October surprise

  • Garfield’s "Death Warrant"

    Garfield’s "Death Warrant"
    a letter that was allegedly from Garfield writing to a businessman named H.L. Morey saying that Chinese immigration was good for business while Chinese immigration was a hot topic. He was able to prove that it wasn't him who wrote it
  • FDR Almost Loses the Black Vote

    FDR Almost Loses the Black Vote
    on October 28th, FDR was leaving the train station and one of staffers, Stephen Early, was blocked by a police officer, which he kneed in the groin. The officer was black and was sent to the hospital. Early gave a very bad apology claiming that it wasn't him but since the officer wanted an apology so bad he would apologize. To salvage his votes, FDR promoted Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr. to brigadier general, the first Black officer to reach that rank.
  • Kissinger Prematurely Announces ‘Peace’ in Vietnam

    Kissinger Prematurely Announces ‘Peace’ in Vietnam
    Nixon was running and he wanted peace before the election. there appeared to be a breath through but there was not. Henry Kissinger, Nixon’s national security advisor, still went on the air to say peace was in hand" yet the war went on for another 3 years
  • Reagan Campaign Coins the Term ‘October Surprise’

    Reagan Campaign Coins the Term ‘October Surprise’
    Reagan's campaign said he'd free the hostages in Iran but there was suspicion that Carter already had done it and was waiting to announce it. William Casey, Reagan’s campaign manager told time magazine they were expecting an "October surprise" from Carter. This did not happen and Reagan took office.
  • Iran-Contra Indictment Is Bad News for George H.W. Bush

    Iran-Contra Indictment Is Bad News for George H.W. Bush
    the economy was in a recession, people in Reagan's campaign were doing shady stuff and Bush was trying to distance himself.
  • A DUI Almost Derails George W. Bush

    A DUI Almost Derails George W. Bush
    days before the election fox news revealed that Bush had just been arrested for drunk driving in Maine when he was younger.
  • FBI Reopens Probe into Clinton’s Emails

    FBI Reopens Probe into Clinton’s Emails
    an FBI agent announced they were reopening an investigations with her emails that had closed in July.