National Affairs: Rough & Ready

Like most of its predecessors, the presidential campaign promised to be notable for irresponsible charges and ridiculous statements. Candidate Harry Truman charged that the Republican Party, and thus Candidate Tom Dewey, was the tool of "special interests." Candidate Henry Wallace cried that Candidate Truman was the tool of "the big money or the big brass." Candidate Dewey had not yet said anything, but he had okayed Harold Stassen's accusation that President Truman was trying to set "class against class."

All this, of course, was what Wendell Willkie called just "campaign oratory." But it was shouted from the housetops, and would be for...