October Surprise

By artemiswillis

  • Garfield's Death Warrant: A Forged Letter

    A letter allegedly written by Republican candidate James Garfield told a Massachussets businessman that unrestricted Chinese immigration is good for business. This did not accurately represent Garfield's view on immigration. Democrats distributed over half a million copies to tightly contested states, and Republicans shut it down by proving that it was fake. It cost him California and did considerable damage, but he still won

  • FDR Almost Loses the Black Vote

    FDR was campaigning in New York City at an event in Madison Square Garden. As FDR left for the train station, one of his staffers—a short-tempered press aide named Stephen Early—was blocked by two police officers. In a violent outburst, Early kneed one of the cops in the crotch. The officer, James Sloan, was Black. Early issued a half-hearted apology. Salvaged the situation by promoting the first Black officer to reach brigadier general and creating the Tuskegee Airmen.

  • Kissinger Prematurely Announces ‘Peace’ in Vietnam

    The Vietnam War was the major political issue between 1968-1972. In early October, it appeared that the North Vietnamese would accept America’s terms for an end to the conflict. Behind the scenes, though, the South Vietnamese strongly objected to the arrangement. However, Henry Kissinger, Nixon’s national security advisor, attended a press conference on October 26 and proclaiming that “peace is at hand.” In reality, the war would continue for another three years. Nixon won the election.

  • Reagan Campaign Coins the Term ‘October Surprise'

    This was during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. Ronald Reagan promised that he would free the hostages, something Jimmy Carter failed to do. There was suspicion that Carter had secured the release but was waiting to announce it during the final weeks of the campaign. This scheme was known as the "October Surprise". The expected scheme did not happen and the hostages remained in Iran. Reagan won easily.

  • Iran-Contra Indictment Is Bad News for George H.W. Bush

    In June 1992, the Secretary of Defense under President Reagan was indicted for his involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair. Bush was Reagan's VP at the time. He tried to distance himself from the scandal, but it was clear that Bush knew that Reagan authorized illegal weapons sales to Iran in order to funnel money to the Contras. He eventually lost the election to Bill Clinton.

  • A DUI Almost Derails George W. Bush

    The election was close between George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore. Just days before Election Day‚ Fox News broke a bombshell story. In 1976, George W. Bush was arrested for drunk driving in Maine after a long night of partying. The revelation seemed to confirm unflattering portrayals of the younger Bush as unfit for office. Bush admitted that he had mistakes in the past, but he had learned from them. It cost him five states in the election.

  • FBI Reopens Probe into Clinton’s Emails

    Eleven days before the election, the FBI director announced that the FBI was going to reopen its investigation into Clinton’s private email server. The resurrection of the email investigation—which had been the target of Republican ire for a year—delivered a crippling blow to the Clinton campaign. Clinton ended up losing the election.