1944: Roosevelt is elected to fourth term
In the midst of World War II, millions of American voters went to the polls today to decide between incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt and Thomas E. Dewey. The Charleston Gazette reported that the vote from soldiers, estimated at 3,462,000, may determine the close campaign.
"Four of five nationwide polls showed Roosevelt slightly ahead on election eve. But they left themselves 'outs' by pointing to possible room for errors and to a soldier vote which none could sample," reported The Charleston Gazette on November 7, 1944.
The following day, Gov. Thomas E. Dewey conceded as steadily mounting returns made it clear that Roosevelt won a fourth term. "The vote-getting magic of Franklin Delano Roosevelt won him a fourth term in the White House today, and continued leadership in the vast unfinished business of war and peace," explained The Lowell Sun on November 8, 1944. NOTE: FDR is the only president in U.S. history to hold a 4th term.
The Lowell Sun
November 8, 1944
Shooting at Fort Hood
A sole gunman has survived a shoot-out with authorities after killing 13 and wounding dozens more at Fort Hood, Texas on Thursday. Military experts are now calling this the worst mass shooting at a military base in America's history. Unfortunately, this is not the first time there has been a mass shooting in Killeen.
A Historical Perspective
On October 16, 1991, George Jo Hennard drove through the front window of Luby's Cafeteria and opened fire on patrons and staff. "Diners screamed in terror and cowered behind counters as a man with a high-powered pistol methodically moved through a crowded cafeteria Wednesday and killed 22 people in the nation's deadliest shooting rampage," reported the Syracuse Herald Journal on October 17, 1991. "The killer, a 35-year-old loner who had expressed bitterness toward women, drove his pickup through a window at a crowded Killeen cafeteria shortly before 1 p.m. and began shooting. When police closed in, he hid in a bathroom and took his own life, authorities said. He died with 28 rounds still in his gun, police said."
It was the deadliest shooting in America until the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007.
The Fort Hood massacre also brings to mind the "Fort Dix Six" when six armed gunman plotted to kill as many Fort Dix soldiers as possible. "Six Islamic radicals, four of them from Cherry Hill [New Jersey] and one from Philadelphia, have been arrested and charged with planning a heavily armed attack against soldiers at Fort Dix," explained the Bucks County Courier Times on May 9, 2007. "The men planned to 'kill as many soldiers as possible' in the attack, which was described as motivated by a religious jihad, or 'holy war,' but has not been connected to any international terror organizations such as al-Qaida." Five of the men were found guilty on charges of conspiracy to harm US military personnel and acquitted on the charge of attempted murder.
Syracuse Herald Journal
October 17, 1991
Syracuse Herald Journal
November 8, 1942
1916: First woman elected to U.S. Congress
Jeanette Rankin, of Montana, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives today, becoming the first woman to serve in Congress. "As soon as it was learned that Miss Rankin had won, telegrams from all parts of the country began to shower upon her at her home in Missoula. Prominent suffrage leaders of the country sent messages saying that her election was significant of a great victory for the women of the country," reported the The Indianapolis Star on November 11, 1916. The newspaper article then went on to describe Rankin's physical characteristics, along with her cooking abilities: "Miss Rankin makes her own clothes, stunning ones, too - her hats, and she is also an excellent cook." NOTE: Rankin's election was especially significant as women would not have the right to vote until four years after she was elected to congress.
The Indianapolis Star
November 11, 1916