MileStones from The Writer's Almanac
Today is the anniversary of a great many milestones in American election history.
On this day in 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected to fourth term as president. It was during the Second World War, and the incumbent FDR heftily defeated Thomas E. Dewey. A few years later, the 22nd constitutional amendment was passed, limiting a president to two elected terms in office.
On this day in 1967, the first black mayor of a major American city was elected: Carl Stokes of Cleveland, Ohio. And on this day 20 years ago, Douglas Wilder won the Virginia gubernatorial election, becoming the nation’s first elected African-American governor. That same year of 1989, David Dinkins became New York City’s first black mayor.
On this day in 1990, Ireland elected its first woman president: Mary Robinson.
Ten years later, on this day in 2000, Hillary Clinton was elected to the Senate, making her the first first lady to win public office in America. That same day, George W. Bush was elected president over Al Gore, even though Gore won the popular vote.
On this day in 2006, the first Muslim was elected to the U.S. Congress: Keith Ellison, a Democrat from Minnesota. He was raised Catholic and converted to Islam the year after he graduated from a Jesuit high school in Detroit.
On this day in 1929, New York’s Museum of Modern Art opened to the public. The Wall Street Crash had happened just nine days before. The museum’s first exposition featured loan paintings by Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Seurat.
On this day in 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected to fourth term as president. It was during the Second World War, and the incumbent FDR heftily defeated Thomas E. Dewey. A few years later, the 22nd constitutional amendment was passed, limiting a president to two elected terms in office.
On this day in 1967, the first black mayor of a major American city was elected: Carl Stokes of Cleveland, Ohio. And on this day 20 years ago, Douglas Wilder won the Virginia gubernatorial election, becoming the nation’s first elected African-American governor. That same year of 1989, David Dinkins became New York City’s first black mayor.
On this day in 1990, Ireland elected its first woman president: Mary Robinson.
Ten years later, on this day in 2000, Hillary Clinton was elected to the Senate, making her the first first lady to win public office in America. That same day, George W. Bush was elected president over Al Gore, even though Gore won the popular vote.
On this day in 2006, the first Muslim was elected to the U.S. Congress: Keith Ellison, a Democrat from Minnesota. He was raised Catholic and converted to Islam the year after he graduated from a Jesuit high school in Detroit.
On this day in 1929, New York’s Museum of Modern Art opened to the public. The Wall Street Crash had happened just nine days before. The museum’s first exposition featured loan paintings by Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Seurat.
