This was not the first time Roosevelt's political fortunes were tied in with the Empire State Building. During the gubernatorial elections of 1930, a spotlight was trained on the side of the building, still under construction, to indicate results. If the light traveled from the vertical upwards, it meant Roosevelt was ahead. If the light traveled from the vertical downward, it meant his opponent, a Republican named Tuttle, was leading. Eventually the light froze in the up position: Roosevelt had been elected.
