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Whig William Henry Harrison, hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe 25 years before, lost to Democrat Martin Van Buren 170 electoral votes to 73 for U.S. President. Harrison was a Virginia-born soldiers, congressman and territorial governor. Van Buren was a New York lawyer, congressman and governor. Tippecanoe County, however, supported its hero Harrison and shifted to the Whig side. It cast 1,244 votes for Harrison, 1,041 for Van Buren.
Democrats scored rare wins in county elections, winning the jobs of coroner, treasurer, prosecutor, state senator, and two seats on the board of commissioners. Thomas Ward defeated long-time Congressman Godlove S. Orth, now in failing health, by 239 in Tippecanoe and by 875 in the 9th District.
Four Lafayette passengers were among 17 hurt when a train on the Cloverleaf (Nickel Plate) line derailed a mile east of Frankfort.
Per new state law, city and town elections took place the first Tuesday in November. In Lafayette, Mayor Durgan won a four-year term by defeating Republican John Morrisson 3,132 to 2,013.
On the 97th anniversary of the Battle of Tippecanoe, the state Battle Ground Monument Commission dedicated a 92-foot-tall white granite battlefield monument. The contract had gone to a firm from Buffalo, N.Y.
A mock battle, speeches and ceremonies marked the Battle of Tippecanoe centennial. Speakers included former Vice President Charles Fairbanks, Governor Thomas Marshall, Governor Chase Osborn of Michigan, and poet Evaleen Stein. Purdue University ROTC students represented Harrison's army in the mock battle. Red Men's Lodge members impersonated the Indians.
President Woodrow Wilson won re-election over Republican Charles Evans Hughes, New York lawyer, judge and governor, 9,129,606 to 8,538,221 and 277-254 in electoral votes. Marshall won re-election as Vice President. Tippecanoe County backed Hughes, 6,386 to 4,918.
Republicans swept local elections, and Cora Davis became the first county woman to win an election to public office. She defeated Democrat Charles Benjamin for auditor 10,009 to 7,622. Harry G. Leslie won the joint state representative seat, and Sen. Ray Southworth, West Lafayette, gained re-election.
Republican Thomas E. Dewey, New York governor, lawyer and crime-busting prosecutor, challenged Franklin D. Roosevelt for U.S. President. But Roosevelt won a fourth term 25,602,504 to 22,006,285, and by 432 electoral votes to 99. Tippecanoe County typically backed Republican Dewey 15,888 to 10,229, as Republican candidates swept all local election contests.
Republicans swept county elections. Voters in Tippecanoe and Warren counties elected Lafayette attorney Cable G. Ball as their joint state representative.
Lafayette Mayor Donald Blue and Mayor James Williamson, of West Lafayette, won re-election.
General Foods Corporation announced that it had chosen a building site southeast of Lafayette for construction of a food processing plant. GF described the project in detail on May 8, 1969, and broke ground June 5.
Republicans won overwhelmingly in county elections, with President Nixon leading all. Democrat Floyd Fithian, a Purdue history professor, defeated Republican Congressman Landgrebe by 7,500 in the county, but lost the district. Nixon defeated Democrat George S. McGovern, senator from South Dakota, 47,169,911 to 29,170,383 nationally, and by 520-17 in electoral votes. Tippecanoe County backed Nixon 31,565 to 14,598.
Dedication took place at the South Side Community Center on South Fourth Street.
Republicans swept all Tippecanoe County elections for courthouse jobs. But Democrat Congressman Fithian won his third straight term, and State Sen. Mike Gery and State Rep. Stan Jones, both West Lafayette Democrats, won re-elections to the legislature.
Republican Dave Heath, 48, former Tippecanoe County sheriff, defeated Democrat James F. Riehle, 65, by 164 votes and ended Riehle's reign of 24 years in office, longest tenure for a mayor in Lafayette history. Heath gained 6,412 votes to Riehle's 6,248. Republican Lisa Decker defeated incumbent Eileen Hession Weiss for controller, 6,414 to 6,070. Republicans dominated City Council elections with victories by Phyllis Boehning, Ron Alting, Michael Smith, Norbert A. Fisher, Jack Rhoda and Dennis Probasco. Democrats elected Ron Campbell, Johanna Downie and Steven P. Meyer.