Americans promoted Vice President George H.W. Bush to the presidency in hopes that he would be a suitable stand-in for a third term of Ronald Reagan. The only problem? George H.W. Bush was not Ronald Reagan. His weaknesses on domestic issues opened the door for not one, but TWO, major challengers. But no candidate is perfect...
Like the election of 1960, the outgoing President was extremely popular and the Vice President hoped to capitalize on his large base for his own candidacy. This time, a not-so-charismatic New Englander stood in his way. Was the conservative coalition strong enough to survive this challenge?
Was America great again? Under President Ronald Reagan, the economy was improving, the Commies were losing, and there were no negative repercussions in sight! Could any Democrat take him down?
For most Americans, the 1970s were a decade defined by economic decline and distrust in government. Many feared that American exceptionalism was dead. How would voters react as they looked toward a new decade?
Happy Bicentennial, America! What better way to celebrate than with extreme distrust for the government? The 1976 election pitted the country's two nicest politicians against each other. As it turns out, they were also two of the most gaffe-prone candidates in history! Find out which convinced the country to let them be Commander-in-Chief!
In 1968, Richard Nixon used the recent social and political chaos to win the presidency with only 43.4% of the popular vote. Four years later, he hoped to win in a landslide. Could the Democrats’ new primary system produce a suitable opponent? Was the vice presidential choice the most important factor??
Nixon’s back, baby! The 1960s were a tumultuous time in American history. How did Johnson’s 1964 blowout win lead to the resurgence of the conservative movement? Warning: you may experience audio hallucinations of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" during this post.
In this election, the Democratic candidate ran on a platform of unity, his ability to make deals in Washington, and the record of his predecessor. The Republican candidate was known for racist dog-whistling, a reckless foreign policy, and erratic quotes that dominated news cycles. I bet you'd like to know how this one turned out!
Outgoing President Dwight Eisenhower was immensely popular. Vice President Richard Nixon tried to capitalize on his large base for his own candidacy, but a handsome, young New Englander stood in his way. The result was one of the closest elections of all time!
In 1952, General Dwight Eisenhower crushed Adlai "Egghead" Stevenson to win the presidency. Four years later, Stevenson was eager to try again! Would Eisenhower live up to the hype? Or would Americans turn on him after one term?
Election Tuesdays 