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Game, Al Smith, 1928

National Museum of American History
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Object Details

associated person
Smith, Al
Description
Al Smith was the 1928 Democratic nominee for president. This game, “Al Smith to the White House, He will Get There and Here’s How” was marketed as “a scientific political puzzle proving his election with precision.” The box contains 18 wooden blocks representing, by their respective number of electoral votes, the states which would propel Smith to victory. A similar game was produced for Smith’s Republican opponent, Herbert Hoover. “Hoover Wins—Prove It!” used 24 wooden blocks representing various planks of the Republican Party platform which would guarantee Hoover’s success.
Smith’s game failed to prove the final outcome. He carried only eight states with a total of 87 electoral votes, far short of Herbert Hoover’s winning tally of 444 votes from 40 states.
Credit Line
Ralph E. Becker Collection of Political Americana
ID Number
PL.227739.1928.X07
catalog number
227739.1928.X07
accession number
227739
Object Name
Game
Physical Description
wood (blocks (18) material)
Measurements
overall box: 5 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in x 1/2 in; 13.97 cm x 13.97 cm x 1.27 cm
See more items in
Political and Military History: Political History, Campaign Collection
Government, Politics, and Reform
American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith
Exhibition
American Democracy
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
subject
Political Campaigns
related event
Presidential Campaign of 1928
Record ID
nmah_529409
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-64cd-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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