Historical Context: November, 1944

November 1944 offered a unique blend of Ghost Stories & Politics, a theme that played out both on the silver screen and in the national headlines. At the Oasis Theatre in Hermiston, Oregon, audiences enjoyed movie adaptations of popular radio shows. The lineup featured Gildersleeve’s Ghost (Nov. 14-16) and Heavenly Days, starring the beloved duo Fibber McGee and Molly (Nov. 21-23).

Historically, on Nov. 7, 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) was re-elected President of the United States for a record fourth term, defeating Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey.

Roosevelt and his running mate Harry S. Truman won a whopping 432 electoral college votes compared to Dewey’s 99. In the popular vote, Roosevelt won 53.4 percent of votes cast compared to Dewey’s 45.9 percent. In actual votes, the Democrats ticket received 25.6 million compared to some 22 million for the Republicans. Dewey won 12 states: Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Dewey, the governor of New York at the time, campaigned against the New Deal and for less  government. With the success of the war effort, Roosevelt remained popular despite rumors about his health.