War news was largely pushed off the front page 70 years ago by the results of the 1944 election.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt won an unprecedented and never-to-be-equaled fourth term. He would not live 100 days into that term.
New Vice President Harry Truman was the third person in those four terms to hold the role.
It would be a fateful choice.
The Missouri senator had won national attention with his committee work to root out corruption in war contracts.
One of the most interesting local stories of the election was of a woman born before California was a state, and before women had voting rights.
At least two errors are in this Nov. 8, 1944, story; the first is varied spellings for the daughter of the 99-year old woman.
The second is that Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, making California a part of Mexico when the elderly voter was born.
99-Year-Old Obispo Woman Exercises Right to Vote
An example to many an American at the polls yesterday was 99-year-old Mrs. Eduviges Correa, 1602 Johnson Avenue, who has voted since women first cast their ballots in 1920 — and who still values her voice in the government!
Mrs. Correa, who has always been interested in current politics, now finds it difficult to remember who was president before Roosevelt, and no wonder her memory is slipping; she will reach her century mark on Washington’s birthday!
A native of San Luis Obispo, her family dates back to the days when California belonged to Spain, and she was born five years before California became a state.
Possessor of luxurious white hair, she still walks straight and enjoys her daily strolls with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Irene Tescis, with whom she lives. Although she has lost the sight of her eyes, she still loves food and lots of company.
“When more of the old-timers were alive, Mother would recall with them the exciting early days of this community,” Mrs. Tercis said.
The aristocratic-looking aged voter yesterday asserted at the senior high school precinct that her interests in life have varied, that she was the mother of 10 sons and daughters.