Election 1948 – As Europe Sees It – CBS Radio – April 15, 1948 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
Election 1948. Certainly not a dull one. Between the duels by the Major Party candidates and the inclusion of Henry Wallace, the Third Party Candidate, who was originally a Democrat, and a New Dealer, as well as Secretary of Agriculture under FDR, it was shaping up to being quite a horserace.
And since the war was over for three years, and reconstruction was going ahead – the Marshall Plan was busy aiding in the rebuilding of Europe and the infrastructure of most devastated cities during the war was being rehabilitated, it was time for Europe to assess what America was all about. And one of the most interesting aspects of American life was the Presidential election – that ritual which takes place every four years, and which also dominates conversation, news and public opinion.
So what was Europe’s take on all this? CBS Radio, as part of its Bureau Of Talks series, ran an essay given by Erik Reger, who was editor of the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, who had spent time during the early months of 1948, looking at how the Presidential race was shaping up and how Europeans viewed our system of elections. Erik Reger was the first German journalist to visit the U.S. since before World War 2, and his observations were interesting, if not insightful as to what kind of a country this was.
Then as now, they thought we were doing things a bit strangely – a series of Primaries in various states spread out over months, rather than a series of national elections. The positions of the candidates – the Beauty Contest aspect of the whole thing. And particularly the election process; the campaigning, which in Europe only takes a few weeks, compared to the U.S. which (in 1948) took a few months. Of course, now campaigns seem to begin for the next term after the election for the current term has concluded.
So, to get an idea of just how different electing a Head of State is; here is that talk by Erik Reger from April 15, 1948.
I know the story behind the personalized “Wallace For President” banana squash in the photo. My grandfather Joseph M. Stutz of Chico, California (1892-1977) was a farmer and ardent Henry Wallace supporter. He grew the squash that summer and while it was growing and used a razor to cause the scarring on the rind. The squash was a symbol of the Wallace campaign’s appeal to farmers (many who were liberals and socialists). I believe this photo came from a Life Magazine article and it was taken in San Francisco. I know my grandfather kept a copy of this photo and the magazine.
Yes! You are absolutely right. It came from a Life Magazine issue on the 1948 election, and I chose it because it represented the unconventional aspects of the ’48 election in order to best illustrate the overseas observation of the election. Great photo!
And thanks so much for providing the background.
Gordon
My pleasure! I just spoke to my aunt (who was 10 at the time of the ’48 election) and she confirmed it was his creation.
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