1966 Irish presidential election

Irish presidential election, 1966

1 June 1966
Turnout	65.3%
Nominee Éamon de Valera Tom O'Higgins Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Popular vote 558,861 548,144 Final percentage 50.5% 49.5%
President before election Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil Elected President Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil

The Irish presidential election of 1966 was the fifth presidential election in Ireland and was held on 1 June 1966. Outgoing president Éamon de Valera, 83 and with a rapidly deteriorating eyesight, reluctantly agreed under pressure from his Fianna Fáil party to seek a second term. Fine Gael decided to run one of its younger TDs, Tom O'Higgins, against him. In an astonishing upset, O'Higgins came within 1% (or 10,000 votes) of defeating de Valera. De Valera left the blame for this near-defeat with his campaign manager Charles Haughey.

Result

Irish presidential election, 1966
Party		Candidate	1st Pref	%	Seat	Count
	Fianna Fáil	Éamon de Valera	558,861	50.5	1	1
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Higgins	548,144	49.5
Electorate: 1,709,161   Valid: 1,107,005   Spoilt: 9,910 (0.9%)   Quota: 553,503   Turnout: 65.3%

Popular vote
Valera			50.5%
O'Higgins			49.5%

See also

• President of Ireland