1948

Harry Truman's Improbable Victory and the Year That Transformed America

By: David Pietrusza

Narrated by: Jeff Cummings

Length: 18 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

The wild, combative inside story of the most stunning upset in the history of presidential elections: Harry Truman's 1948 victory over Tom Dewey.

"Outstanding....by far the best yet about the fateful [1948] election." -Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"Coherent, compelling.... A skillful, authoritative investigation." -Kirkus Reviews

Award-winning historian David Pietrusza unpacks the most ingloriously iconic headline in the history of presidential elections - DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN - to reveal the 1948 campaign's backstage events and recount the down-to-the-wire brawl fought against the background of an erupting Cold War, the Berlin Airlift, the birth of Israel, and a post-war America facing exploding storms over civil rights and domestic communism.

"A terrific book.... a must-read." -Ron Faucheux, former editor-in-chief, Campaigns & Elections magazine

"David Pietrusza brilliantly portrays President Harry Truman's successful efforts to stave off the challenge of New York Gov. Tom Dewey, who was making a repeat bid as the Republican nominee." -David Mark, journalist, political analyst, and author of Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Campaigning

"Sweeping... compelling." -Library Journal

©2011 David Pietrusza. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Great Research

This story was written with finite details about each candidate. The book also delves into the effect other politicians had in election '48, aside from Dewey and Truman. The narrator makes the facts sound interesting, as if you are looking into the window of history. I gave this four stars because I would have loved to hear the fate of all the major players in this book, post 1948.

Exposes side of Truman that McCullough neglected.

Again I stumbled on a great work by its reference in another work.
You don’t want to stop listening once you start. David Pietruzza reminds me of a young Robert Caro. I was six when all this was going on now it’s become much more lucid. Kudos and gracias to DP.

Fascinating History

David Pietrusza told the story of the 1948 presidential election with a good overview of the main characters- Truman, Dewey, Thurmond, and Wallace. He managed to build suspense for the outcome.

What I wish the book contained though was a bit more analysis on why Truman won and why Dewey lost. The author does a great job explaining events but doesn't fully address why Truman surged in the last three months of the campaign. Why did people connect with him on the campaign trail? What explained his change in fortunes? Yes, Dewey and his advisors ran a terrible campaign but there's more to Truman's victory than Dewey's loss. Otherwise this is a wonderful read (listen).

Love it!

This is the only election of 1948 reference book you'll ever need! Very in depth analysis.

Truman critic

I truly enjoyed 1932 by the author. Not so much this book. The author was, in my opinion, extremely critical of the president. He made statements of motivation that were a reach. There was a lot of wonderful material to work with and the author made the least of it. I only give thanks that the book ended.

1948 Presidential election retold by Truman hater

Surprising, unmistakable, agenda generated, historically predjudiced account of the remarkable achievements of an equally remarakable man, Harry S Truman. The author, at every turn, seeks to deminish the accomplishments of and the appreciation and honor due President Truman. This tome is NOT, I repeat, NOT, recommended for anyone who has any affection for one of the greatest presidents that ever occupied the office. Having been giving no preperation by FDR, Truman embarked on tasks (ending WWII, the use of the atomic bomb, the struggle with bringing the war-time economy to a peace-time reality, etc., etc.) that would have devasted most men. Mrs. Roosevelt said it best, at the time of FDR's death, telling Truman, "... you're the one in trouble now..." With all that was against him, Truman managed to achieve the amazing election victory of 1948. Don't read this pathetic account of this remarkable presidential election.

Good but way too long

Solid account of the 1948 election but could easily have been edited down by a third or more. The author does a lot of name dropping, listing seemingly everyone who was at a certain events. Also way too much time on Henry Wallace who ended up having little impact on the election. The narration was so-so.