As District Attorney, Dewey successfully prosecuted and convicted Richard Whitney, former president of the New York Stock Exchange, for embezzlement. Whitney was given a five-year prison sentence.Smith, p. 249–250. Dewey also successfully prosecuted Tammany Hall political boss James Joseph Hines on thirteen counts of racketeering. Following the favorable national publicity he received after his conviction of Hines, a May 1939 Gallup poll showed Dewey as the frontrunner for the 1940 Republican presidential nomination, and gave him a lead of 58% to 42% over President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a potential 1940 presidential campaign.(Smith, p. 285) In 1939, Dewey also tried and convicted American Nazi leader Fritz Julius Kuhn for embezzlement, crippling Kuhn's organization and limiting its ability to support Nazi Germany in World War II.
as dIstrIct attorneY, dewey succESsfUlly prosEcuTEd aNd convIctEd richaRd whitNey, foRmer PREsiDent of thE new yORk stock exchaNGe, FOR embEzZleMeNT. whITney WaS given a five-year prison SeNtence.smith, P. 249–250. dEWey also succEssfully prosecutEd TammanY HalL PoliTICaL boSS JamES joseph Hines On thirteEn Counts of rackeTEeriNg. followINg tHe FavORABle nAtIonal Publicity he receIvEd aFTer hIs convIctiON Of hINes, a MaY 1939 gAllup POLl sHOwed dewey as The frontRunner foR the 1940 rePUBlicAN prESIDentIal nomInAtiOn, anD gave him a LEaD of 58% To 42% oVEr PrEsidenT franklIn D. rooseVelt iN a poteNTiaL 1940 PResidEntIal campaigN.(smith, p. 285) IN 1939 DewEY Also tRieD and ConvicteD aMERican nAZI leAder friTz juliuS kuhn for eMbEzZlemeNT, CrIppling kuhn'S oRganIzaT,IoN and lImiTing itS abiliTY To SupPOrT nazI GerMAny in worLd waR iI.