Does anyone remember the line George Wallace used in his Presidential
campaigns expressing his doubt about the accuracy of pre-election
polls? He said something like "Have any of you all been polled by Mr.
Gallup?" (the audience would shout out "NO!") I need the quote WITH
DOCUMENTATION.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 30 Aug 2005 15:18 PDT

I have found this reference to the quote:

"During the 1968 Presidential campaign, the segregationist candidate
George Wallace regularly accused pollsters of underestimating his
support. He would ask crowds at his rallies, 'Have any of y?all ever
been asked about this here election by Mr. Harris or Mr. Gallup?' The
crowd shouted back 'No' and 'Never.' The U.S. voting age population
was then about 150 million, typical polls use random samples of about
1500, and about 20 polls were conducted during the course of the 1968
campaign."

http://research.umbc.edu/~nmiller/POLI300/PS2.htm 

The quote referenced above comes from the webpages of Nicholas R.
Miller, of the Department of Political Science, University of Maryland
(Baltimore County). Is this sufficient documentation?

---

Clarification of Question by psusoc-ga on 31 Aug 2005 07:08 PDT

That's just the quote I was looking for, but I need better
documentaton. Do you suppose Professor Miller could supply it?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 31 Aug 2005 09:43 PDT

psusoc-ga,


I took a pretty in-depth look at a number of newspaper databases and
books that reported on Wallace's campaign.  While Gov Wallace
certainly had a lot to say about polls -- that they're 'liars',
rigged, and in collusion with the powers back East -- there's no
mention of the precise quote as mentioned by pinkfreud in the link to
Prof Miller's site.

It may have occurred as written.  But like many so-called popular
quotes, it may also be a bit of an urban legend.

Most of the reporting on Wallace's comments on polls looks more or less like this:


https://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2RCX8NBXB660N25XXHMQTM59P6 


Let me know if that looks useful and if so, I'll be glad to post the
full documentation as an answer to your question.

Cheers,

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by psusoc-ga on 01 Sep 2005 18:47 PDT

pafalafa, you could very well be right that the quote is an urban
legend. So I'll  accept what you have for the answer to my question --
please send me full documentaion, for the Oct 9 article you sent plus
any other similar articles (fully documented) expressing Wallace's
disdain for/distrust of election polls.

thanks much - this is for a publication, so I want to get the facts
right, and complete documentation is critical.

By George (Wallace, of course...), I think I've got it!  Or at least
something awfully close.

A Washington Post article from October 29, 1968 offers the following
quote from Wallace:


=====
Wallace, Irritated by Polls, Insists He Is Doing Well
The Washington Post
Oct 29, 1968
pg. A7


"Well, how many of you have been talked to by the Harris poll and
Gallup poll?" he demanded.  "Not a one of you, not a one of you."
=====



There are other good quotes in the article, and I've provided a
partial image of it at this link (again, can't show the full article
due to copyright):


https://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1ABZJSVOIY7Y426PAOICWNFHMA 




Another good article, also partially excerpted at the links provided, are:


Wallace Assails 'Lying' Election Polls
New York Times 
pg. 71



https://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3BTQD5LHG7EP53TAFN10EL1KMW 

and

https://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0TM4U14E8LYVW08BFFIUPTYDY6 



These are in addition to the article I cited originally, which was:

WALLACE CHARGES POLLS ARE RIGGED
The New York Times
Oct 10, 1968
pg. 50


Please be sure to save these files to your local computer, as the
links above are not permanent.


I trust this information fully answers your question.  

However, please don't rate this answer until you have everything you
need.  If you would like any additional information, just post a
Request for Clarification to let me know how I can assist you further,
and I'm at your service.

All the best, and thanks for a trip far down memory lane.

pafalafa-ga


search strategy:  Searched a number of newspaper databases for [
george wallace polls Harris OR Gallup ]

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Request for Answer Clarification by psusoc-ga on 03 Sep 2005 06:41 PDT

By George, I DO think you have it! Thanks!

Just one more bit of info I need: What is the date of the New York
Times piece, "Wallace Assails 'Lying' Election Polls"? It quotes from
a speech he gave October 26, 1968. Is the date for the article October
27, 1968?

thanks.

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 03 Sep 2005 08:40 PDT

Sorry about that.  The article was indeed dated October 27, 1968.  Let
me know if there's anything else I can do for you on this one.


paf

Good job - just the information I needed.