<P> The 1952 Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago in the same coliseum the Republicans had gathered in several weeks earlier . Since the convention was being held in his home state, Governor Stevenson--who still proclaimed that he was not a presidential candidate--was asked to give the welcoming address to the delegates . He proceeded to give a witty and stirring address that led his supporters to begin a renewed round of efforts to nominate him, despite his protests . After meeting with Jacob Arvey, the "boss" of the Illinois delegation, Stevenson finally agreed to enter his name as a candidate for the nomination . The party bosses from other large Northern and Midwestern states quickly joined in support . Kefauver led on the first ballot, but had far fewer votes than necessary to win . Stevenson gradually gained strength until he was nominated on the third ballot . </P> <P> After the delegates nominated Stevenson, the convention then turned to selecting a vice-presidential nominee . After narrowing it down to Senators John Sparkman, and A.S. Mike Monroney, President Truman and a small group of political insiders chose Sparkman, a conservative and segregationist from Alabama, for the nomination . The convention largely complied and nominated Sparkman as Stevenson's running mate . He was chosen because of his Southern identity and conservative record; party leaders hoped this factor would create a balanced ticket . </P> <P> The Eisenhower campaign was one of the first presidential campaigns to make a major, concerted effort to win the female vote . Many of his radio and television commercials discussed topics such as education, inflation, ending the war in Korea, and other issues that were thought to appeal to women . The Eisenhower campaign made extensive use of female campaign workers . These workers made phone calls to likely Eisenhower voters, distributed "Ike" buttons and leaflets, and threw parties to build support for the GOP ticket in their neighborhoods . On election day, Eisenhower won a solid majority of the female vote . </P> <P> Eisenhower campaigned by attacking "Korea, Communism, and Corruption"--that is, what the Republicans regarded as the failures of the outgoing Truman administration to deal with these issues . The Eisenhower campaign accused the administration of "neglecting Latin America" and thus "leading them into the arms of wily Communist agents waiting to exploit local misery and capitalize on any opening to communize the Americas ." Charges that Soviet spies had infiltrated the government plagued the Truman Administration and also became a "major campaign issue" for Eisenhower . The Republicans blamed the Democrats for the military's failure to be fully prepared to fight in Korea; they accused the Democrats of harboring communist spies within the federal government; and they blasted the Truman Administration for the numbers of officials who had been accused of various crimes . </P>

The united states refused to support popular elections in vietnam in 1956