNT 6-9-48, p. 1, TNT 6-10-48, p. 1, TNT 6-11-48, p. 1) TPL-8687

Presidential elections--Tacoma; Presidents--United States--Election--1948; Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; Visits of state--Tacoma; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);

Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican Presidential nominee, looks up at an unidentified past national commander of the American Legion, while in Tacoma on February 11, 1944. Seated on the right in photograph is Washington Governor Arthur B. Langlie. Mr. Willkie was in town to speak at the Pierce County Republican Club's Lincoln Day dinner and at the Rhodes American Legion Post.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors; Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Republican nominee for President, Wendell Willkie, spent a brief hour in Tacoma during his 1940 whistle-stop tour. He is pictured acknowledging the crowds at the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in South Tacoma on September 23, 1940.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie stands in his open car while waving to the crowds gathered at the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in South Tacoma. Mr. Willkie, the Republican nominee, was challenging Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1940 elections. Although he was swamped in the Electoral College vote, Mr. Willkie's total of 22 million popular votes was only five million less than Mr. Roosevelt's.

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

In November of 1940, Pierce County Prosecutor Thor Tollefson, at far left, supervised the opening and counting of the absentee voters' ballots from the general election. A record number of absentee ballots, somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000, arrived from nearly every state in the union and Washington D.C. The ballots had to be sorted by precincts and districts and each ballot's signature on the outside had to be compared with applications on file. The 1940 election was especially tense because of the close gubernatorial race between Seattle Mayor Arthur Langlie and Democrat C.C. Dill of Spokane. Absentee ballots cemented Langlie's lead, although Dill refused to concede for several days. From L to R are: Thor Tollefson, County Republican Chairman John F. Buchanan, Frank Perry, personal representative of Arthur Langlie, Auditor S. Clifford Davis, L. G. Higgins, official counter for the Democrats and Vic Johnson, watching for C.C. Dill. (T. Times, 11-12-40, p. 1) ALBUM 4.

Ballots; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Buchanan, John F.; Berry, Frank; Davis, S. Clifford; Higgins, L.G.; Johnson, Vic;

His vehicle engulfed by employees of the Wheeler-Osgood Company, Republican candidate for President Wendell Willkie addresses the teeming crowd on September 23, 1940. These working men have climbed on car tops, roofs, and stacks of lumber to view Mr. Willkie. He stands beside the open automobile with a microphone; Mrs. Willkie is in the back seat. Because his time was extremely limited in Tacoma, Mr. Willkie's only stop in the industrial area was the Wheeler-Osgood plant where he inspected the plant for ten minutes and spoke to 200 employees. Selected to run against incumbent President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1940, Wendell Willkie was a lawyer and utilities executive as well as a former Democrat. He campaigned against Roosevelt's New Deal and the country's lack of military readiness. Although he was buried by Roosevelt in total electoral votes, he only lost the popular vote by 5 million. He went on to become a close ally of President Roosevelt and was appointed his personal representative in 1941 and 1942 to Britain, the Middle East, USSR and China. ALBUM 2. (T.Times, 9-23-40, p.1, T.Times, 9-24-40, p.1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Willkie, Edith;