(6 of 7)
Pennsylvania's beefy Jim Duff heaved his bulk through the crowd. In all loyalty, Sigler wanted Duff and the rest of the coalition boys to give their O.K. before he released Michigan. He tried to explain to Duff, who stood stony-faced, fanning himself in the heat. Taft's campaign manager, Clarence Brown, oozed through the crowd. New York's Senator Irving Ives came up to underline the futility of further resistance. "What's the point?" he said amiably. "There's no sense to it."
Suddenly, Sigler seemed to make up his mind. He fought his way toward the platform. Connecticut's Baldwin finally showed up from somewhere in the pack around the Michigan delegation. "I don't want to do it," he was saying. "But there's a strong feeling in my delegation for Dewey." The floor was in a minor uproar.
Up on the platform Sigler had grabbed a telephone and was talking to Vandenberg, getting the final word to jump. Other coalition bosses looked for California's Bill Knowland, who in all conscience should also be given the chance to say aye or nay. But Knowland could not be found. Then the chair announced the count, which formally closed the second ballot. It was too late to make any changes.
But obviously it was all over. Jim Duff moved for the recess, seconded by Bill Knowland. The coalition could pull itself together and, if not stave off defeat, arrange things for an orderly surrender.
Bingo! That was what happened some three hours later, although the surrender was more disorderly than planned. Knowland had hoped to put Dewey over when California was called. He called the delegation into a floor caucus, which looked like a football huddle, and told them that Warren had released them. But before the balloting began, Knowland saw John Bricker lumbering up to the rostrum. With none of his usual forensics, John Bricker announced simply that he had a statement from Taft. "I release my delegates," he read from notes, "and ask them to vote for Dewey." Knowland was right behind Bricker, pushing aside Stassen, who wanted to be next. Knowland surrendered for Warren. Stassen got his chance, stepped forward and surrendered for himself. He got a great cheer. The weary and unhappy Sigler finally got to the rostrum and surrendered for Vandenberg.
The third ballot was a mere formality. The result: unanimous nomination of Thomas E. Dewey.
"If Dewey Gets Elected." Governor Dewey had spent a very pleasant afternoon, wandering around in shirtsleeves, whistling airs from Oklahoma!. Since early afternoon his limousine had been parked across from his hotel, ready to take him to the hall the moment the word came.
The word came, at last. Dewey opened his door and faced the throng of newsmen in the hall. They asked him what he had to say. "I am humbly grateful for the confidence of the elected representatives of the Republican Party," he said solemnly, "and hope God gives me the strength to merit it." The blitz was over.
Outside, a summer thunderstorm had drenched Philadelphia. A rainbow had appeared. But it was still raining when the Deweys went down to their limousine. Through cheering crowds, the Dewey motorcade swept to Convention Hall.