As the 2008 Presidential Election draws to a close this week, polls are springing up everywhere about the likelihood of either John McCain or Barack Obama being elected. AOL news internet folly even goes beyond election predictions and asks readers which candidate’s name sounds better with “President” in front of it. In light of current projections for the winner, this week we look at several other “it’s in the bag” moments:
1984-Sore Winners Like Whoa- Sensing a huge victory, President Reagan asked Democrats to desert their roots and join his “Second American Revolution.” Vice President George Bush, in a fit of confidence about the upcoming results, congratulated Democratic nominee Walter Mondale for “hanging in there.”
1953-Predicting the Election of Common Sense- Prime Minister Churchill declares the danger of war has lessened because now the Russians, along with the rest of mankind, fear the annihilation an atomic conflict would bring.
1974-The Start of Something Good, I Just Know It- Long before the name Sarah Palin inspired hope and terror in respective hearts across America, the first Female Governor was elected in Connecticut. Ella Grasso cleared the way for beauty queen-huntresses everywhere to serve governorships across the U.S., and then-President Gerald Ford was quoted saying that this was “the start of an amazing age for women in America.”
Finally, the #1 single this week in 1971 was Cher’s “Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves.” Elections don’t have anything to do with any of those things…we hope… check out the song below and let us know for sure:
That’s it for this edition of This Week in History! Come back next Thursday for more interesting news from the past.
