1952 United States Presidential Election (Stars and Stripes Forever)

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The1952 United States Presidential Election was the 42nd Quadrennial Presidential Election, held on Tuesday, November 4, 1952. Incumbent Republican President Douglas MacArthur successfully secured another term against Democratic Senator Hubert Humphrey.

MacArthur managed to secure the renomination from the Republicans with the only opposition coming from Thomas Dewey. Meanwhile, Humphrey faced a tough challenge from Governor of Illinois Aldai Stevenson II. However, by a slim majority, Humphrey secured the Democratic nomination.

Humphrey attacked MacArthur's handling of the Korean War, despite the successful defeat of North Korea. The Democrats also stoked fears of a second great depression under a continued Republican administration. President MacArthur and the Republicans, meanwhile, focused on the improving economy and success abroad.

MacArthur retained his enormous popularity from his first term, and ended up carrying every state outside of the south, and also won his home state of Arkansas. Republicans also maintained control of both chambers of Congress.

Republican Party Nomination
In the 1952 Primaries there was little doubt that MacArthur and Taft would be easily renominated. However, in early 1952, Taft began to feel pain in his hips while golfing with MacArthur. After collapsing, he was taken to Walter Reed Hospital where initial tests showed that it was likely either a tumor or arthritis. As his condition worsened, further testing revealed it to be terminal pancreatic cancer. Taft, understand he could not finish another term as Vice President, told MacArthur he couldn't be in the race anymore. As he wrote in his autobiography published shortly before his death in 1953, "It was one of the saddest days in my life. After I told him, he looked shocked. Then he said 'I understand, Robert. God bless you.'" MacArthur would continue to visit Taft until his death.

With Taft no-longer able to run as Vice President, the nominating convention suggested a number of candidates, and MacArthur settled on the young California Senator Richard M. Nixon. Nixon later wrote in his memoirs "I felt that running as Vice President was silly. Then they walked up to me and said 'He chose you.'" Despite the huge support MacArthur had, Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York seemed determined to usurp MacArthur's place. He, along with former Governor Harold Stassen, campaigned extensively against MacArthur, however, all to no avail.

MacArthur and Nixon were nominated near-unanimously by the convention.