Game, Al Smith, 1928

Al Smith was the 1928 Democratic nominee for president. This game, “Al Smith to the White House, He will Get There and Here’s How” was marketed as “a scientific political puzzle proving his election with precision.” The box contains 18 wooden blocks representing, by their respective number of electoral votes, the states which would propel Smith to victory. A similar game was produced for Smith’s Republican opponent, Herbert Hoover. “Hoover Wins—Prove It!” used 24 wooden blocks representing various planks of the Republican Party platform which would guarantee Hoover’s success.

Smith’s game failed to prove the final outcome. He carried only eight states with a total of 87 electoral votes, far short of Herbert Hoover’s winning tally of 444 votes from 40 states.