Category: Campaign 1956
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Give the Man a Hand!
Kefauver’s handshake made him famous. But it was really just a symbol of his campaign style, and his belief in the importance of personal contact with voters.
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It’s Electric!
A random picture from the campaign trail inspired a trip down a rabbit hole. What was the “Live Better Electrically” camoaign, and what did it have to do with a future President?
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“Coya, Come Home”: The Sad Story of a Kefauver Backer
Coya Knutson was Minnesota’s first Congresswoman. She bucked the state political establishment to endorse Estes Kefauver for President. It was a bold move… but it cost her dearly.
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The Senator and The King
Estes Kefauver and Elvis Presley were the two most famous Tennesseans of the 1950s. Read about the time Kefauver talked about Presley… and another unusual connection between them.
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Campaign 1956, Part 2: “He Just Can’t Stop”
Kefauver lost the nomination, but he won a consolation prize: Stevenson’s VP nomination. Their campaign started with a ray of hope… that turned out to be the headlight of Ike’s oncoming train.
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Campaign 1956, Part 1: If At First You Don’t Succeed…
Undaunted by his loss in 1952, Kefauver tried for the Presidency a second time. This time, though, he’d have company in the primaries. Adlai Stevenson was taking it to the streets.
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The Story of the Coonskin Cap
The coonskin cap was a symbol for Estes Kefauver throughout his political career. Why? Hint: It had nothing to do with Davy Crockett.
Estes Kefauver for President 