Thomas Dewey

1902- 1971

American Politician

American politician and lawyer Thomas Dewey was born on March 24, 1902 in Owosso Michigan. He received a BA degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Columbia Univeristy in 1925. He became a Federare prosecutor, then went into private practice. He quickly left private practice after being asked to lead a task force investigating corruption. In 1942 he became governor of New York . He challenged two sitting Presidents for that office and lost to both Franklin Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Dewey carried the dubious distinction of having newspaper headlines prematurely proclaiming him the winner in the campaign against Truman in 1948.

Dewey was elected governor of New York in 1942, 1946, and 1950. Following his retirement from the governorship in 1954, Dewey remained an active presence in the national Republican party.

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