Redskins: Team's history plays with politics
By JOE GROSS, Sports Editor
It doesn't seem like the Washington Redskins should have much to do with politics, but the Redskin have everything to do with politics.
The Redskins have been far better predictors of the presidential elections than any polls or pundits. The outcome of the Redskins last home game before each presidential election since 1936, has proven to be an omen of which candidate would win the election.
In other words, if you have a favorite in Tuesday's election, you may have to change your allegiance toward the Redskins.
Terri Russell of Edgewater, proclaimed the No. 1 Redskins fan by several organizations, sent in the following amazing fact:
If the Redskins win their final home game prior to Election Day, the incumbent president or party wins. If the visiting team defeats the Redskins in that game, the other guys win.
Here's where it all started:
ø Nov. 1, 1936: The Boston Redskins topped the Chicago Cardinals 13-10 in Bostons Fenway Park. On Nov. 3, 1936 incumbent Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt won re-election over Alf Landon.
ø Nov. 3, 1940: The Washington Redskins ripped the Pittsburgh Pirates 37-10 in Washington. On Nov. 5, 1940 incumbent Roosevelt became a three-time winner by defeating Wendell Wilkie.
ø Nov. 5, 1944: The Redskins edged the Cleveland Rams 14-10 in another game played in Washington: On Nov. 7, 1944 sitting president FDR won for the fourth time over Thomas Dewey.
ø Oct. 31, 1948: The home team Redskins trounced the Boston Yanks 59-21 in Washington. On Nov. 2, 1948 Harry Truman, who moved into the presidency when Roosevelt died, upset the favored New York Governor Dewey.
ø Nov. 2, 1952: The Pittsburgh Steelers came into Washington and nipped the Redskins 24-23. On Nov. 4, 1952 Adlai Stevenson, the Democratic candidate after Truman chose not to run again, was soundly beaten by Republican candidate Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
ø Oct. 21, 1956: In the Redskins last home game before the election they beat up the Cleveland Browns 20-9. On Nov 6, 1956 Eisenhower won re-election, again over the Democrat Stevenson.
ø Oct. 30, 1960: The Cleveland Browns rolled over the Redskins 31-10. On Nov. 8, 1960, Eisenhower was unable to run again and was supplanted as the Republican candidate by Richard Nixon, who was defeated by Democrat John F. Kennedy.
ø Oct. 25, 1964: The Redskins made their home fans happy by toppling the Chicago Bears 27-20. On Nov. 3, 1964 Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson, who ascended to the presidency when JFK was assassinated in 1963, soundly defeated Barry Goldwater.
ø Oct. 27, 1968: The New York Giants invaded Washington and went home happy after a 13-10 victory over the home team. Nov. 5, 1968, Democratic vice president Hubert Humphrey was nominated when Johnson said he would not seek re-election, was beaten by Republican Richard Nixon.
ø Oct. 22, 1972: The Redskins pulled out a 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. On Nov. 7, 1972 incumbent Nixon won by a landslide over Democrat George McGovern.
ø Oct. 31, 1976: The Cowboys came into town and put the Republicans on the hot seat with a 20-7 win over the Redskins. On Nov. 2, 1976 Democrat Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford, who was the sitting vice president since the resignation of our own Spiro T. Agnew.
ø Nov. 2, 1980: The Redskins were pounded into submission, 39-14, by the visiting Minnesota Vikings. On Nov. 4, 1980 Republican Ronald Reagan defeated the incumbent Democrat Carter.
ø Nov. 5, 1984: In a Monday Night Football game at RFK Stadium the Redskins beat the Atlanta Falcons 27-14. On Nov. 6, 1984 Reagan maintained his presidency over challenging Democrat Walter Mondale.
ø Nov. 6, 1988: The Redskins eked out a 27-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints. On Nov. 8, 1988 George H.W. Bush, who had been Reagans vice president, continued the Redskins-incumbent string with an easy win over Democrat Michael Dukakis.
ø Nov. 1, 1992: The Giants came in the RFL and sent the Redskins to a decisive 24-7 defeat. On Nov. 3, 1992 Bush was defeated by Democrat Bill Clinton.
ø Oct. 27, 1996: The Redskins defeated the visiting Indianapolis Colts 31-16. On Nov. 7, 1996 the incumbent Clinton won a second term in the White House over Republican challenger Bob Dole.
ø Oct. 30, 2000: The Tennessee Titans came into town for a Monday Night Football game and whipped the Redskins 27-21. On Nov. 7, 2000, with vice president Al Gore in the corner of the incumbent Democrats, the Republican George W. Bush won the controversial election we remember so well.
And here we are at Oct. 31, 2004: The Redskins will be hosting the Green Bay Packers. And on Nov.2, 2004 incumbent Republican George W. Bush will go against Democratic challenger John Kerry in what is expected to be an extremely close election.
If you're rooting for the Redskins on Sunday, you're rooting for Bush on Tuesday. Of course, if you get your wish as a Packers fan, you're looking for a Kerry victory.
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Well, she made the local paper from an article that she sent Joe Gross 3 weeks ago. Way to go mom!
