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A Forged Letter Almost Becomes Garfield’s ‘Death Warrant’
Allegedly written by Garfield on House of Representatives stationary, the Republican candidate told a Massachusetts businessman named H.L. Morey that “individuals and companies have the right to buy labor where they can get it cheapest.” In other words, unrestricted Chinese immigration is good for business. -
FDR Almost Loses the Black Vote
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. -
Kissinger Prematurely Announces ‘Peace’ in Vietnam
On October 31, 1968, LBJ ordered a halt to all U.S. bombing campaigns in Vietnam, announcing “a major step toward a firm and an honorable peace in Southeast Asia.” But just days later, the peace talks in Vietnam fell apart and Humphrey lost to Nixon. -
Reagan Campaign Coins the Term ‘October Surprise’
Democrats then accused Reagan of striking a secret deal with Iran to hold the hostages until after he took office. But he still won and the hostages were released -
Iran-Contra Indictment Is Bad News for George H.W. Bush
Bush was was indicted for his involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair and was trying to distance himself however Greenberg says that the bad economy and the failure of Reaganomics were the biggest factor in Bush’s loss -
A DUI Almost Derails George W. Bush
George W. Bush was arrested for drunk driving in Maine after a long night of partying. Republican strategist Karl Rove argued that Bush’s “October surprise” cost him five states in the 2000 election, enough to have avoided the Florida recount altogether. -
FBI Reopens Probe into Clinton’s Emails
James Comey, the FBI director, called a press conference to announce that the intelligence agency was reopening its investigation into Clinton’s private email server—an investigation that the FBI had officially closed in July. 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.