Today’s vote is not the only one that had America on the edge of its seats. Blog GlobalPost recently wrote of the 1916 election:
“(Woodrow) Wilson, a Democrat seeking a second term against Charles Evans Hughes, was staring down the barrel of World War I, which had been sweeping though Europe for two years leading up to the election. Wilson had respected America’s desire for neutrality, and campaigned on the slogan ‘He kept us out of war,’ Yahoo Voices reported.
“Though it initially seemed like Hughes, a moderate Republican and former member of the Supreme Court, had won, the results were neck-and-neck right across the country and came down to California. The west coast ultimately gave Wilson a narrow win, with 49.2 percent of the popular vote and 277 electoral votes to Hughes’ 254, according to InfoPlease’s Campaign database.
“Wilson ultimately had to renege on his promise to the American people, and entered World War I when Germany began attacking U.S. ships.”
Here’s a link:
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/05/5-election-nail-biters/
Here’s a red-and-blue map of the 1916 results:
http://www.270towin.com/1916_Election/
This is a fascinating account of how the news of the election returns was spread — no Facebook, tweets or endless droning analysis in those days:
“SEVEN thousand wireless telephone operators within a radius of 200 miles of New York City received election returns from the New York American. Three hundred and fifty moving-picture theaters; special bulletin boards in different parts of the city, and the principal hotels of Manhattan obtained the news from the above office, as fast as it was received. Fifty extra telephone lines were run into the American office, the theaters were placed on lines that were in continuous operation, and while the news of the closest Presidential election in years was being given to the public thru these channels, the editorial staff compiled the returns without the slightest confusion. announcer broadcasting.”
Here’s the link:
http://earlyradiohistory.us/1916elec.htm
Anyway, the campaign is almost over and we hope to have the results tonight (or tomorrow, or the day after that). May the odds be ever in your favor!
WW1HA 