The wild, combative inside story of the most stunning upset in the history of presidential elections: Harry Truman’s 1948 victory over Tom Dewey.

“Outstanding. . . . by far the best yet about the fateful [1948] election.” —Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“Coherent, compelling. . . . A skillful, authoritative investigation.” —Kirkus Reviews

Award-winning historian David Pietrusza unpacks the most ingloriously iconic headline in the history of presidential elections—DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN—to reveal the 1948 campaign’s backstage events and recount the down-to-the-wire brawl fought against the background of an erupting Cold War, the Berlin Airlift, the birth of Israel, and a post-war America facing exploding storms over civil rights and domestic communism.

“A terrific book. . . . a must-read.” —Ron Faucheux, former editor-in-chief, Campaigns & Elections magazine

“David Pietrusza brilliantly portrays President Harry Truman’s successful efforts to stave off the challenge of New York Gov. Tom Dewey, who was making a repeat bid as the Republican nominee.” —David Mark, journalist, political analyst, and author of Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Campaigning

“Sweeping . . . compelling.” —Library Journal