In 1952 University of Portland’s Education Hall was host to former Minnesota governor Harold Stassen (R) on a campaign stop two days before the presidential primary in Oregon. Today a footnote known as a perennial presidential candidate, the 1952 election was his second campaign for the nation’s highest office. Stassen entered the 1952 race after a strong showing in the 1948 campaign where he debated New York Governor Thomas Dewey (R) in the first audio recorded United States presidential debate. That debate was held in Portland’s KEX radio station the night before the Oregon primary. 1948 and 1952 were the first in a string of unsuccessful presidential campaigns for Stassen, ultimately mounting nine (!) attempts at the presidency between 1948-1992.
