November 6, 1956: President Dwight D. Eisenhower is re-elected. Despite concerns over his health (he'd had a heart attack in September 1955, and had been hospitalized again in June, possibly for another heart attack that the White House didn't want to talk about), the fitness for office of Vice President Richard Nixon, and how "Ike" had handled the recent crises in Hungary and Egypt, he wins 57 percent of the popular vote, and 457 Electoral Votes.
Former Governor Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois fares no better in the rematch than he did in 1952, winning just 42 percent, and 73 Electoral Votes. Stevenson won only 7 States: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri. In the other 41 States, he comes close only in Tennessee.
As it turned out, it was a "personal landslide" for Ike. He was much more popular than his Republican Party, and had no "coattails" in the Congressional elections. The Republicans gained only 2 seats in the House of Representatives, and the Democrats broke even in the Senate, to hold their majorities in each house. Among the new Senators were Democrat Frank Church of Idaho and Republican Jacob Javits of New York.
Comedian Mort Sahl had said, "Eisenhower stands for gradualism. Stevenson stands for moderation. Between these 2 extremes, we the people must choose."
This day, as all modern American Election Days have been, was a Tuesday. The baseball season was over. The football season was in midweek. The NBA and NHL seasons had begun, but no games were scheduled for either league on this day. So there were no scores on this historic day.
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