General Dwight Eisenhower was actively courted by both parties. Eisenhower however, was a Republican at heart, and agreed to run for the "good of the nation." He was opposed for the nomination by Senator Robert Taft of Ohio. At the Republican convention in Chicago General Eisenhower was nominated on the first ballot. President Truman supported Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois for the Democratic nomination. At the Democratic convention in Chicago Stevenson was elected on the third ballot.
Eisenhower took the high road in the campaign, while leaving the attacking to Richard Nixon his Vice Presidential candidate. Nixon himself was almost dropped from the campaign after he was accused of maintaining an $18,000 slush fund. Nixon went on national TV is a speech later known as the "Checkers speech", named after his dog Checkers, whom he referred to in the speech. Most of the response was very favorable to Nixon, and he remained on the ticket. Eisenhower promised to end go to Korea and end the impasse of the war. The country voted overwhelmingly for Eisenhower.
Participation of Eligible Voters: 63.3%
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