THE DEPRESSED AND THE WORRIED

On Tuesday, November 2, 1948, Harry S. Truman beat Thomas E. Dewey in the elections for the presidency of the United States. During the campaign Truman was seen by most people as an underdog, practically condemned to lose. So much so that, before the final results were known, the front page headline of the Chicago Tribune, on the morning of November 3rd, spelled out “DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN,” in capital letters. The photos of Truman laughing and holding up the paper in the air are classics in the history of US presidential photography.

At that time I was 16 years old, and rather fascinated by the man with whom I shared initials (I’m also Harry S, for Stephen!), who as vice-president had inherited the presidency when Roosevelt died in 1945 and who never let himself feel defeated, giving a marvellous example of stoicism and perseverance.

This piece of history has come to my mind in view of the way so many people on both sides of the tracks have, at this stage, written off Mauricio Macri and the Juntos por el Cambio coalition. Because, in my view, a battle is never lost until it is definitely lost.

Most folks are jumping to final conclusions, when actually one should go step by step. Accepting that in the first round, on October 27, a definitive victory of Juntos is out of the question, it certainly is very adventurous to deny today the possibility of a second round occurring on November 24. So, at this stage, it is imperious that those of us who are out there defying the populists concentrate our efforts on getting us to the latter date, remembering that, last time round, we lost in the first instance but won in the second.

Besides, the first round will define the quantity of seats each part will obtain in Congress, something tremendously important to prevent any one side obtaining legislative hegemony.

So, again, step by step! At this point ballotage and as many congressmen and women as possible are the immediate objectives. To reach them it will help us immensely if we let our spirits soar following the splendid example given by President Truman 71 years ago!

Harry Ingham City