Thomas Dewey

Date of Birth: March 24, 1902

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: March 16, 1971

Biography

Thomas Edmund Dewey was an American lawyer, prosecutor, and politician who served as the 47th Governor of New York from 1943 to 1954. Born in Owosso, Michigan, Dewey attended the University of Michigan and later earned his law degree from Columbia Law School. He gained national recognition as a prosecutor in New York City, where he took on organized crime and corruption, leading to several high-profile convictions. Dewey was the Republican nominee for President in 1944 and 1948, losing to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, respectively. Despite his losses in presidential elections, Dewey was a significant figure in mid-20th century American politics, advocating for moderate Republican policies and helping to shape the modern Republican Party.

5 Interesting Facts about Thomas Dewey

1. Thomas Dewey was known for his role in prosecuting organized crime figures, including infamous mobster Charles “Lucky” Luciano.

2. He was the first presidential candidate to be born in the 20th century.

3. Dewey’s near victory in the 1948 presidential election led to the famous incorrect headline “Dewey Defeats Truman” in the Chicago Tribune.

4. He played a key role in the establishment of the New York State Thruway, one of the longest toll roads in the United States.

5. Dewey was instrumental in the nomination of Dwight D. Eisenhower as the Republican candidate for President in 1952.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Thomas Dewey

1. “Our government is based on a simple principle: the right of free men to govern themselves.”

2. “No man should be in public office who can’t make more money in private life.”

3. “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.”

4. “Freedom is not an ideal, it is not even a protection, if it means nothing more than the freedom to stagnate.”

5. “The real test of government is not how much we can talk about doing, but how much we can do.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Thomas Dewey’s highest net worth was estimated to be around $2 million at the time of his death in 1971, which would be considerably higher in today’s dollars accounting for inflation.