Thomas E. Dewey Thomas Edmund Dewey ( March 24 , 1902 -- March 16 , 1971 ) was the 47th Governor of New York ( 1943 -- 1954 ) .
Thomas Edmund Dewey ( March 24 , 1902 -- March 16 , 1971 ) was an American politician . He served as the 47th Governor of New York from January 1 , 1943 through December 31 , 1954 .