Though 1952 is often referred to as the date that the tradition of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary began, it has actually been the first primary in the nation, by a week, since 1920. For those first 32 years, its purpose had been to select delegates, listed on the ballot as pledged or uncommitted.

Q. Who won the Presidency in 1952?

A. General Dwight David Eisenhower, also known as IKE.
The * * * * * General won the primary election, 46,661 votes to 35,838, without even coming to New Hampshire. On the Democratic side, U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee defeated President Harry Truman, who didn't come to New Hampshire either. Senator Kefauver won with 19,600 votes; President Truman received 15, 957. Senator Kefauver's New Hampshire victory so stunned President Truman that he did not run for re-election.

Senator Estes Kefauver, known for wearing a coonskin cap, sometimes campaigned by dog sled. Photo

After his victory in the primary, he said: "The results indicate that a good energetic campaign ... can beat a strong machine."

As you can see from the low number of voters in 1952 New Hampshire's population was much smaller than it is now. Proportionately, there were far fewer Democrats than Republicans. The ratio has changed dramatically.

Our country has enjoyed many and diverse political parties throughout its history, but Democrats and Republicans have prevailed for over 150 years. Now, there are almost as many registered "Independents" (also called "undeclared") as Democrats and Republicans. They, too, are registered voters but may take a ballot from either party when they go to the polls, then re-register as Independents.

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