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Unit 16: The New Hampshire Primary
Find It!

Find It! The New Hampshire Primary

All the resources that appear in this unit are gathered here for you—the photographs, maps, objects, audiovisuals, documents, videos, biographies, and vocabulary words. Click on the image below to see a larger view of each resource with more information about each one. On some of the resources you can even zoom in and get a closer look. So go ahead, dive in, and explore. Before you know it, you’ll be thinking like a historian.

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Photographs & Prints in this Unit:

Photograph/Print

Estes Kefauver in a Dogsled

1952

Caption:

Democratic primary candidate Estes Kefauver rides a dog sled to his next campaign stop during the 1952 New Hampshire primary.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration

Photograph/Print

Meeting with Voters

UPI

1987

Caption:

Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore listens to voters at a Nashua soup kitchen in December 1987, about two months before the 1988 New Hampshire primary. This kind of face-to-face meeting between ordinary voters and presidential candidates is one of the traditions of the New Hampshire primary.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photograph/Print

Campaign Stop at Robie's Country Store

UPI

1987

Caption:

Republican presidential primary candidate Jack Kemp talks with Lloyd Robie over a game of checkers. Robie was the owner of Robie's Country Store in Hooksett, NH, a popular campaign stop for primary candidates for several decades.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photograph/Print

Campaign Buttons, 1952–2000

1952–2000

Caption:

These political campaign buttons represent years of candidates traveling through the Granite State to win the "first-in-the-nation" primary.

Image Credit: From the collections of the New Hampshire Political Library and the New Hampshire Historical Society. Photograph by Bill Finney.

Photograph/Print

Campaigning Door-to-Door

circa 2000

Caption:

Vice President Al Gore campaigns door to door in New Hampshire, talking to voters at their homes during his primary campaign for the 2000 presidential election.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the New Hampshire Political Library

Photograph/Print

Hugh Gregg with New Hampshire Map

1953

Caption:

New Hampshire Governor Hugh Gregg with regional map of New England. New Hampshire is larger on the map to show the importance of its role in selecting presidents.

Image Credit: Courtesy the New Hampshire Political Library

Photograph/Print

Campaign Event in 1952

Whitman Levensaler

circa 1951–1952

Caption:

Republican candidate Robert A. Taft speaks to a crowd in New Hampshire during his 1952 primary campaign. A car with a sign supporting his opponent, Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower, appears in the foreground.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photograph/Print

Governor Adams Greets Senator Taft

Whitman Levensaler

1951

Caption:

New Hampshire Governor Sherman Adams greets presidential primary candidate Senator Robert A. Taft at the State House on August 21, 1951.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photograph/Print

Vermin Supreme at a NH Political Event

Marc Nozell

2011

Caption:

Long-shot New Hampshire presidential primary candidate Vermin Supreme "glitterbombing" another primary candidate during a special event at Saint Anselm College for lesser-known candidates.

Image Credit: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

Midnight Voting Results in Dixville Notch

Photograph/Print

Midnight Voting Results in Dixville Notch

UPI

1988

Caption:

Election official Stephen Barba posts the results of the 1988 presidential primary in Dixville Notch, NH, on February 16, 1988.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photograph/Print

Kefauver Campaign Motorcade

circa 1951–1952

Caption:

A motorcade supporting Estes Kefauver, Democratic candidate for the 1952 presidential primary, travels down a street in Nashua past advertisements supporting Republican candidate Robert Taft.

Image Credit: Courtesy National Archives and Records Administration

Photograph/Print

John F. Kennedy in a Dogsled

1960

Caption:

Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy prepares to go for a dogsled ride during the 1960 primary in Berlin, NH. Kennedy won the New Hampshire primary that year, and went on to win the general election.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the New Hampshire Political Library

Photograph/Print

Campaign Speech

1984

Caption:

Democratic presidential candidate Jesse Jackson gives a speech at a hotel in Concord, NH, during the 1984 primary. He campaigned with a "Rainbow Coalition" which wanted to help disadvantaged Americans. Jackson was the second African American to run for president.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photograph/Print

Estes Kefauver Campaigns in Lincoln, NH

1952

Caption:

Estes Kefauver was a U.S. senator from Tennessee who ran for president in the 1952 primary. He spent many months in New Hampshire, traveling to towns all over the state to meet with people and answer their questions. He became the popular candidate for the Democratic Party that year instead of President Harry Truman. This photograph shows Estes Kefauver in front of a machine room or mechanical shop in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Estes Kefauver Papers, 1925–1967, MPA.144. University of Tennessee, Knoxville–Libraries

Photograph/Print

Eisenhower Campaigning in Manchester

Whitman Levensaler

1952

Caption:

After Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower won the 1952 New Hampshire primary without even campaigning, he decided to officially run for president. He traveled to New Hampshire in October, just a few weeks before the general election, to give a speech in Manchester. In this photo, New Hampshire's governor Sherman Adams is sitting behind him.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photograph/Print

State House Primary Campaign Board

2019

Caption:

Virginia Drew, director of the State House Visitors Center, stands in front of her "campaign board." The board displays primary campaign bumper stickers, signs, and other memorabilia that she has collected over the years. Since 2008, every major presidential candidate has stopped by the Visitors Center when filing their campaign paperwork and had their picture taken with Drew. Those photos are also displayed on the board.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Virginia Drew

Photograph/Print

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

1947

Caption:

General Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower was the commander of American troops in Europe during World War II. He stayed to help rebuild Europe after the war ended. The five stars on his shoulder show that he was a five-star general, the second-highest possible rank in the United States Army. He resigned from the Army after he won the New Hampshire Republican primary in 1952. He won the presidential election later that year, and served two terms in office.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Photograph/Print

Making Political Deals

undated

Caption:

This political cartoon shows how many New Hampshire voters felt about the primary before 1952. Since they did not vote directly for a nominee, many voters felt like the real decisions were made by a small group of men who wanted what was best for the powerful and the wealthy, not for all of the people. The 1952 primary was the first one where New Hampshire voters could vote directly for their candidate, so they felt they had a voice in the process.

Image Credit:

Photograph/Print

Joe Biden Town Hall

Jason Moon

2019

Caption:

During primary season, New Hampshire residents get access to all the candidates for president and have the opportunity to ask them questions and share their concerns. This photo from the summer of 2019 shows Joe Biden at a town hall meeting at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Jason Moon/NHPR

Photograph/Print

Republican Debate 2016

Gil Talbot

2016

Caption:

There are always a lot of candidates on New Hampshire's primary ballot, and New Hampshire gets a lot of media attention during the primary. New Hampshire's results usually help narrow the field of candidates. Candidates who don't do well in New Hampshire start dropping out of the race. In February 2016, just a few days before the primary, ABC News held a debate on the campus of Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH, for the Republican candidates. (Candidates left to right are: John Kasich, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, and Chris Christie.)

Image Credit: Courtesy of Saint Anselm College. Photographer: Gil Talbot.

President Lyndon Johnson Speaks to the Nation

Photograph/Print

President Lyndon Johnson Speaks to the Nation

Yoichi Okamoto

1968

Caption:

President Lyndon B. Johnson ran in the New Hampshire primary in 1968. He was the incumbent, meaning that he already had the job he was running for. He won the New Hampshire primary, but only barely. He was unpopular at the time because of the war in Vietnam, and a candidate who opposed the war almost beat him in the primary. The results convinced Johnson not to run for reelection. In this photo, he is giving a speech on television to announce his decision.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the LBJ Library

Kefauver Reads About His NH Primary Victory

Photograph/Print

Kefauver Reads About His NH Primary Victory

1952

Caption:

Estes Kefauver reads a newspaper with a big headline about his surprise victory in the 1952 Democratic primary in New Hampshire. Kefauver beat the sitting president, Harry S. Truman, and there was also an underdog victory in the Republican primary that year. All of those surprises meant that there was a lot of media attention to New Hampshire during the primary and for every primary after. You never know what will happen in the New Hampshire primary!

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Sherman Adams, Ike Eisenhower, and Hugh Gregg

Photograph/Print

Sherman Adams, Ike Eisenhower, and Hugh Gregg

Whitman Levensaler

circa 1953–1955

Caption:

This photo shows Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower with Sherman Adams (on the left) and Hugh Gregg (on the right). During the 1952 primary, Adams was the governor of New Hampshire. He thought Eisenhower would make a great president, so he organized a campaign for him during the 1952 New Hampshire primary. And Eisenhower won, even though he never visited New Hampshire! Adams later went to work for Eisenhower at the White House. This picture shows Adams and Eisenhower visiting New Hampshire and meeting with Hugh Gregg, who was the governor after Adams.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Robert Taft Holding a Baby while on Campaign

Photograph/Print

Robert Taft Holding a Baby while on Campaign

Whitman Levensaler

1952

Caption:

Robert Taft was a senator from Ohio. He was the front-runner in the 1952 New Hampshire Republican party primary, but he lost to General Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower. In this photo, he is campaigning in New Hampshire in March 1952.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photograph/Print

Reporters Covering the 1952 Primary

Whitman Levensaler

1952

Caption:

There was a lot of media attention on the 1952 New Hampshire primary. These reporters came from all over the country to cover the primary. They are taking pictures of candidate Estes Kefauver while he is campaigning, probably in Concord.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photograph/Print

Eisenhower Rally

1952

Caption:

A lot of people all over the country wanted "Ike" Eisenhower to run for president in 1952. These Granite Staters are on their way to an Eisenhower rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City in February 1952. Even though Eisenhower was not an official candidate and did not attend the rally, over 15,000 people got together to show they supported him.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Dartmouth College Library

Maps & Charts in this Unit:

Maps & Charts

1952 Primary Results

1952

Caption:

This chart shows the results of the 1952 New Hampshire primary for candidates in the Democratic and Republican parties.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Maps & Charts

New Hampshire Voter Registration

2019

Caption:

Many voters in New Hampshire are neither Democrats nor Republicans. Instead, they are called “undeclared” voters because they haven’t declared themselves to be in either major political party. New Hampshire has more undeclared voters than most states.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Presidential Election Voter Participation

Maps & Charts

Presidential Election Voter Participation

Data from the New Hampshire Secretary of State

1952–2016

Caption:

This graph compares the number of Granite Staters who voted in presidential elections since 1952 with the number of people who voted in the entire United States. The percentages are the percent of people who actually voted out of the total number of people who were old enough to vote in each presidential election year. What can you learn from the graph about voter participation in New Hampshire?

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Objects in this Unit:

Object

George H. W. Bush Campaign Button

1988

Caption:

This button from George H.W. Bush's successful 1988 primary campaign has political party symbols on it.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

Ballot Box

circa 1850

Caption:

This ballot box was used in Hart's Location from 1850 until the 1980s. Once all ballots are inside, the top slides off so someone can count the results. The ballots next to the box are from 1922 and 1960. Hart's Location has a long tradition of midnight voting, which continues to this day.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

Eisenhower Campaign Button

Pictorial Productions, Inc.

circa 1952–1956

Caption:

This campaign button for Dwight Eisenhower, or "Ike," has special printing technology which allows two images to be on top of each other and be seen one at a time, depending upon the view.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

Bill Clinton Campaign Button

1992

Caption:

This button is from Bill Clinton's successful primary campaign in 1992. It is a little unusual because it uses green instead of patriotic colors.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

“Politics and Eggs” Wooden Egg

Kemp Enterprises, Inc.

2008

Caption:

Since 1995, the "Politics and Eggs" program has invited presidential candidates to visit New Hampshire and talk with local business leaders and other Granite Staters over breakfast. People who attend "Politics and Eggs" receive one of these wooden eggs as a keepsake. This egg is from 2006.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

Rock the Vote Button

2000

Caption:

"Rock the Vote" was a campaign started in 1990 to increase the political power of younger people. This particular button was trying to get young people to register to vote and to vote on Election Day.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

Campaign Yard Sign

2012

Caption:

Yard sign from Jon Huntsman's campaign during the 2012 New Hampshire primary.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

Lamar Alexander Campaign Button

1995

Caption:

This campaign button is from Lamar Alexander's primary campaign for the 1996 presidential election. As part of his campaign, Alexander walked across the state, spending the night with local people. He didn't walk all at once, though—he did it a little at a time between June and February.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

NH: Always First, Always Right Button

circa 1970–1980

Caption:

This political button refers to New Hampshire's tradition of always holding the first-in-the-nation primary, and its pride in doing so. Not only does New Hampshire vote first, it often predicts the eventual winner.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

Hillary Clinton Campaign Door Hanger

2016

Caption:

Workers and volunteers from Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential primary campaign left this door hanger on houses all across New Hampshire.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

Political Button for Harry Truman

1949

Caption:

This is a campaign button for Harry Truman. He was president of the United States during the 1952 primary. He was going to run for a second term as president, but dropped out of the race after he did not win the New Hampshire primary that year.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

John F. Kennedy Campaign Button

Green Duck Company

1960

Caption:

This button is from John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1960. Red, white, and blue colors are often used to show patriotism.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

Hillary Clinton Campaign Button

2016

Caption:

This button is from Hillary Clinton's campaign for president in 2016.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Object

Al Gore Campaign Button

Tigereye Design, Inc.

2000

Caption:

In 2000, Al Gore ran for president and Joe Lieberman for vice president. This button has many symbols to persuade voters to vote for them.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Audiovisuals in this Unit:

Audiovisual

Mason Presents: Eisenhower for President

1952

Produced by Roy Disney and Citizens for Eisenhower

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Prelinger Archive

Audiovisual

Mason Presents: The First New Hampshire Primary

1952

Universal Pictures Co.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society, "New Hampshire: A Proven Primary Tradition"

Audiovisual

Mason Presents: Bill Clinton, the "Comeback Kid"

1992

Image Credit: Courtesy of the New Hampshire Political Library

Audiovisual

Mason Presents: Eisenhower Enters the New Hampshire Primary

1952

Excerpts from "The News Magazine of the Screen," produced by Warner Pathe News

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Prelinger Archive

Audiovisual

Mason Presents: The 1952 Primary

Fritz Wetherbee

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Documents in this Unit:

Document

1944 Republican Primary Ballot

1944

Caption:

This ballot was used in the primary election in Albany, NH, in 1944. Notice that although voters are voting in the presidential primary, there are no spaces or names to show which candidate a voter supports. Primary voters in 1944 could only vote for delegates, who would then vote for candidates.

Image Credit: Courtesy the New Hampshire State Archives

Document

Obama Rally Admission Ticket

Obama for America

2007

Caption:

This is a ticket for a rally to support Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama during the 2008 primary campaign. The rally was held at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey also appeared at the rally.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Document

1952 Republican Primary Ballot

1952

Caption:

The 1952 primary was the first time in New Hampshire that primary ballots had the candidates' names on them. Before then, the ballots had only the delegates' names on them. A law was passed in 1949 that required that candidates' names also be printed on the ballot. This ballot was used in Concord, NH.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Document

1952 Republican Primary Ballot (Detail)

1952

Caption:

The 1952 primary was the first time in New Hampshire that primary ballots had the candidates' names on them. This ballot was used in Concord.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Videos in this Unit:

Video

Mason Explains: How a Primary Works

2019

Caption:

Image Credit:

Biographies in this Unit:

Biography

Bill Gardner

1948–Present

Caption:

Bill Gardner became the New Hampshire secretary of state in 1976. He retired in 2022 and was the longest-serving secretary of state in American history. The secretary of state's job is to run all of the elections in New Hampshire. They also make sure that everyone follows the election laws. Gardner believed that the New Hampshire primary is a really important tradition. For almost 50 years, he picked the date for the New Hampshire primary. He always made sure it was the first one!

Image Credit: Courtesy of Allegra Boverman for New Hampshire Public Radio

Biography

Neil Tillotson

1898–2001

Caption:

Neil Tillotson was a successful businessman. In 1954, he bought the Balsams, a big hotel in the town of Dixville Notch. The nearest voting place was over 50 miles away, so Tillotson worked to have the Balsams named as the voting place for Dixville Notch. He helped make famous the tradition of voting at midnight by inviting the media to the Balsams to witness the midnight vote. Dixville Notch was so small, with only about a dozen voters, that town officials counted the vote right after everyone voted at midnight. And as the town speaker, Tillotson himself always voted first! Then he would announce the election results to all the reporters gathered there who would broadcast the results to the whole country. How would it feel to have all those cameras watching you vote every four years?

Image Credit: Photo by UPI, New Hampshire Historical Society

Biography

Sherman Adams

1899–1986

Caption:

Sherman Adams was the governor of New Hampshire during the 1952 primary. He was a friend of General Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower. He helped Ike win the New Hampshire primary that year on the Republican side. Then he traveled all over the country to help Ike win primaries in other states. After Ike became the president, Sherman Adams went to Washington, D.C. to work for him. Adams was the first “Chief of Staff” in the White House, which is the president’s top assistant. He organized all the people who worked for the president. What do you think that job was like?

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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Find It! The New Hampshire Primary

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GAME SETTINGS

Find It! The New Hampshire Primary

Find It! Scavenger Hunt

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Secret Found...
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