On August 20, 1952, the largest crowd ever assembled for a political rally in Boise heard Republican Presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower speak from the steps of the Idaho State Capitol. According to the Idaho Statesman, 19,000 people gathered to greet the World War II hero, a remarkable turnout considering the combined population of Ada and Canyon counties at that time was only about 125,000.  Boise State University Library holds a remarkable memento of that visit, an autographed photo with the signatures of General Eisenhower and Governor Len B. Jordan, one of Ike's most ardent supporters.   The photo was taken by a Statesman photographer and is part of the Library's Idaho Statesman photo collection (MSS 111).  Ike carried the state of Idaho handily in November.

Click here for two more photos