(2 of 2)
Republican candidates well know that, since the day of Roosevelt, they have to carry downstate Illinois by big margins to offset the Democratic majorities ground out by Jake Arvey's Chicago machine.* With spellbinding oratory, Republican Dirksen banged away at Communism, Acheson, inflation and wasteful foreign programs. "Lenin said, 'Someday we are going to force the U.S. to spend itself into destruction,' " cried Dirksen. "In the name of God, what are we doing? When will we wake up?"
Lucas read from his notebook: "From 1932 to 1949, the value of Crawford County livestock increased 406%."
* In 1948, downstate Illinois gave Dewey a majority of 167,224, saw it wiped out by a 200,836 majority for Truman from Cook County. In 1944, downstate had given Dewey a majority of 210,543, and Cook County overcame it with a Roosevelt majority of 350,708.