"Tear down this wall"

This is a clip from Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech we discussed in class today. Gould writes, "Reagan used the techniques of the celebrity presidency to sharpen the contrast with the Soviets. His famous reference to the USSR as the "evil empire" and his injunction to Mikhail Gorbachev during a speech in Berlin to "tear down this wall" demonstrated Regan's skill at dramatizing the moral issue, as he saw it, of the Cold War" (200).

Reagan on the Challenger Explosion

This video of Reagan's address to the nation after the Challenger disaster illustrates some key points about his presidency from Gould. On page 195, Gould states, "[T]he Reagan team produced State of the Union messages with as much care as an Academy Awards show." While Oscar-level care and prep probably didn't go into the execution of this particular address, for such a short, 4-minute clip, it exhibits some elementary yet key and important cinematic camera techniques. The camera starts out extra-wide, then slowly zooms in on Reagan in increments. It's as if the camera is bringing the audience incrementally closer to the President, making his message more and more personal. It's Reagan's modified fireside chat - he's talking directly to you in your home.

You also see in this clip how he is the ideal voice Americans would want to hear in the aftermath of this disaster - a comforting, secure, stable and steady presence, the voice of confidence, reassurance and unwavering patriotism that America needed after "fifteen years of false starts and unsuccessful presidents" (Gould 191). His voice is quiet yet firm and reassuring - unfaltering. Gould informs us that "Brief radio addresses had been one way that Reagan kept in touch with his conservative base after he left the California governorship in 1974. These short broadcasts suited well his ability to get a policy issue explained in clear, simple terms" (Gould 194). Here, Reagan's not explaining a policy issue, but his penchant and talent for the clear and simple is again on display. He makes a personal address to America's schoolchildren in clear, simple language - language any 4th or 5th-grade child, but also any adult, could understand. This isn't just a popular way to appeal to children and their parents - this IS Reagan's brand of politics. He spoke to the people without losing any of his integrity in kitschy, hokey, populist metaphors. He spoke in a manner all American's could understand, and he certainly appealed to the "everyman," but he did so without compromising any of his intelligence and his integrity, which is how he garnered massive electoral support in 1984.

Reagan 1948

"The programs & then I can sum the day up in one sentence. I've been working my tail off to master the 4 min. closing statement I want to make in the debate tomorrow night."
pg 273

Although the Reagan Diaries does not address his earliest career media moves, but he does offer insight into how much he prepares for any public appearence that matters. In 1948, he was a liberal democrat who was supporting Truman, Hubert Humphrey and opposed the taft-hartley act of '47. Radio was becoming important to political figures since FDR's Fireside chat. Reagan even at a young ages was a master of media.

Reagan Diaries Quote

"My speech contained many quotes from a letter I'd received a few days before the trip from a young lady whose father landed on D. Day. All her life she had heard his stories of what the day had meant to him." (245) 

The quote above may not seem significant or a great choice for a quote selection, however it shows Reagan's appeal to the people and his emphasis on patriotism. Reagan's decision to use a lines from a citizen's letter shows his reliance on Americans to keep him in office and his appeal to the people. Reagan's constituency, the Moral Majority, rallied around Reagan during both of his elections and he maintained popular support during his presidency due to his personality and his great oratory skills. His ability to capture his audience is evident in this speech, his wonderful story telling ability can only be mastered by few. 

 

Here is a recording of one of Reagan's speech on the anniversary of D. Day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhXeZ453ux4

Side Note: 'Boogie Man'

Another professor directed me towards this, and just thought I'd pass it on to anyone interested, as Professor Deese mentioned the Republican 'Southern Strategy' in class on Wednesday (new window).

There's a documentary film playing at Coolidge Corner Theater [new window] in Brookline entitled ' Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story'. I'd actually never heard of him until this week, but he was very much involved in the success of Republican tickets until his death in 1991 (there's even a quote at the end of the movie that, had he not died, "Bill Clinton never would have been elected"). The movie details his life and his ascension to being a personal political consultant for Reagan and Bush Sr [and working with Bush Jr on his father's campaign] (very much think of a Karl Rove figure - in the movie "Dubya", he's not mentioned, and instead Rove sort of... takes on a bit of his role). His main focus was the spin-zone and the tactics his campaigns would use in order to gain votes (aka 'dirty politics') - such as underlying racist tones (even though, as they point out, it's highly unlikely that he held racist views - he was just able to capitalize on existing tensions in the American public and use them to his candidates' advantage).

 Anyway, I really recommend the film; it's 86 minutes, so you won't feel caged in like you might if you were to recall the time when you sat down and watched Spielberg's "A.I." in a theater. You know you remember wanting to leave halfway through - and wondering where these alien-like robots came into play. Sorry, sidetracked. Anywho, here's a link to the film's website if you want more information: Boogie Man [again, new window].

It's Morning in America

I think most people could see this one coming in a blog post from a mile away; but afterwards I promise to include (now anachronistically - as we passed this election in class awhile ago) what I consider to be among the most baller political ads.

1984 - Reagan's influential ad, entitled "Prouder, Stronger, Better", better known as 'Morning in America', tried to evoke the sentimentality and patriotism in Americans in regards to their satisfaction over the changes that the country underwent during Reagan's first term. The fact that Reagan isn't mentioned at all until the last few seconds really highlights how his campaigning tried to associate the 1980s' (questionable) success - culturally, politically, economically, and socially - with the Reagan presidency. It's very much overly optimistic, which was a common theme in Reagan's communication with the American public. 

And now for an ad that I only just saw for the first time a few days ago. Seriously, it's amazing. It's a 1968 Hubert Humphrey ad that mocks Nixon's selection of Agnew as his running mate. If you log onto livingroomcandidate.org [new window] , you can watch ads that ran during elections back to 1952 & learn a bit of background on them - such as how this ad was actually created by the same guy who created the infamous 'Daisy' ad 4 years earlier. It's ads like this that make me happy.

Transforming America

"Our astronauts landed and what at hrill that was. I'm more and more convinced that Americans are hungering to feel proud and patriotic again" - pg. 13 The Reagan Diaries.

Ronald Reagan assumed the presidency after the two relatively weak presidencies of Ford and Carter. He capitalized on Americans fears that the presidents would become weak and that they country would not be able to be prosperous again. Reagan transformed the presidency into a very powerful position and instilled a sense of patriotism in Americans that was lost after Watergate.

Here is a clip of Reagan from ABC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX0hBBL1pjg

-Hannah

No More Substance?

"A key premise of the Reagan team was that the modern presidency was more about the visual images that viewers saw each day than the substance of what the president said or what was said about him by reporters or his political opponents."

I think this statement from Gould should be alarming to all of us. Unfortunately, this seems to have become the way campaigns and presidencies are run (a key part of an imperial presidency?). It strikes me as very undemocratic.

In that vein, here is a video of Reagan on Dean Martin's show roasting Frank Sinatra. I believe this if from 1977, so it's before Reagan is president, but it still shows how Reagan can woo an audience without talking about his politics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47hcybjZmVY

- Brandon Stinchfield

Reagan campaigns for Truman in 1948

Here is an audio clip of Reagan campaigning for Truman in 1948.

2000 Bush Gore Debate

Here is a video of the 2000 Bush-Gore debate. This section concerns education. I thought this debate on education policy was interesting having just finished high school two years ago and having experienced the changes specifically in regard to standardized tests. I also thought it was interesting that Bush criticized Gore's program for being too expensive. Bush then went on to spend a fortune in war instead of investing in our country, a subject that has recently been brought up by Obama. He has used the war to justify spending domestically.

Reagan and the Press

Gould talks about the shift in media relations that occurred during Reagan's presidency. He states on page 197 that, "As prominent journalists became well-paid personalities in their own right, their sympathy for the conservative political positions grew. The evolving attitude toward politics emphasized entertainment over substance, and Reagan's presidency provided compelling drama that boosted the ratings as well.
In this clip, Reagan is self-deprecating, charming and amusing. He is likable and entertaining to watch but his answers lack substance.

Reagan as an Actor is Really Funny

"The evolving attitude toward politics emphasized entertainment over substance." (Gould, 197)

When I think of Reagan as a president, I do largely tend to think of his personality over his policy. Similarly, when I think of him as an actor I don't pay attention to what role he's playing, but rather simply the image he gives - and I think people that go back and watch Reagan's movies don't do it to see a quality performance; they simply want to watch a future president goofing off in front of a camera.

filmmaker Errol Morris comments on the history of TV campaign ads

Here's the multimedia piece from today's NY Times.

Reagan's Reelection Campaign Advertisement: President Reagan / Leadership That's Working

Excerpt from "The Reader's Companion to the American Presidency" Brinkley, Ronald Reagan page 502 : Reagan upholds the American Dream

"Characteristically, the man who defined America as “a sunrise everyday – fresh opportunities, dreams to build” took credit for the boom the boom, the cold war victory, the renewed optimism, while blaming Congress and ‘those liberal elites for his failures’”.

Reagan not only during his Presidency, but also in his final remarks before leaving office upholds himself as a catalyst for the economic expansion and decrease in inflation between 1981-1989. In his reelection campaign in 1984, Reagan tells Americans to “stay the course” because the last four years under his leadership had led to low inflation rates, decreasing gas prices, and a climbing stock market. During his reelection campaign he aired a ad known as “Morning in America” that not only boasted his four years in office as they related to the economic recovery, but this ad also reveals much about Reagan’s belief in the American Dream. The clip below shows happy images of families, the elderly, and newly married couples as a way of exemplifying that anyone could rise to prosperity in America, especially in an expansive economy under Reagan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMJ90T2rwXU&NR=1

“The great ‘Reagan expansion’ justified his ‘Morning in America’ happy-talk campaign. With the stock market skyrocketing, voters found it easy to believe America was ‘back’”. (page 497)

I’m sure many votes found this ad to be extremely persuasive because the economy did expand under Reagan’s first four years in office and the ad contains many optimistic images of American life. Although the facts in the ad may be true, I would caution viewers to not only consider the economic “boom” created by Reagan, but also the $2.7 trillion in debt he created during his presidency. Now, twenty years after this ad was aired, viewers should also consider what else is revealed from the affluent and blissful individuals in this ad. In foresight it has become evident that Reagan’s policies heavily contributed to the growing gap between the rich and the poor in America. Reagan’s belief in the American Dream came from his own experience and he felt anyone could rise up through the ranks in society with hardwork and motivation. Although there may be truth in this belief, by widening the gap between the rich and the poor, it does not seem that Reagan made the American Dream any easier to attain for the poorest individuals in society.

Reagan and Recession

"First meeting to hear the 1st 1983 budget review. We who were going to balance the budget face the biggest budget deficits ever. And yet percentage wise they'll be smaller in relation to the GNP. We have reduced Carter's 17% spending increase to 9%. The recession has added to costs and reduced revenues however so even with that reduction in govts. size we face a large defect"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRUbwnkEPqc&feature=related

I think the dichotomy shown by this quote then the video is incredibly interesting. Reagan's diary shows legitimate concern for the economy and the action he wants to take. In private he's serious and focused. Yet, in public, giving a press conference, he's humorous and light-hearted. It's obvious his prowess for handling the media is incredibly well thought-out. He knows his ability to laugh at the issue will reflect in the nation - he shows fear the nation shows fear, he remains calm, hopefully the nation can as well. It's so calculated. In public he laughs, in private he thinks. Quite the strategy.

Health of the Mother

I know this is a little late, too but this short clip just struck me as kind of crazy. I know we've seen some pretty disrespectful moments in presidential debates but watch McCain's face, could he be any more glib? Is he going to roll his eyes like a petulant teenager next? It's as if he's thinking "What's this idiot going to say next?" There's something sad about the lack of respect our candidates have for each other. Maybe I'm an idealist but seriously?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGZOyxfiNoU

Obama/McCain Dance Off

This was just too funny I couldn't resist posting it. It shows how involved people are with the current candidates  and how much time and effort they're willing to put in to make this funny little video. Enjoy!

Obama/McCain Debate

I know this is a little late, but this section of the final Obama/ McCain debate reminded me of the JFK/Nixon debates. This short segment shows how flustered McCain gets when Obama doesn't answer the question the way McCain expects. Like Nixon, McCain's on camera persona is weak and distracting. Unfortunately for McCain, he is physically limited due to his POW injuries, but nonetheless, he facial features and gestures are very distracting to his overall messages. 

I can't seem to get the video embedded correctly so the link to watch the debate is: 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=exaje-uzwky

Reagan Diaries - Iran-Contra Scandal

In his "Reagan Diaries," President Reagan writes about the troubles he and his administration are facing during the Iran-Contra scandal. His entry on November 24th and 25th talk about these troubles as he states, "After meeting Ed M. & Don R. told me of a smoking gun. On one of the arms shipments the Iranians paid Israel a higher price than we were getting. The Israelis put the difference in a secret bank account... This was a violation of the law against giving the Contras money without authorization by Congress... This may call for some resignations"(Reagan Diaries, p. 453 Nov. 24th Entry).
I have a hard time believing that Reagan, as the most powerful man in the world, did not know something about the illegal dealings of arms to Iran within his administration. In the following clip, Reagan's first public speech after the scandal broke (3 months after it broke), Reagan pleads ignorance to the illegal wrongdoings of his administration and begins the process of trying to win back the trust of the American people by taking responsibility for these illegal actions, because "even though he didn't know about them, they happened on his watch, so he would take responsibility."

America's Best Days are Ahead

Gould points out that "The State of the Union address gained new show business aspects under Reagan. No longer just a televised rendering of a president communicating with Congress, Reagan's ddresses introduced heroes, prominent Americans, and human examples of policy needs among the guests sitting in the visitors' gallery" (195).

This short clip shows the end of Reagan's State of the Union Address in 1984. He ends the speech with a characteristic rally cry of patriotism. Instead of a drab C-Span style drone, the camera focuses on his facial expressions and those of the people in the gallery, like the woman in the red dress and pearls.

One can see with all of this free airtime to promote values and policies why, "state governors were even emulating his techniques in their televised State of the State addresses" (195). Not only did Reagan's state of the union addresses convey his point of view to Congress, he made a major contribution to the modern presidency. The state of the union held more mass appeal and patriotic good feelings as Reagan insists that 'America's Best Days are Ahead.'

First Reagan/Mondale 1984

Reagan says of this debate in the book:

"Well the debate took place & I have to say I lost. I guess I'd crammed so hard on facts & figures in view of the absolutely dishonest things he's been saying in the campaign, I guess I flattened out. Anyway I didn't feel good about myself. And yet he was never able to rebut any of the facts I presented & kept repeating things that are absolute falsehoods."

In this clip, Reagan's annoyance at what he feels is an outright lie by his opponent is clearly evident. He delivers his famous, "There you go again," but it does not seem to come off as humorous or light-hearted. It actually seems rather forced for such an accomplished actor, maybe even peevish or ill-tempered. Even from this short clip, it is rather evident that Reagan doesn't feel comfortable in this debate. He doesn't offer a substantive rebuttal to Mondale, but instead seems irate at the mention that he may possibly raise taxes. Mondale clearly gets under his skin with that claim, which is odd for a man of such legendary cool and confidence. He attempts to offer a rebuttal, but gets trapped in his past actions in the use of the phrase, "There you go again." Not one of Reagan's finest moments, but since most of the clips on YouTube are of Reagan's finest moments, someone has to portray one of his lowlights.

1992 VP Debate

I apologize that this is out of sequence...

Al Gore's performance in this debate is pretty interesting.  He seems almost charismatic... He makes a joke, and his voice sounds so much less monotone than it did during his 2000 presidential run.  Also, Dan Quale poses a good question: "Can you trust Bill Clinton?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Jbmaq4YHA

Castro joke

In the beginning of his diaries, Reagan says, "Intelligence reports say Castro is very worried about me. I'm very worried that we can't come up with something to justify his worrying." That quote, combined with the video, shows how he treats communism as somewhat of a joke. At least, outwardly he does, and I think that his approach works in the eyes of the American people. It decreases fear and increases confidence by portraying Communism as a silly thing.

Effective communication through humor

This video explains well how Reagan was indeed 'the Great Communicator'. He was able to ingeniously use Soviet jokes in his speeches that were aired in front of millions from both America and the rest of the world, invoke their laughter, and still get away with this act (albeit subtle) of airing dirty Soviet laundry in public. Each laughter meant a small victory over the Soviets, because it increasingly made the world re-think the communist system.
Notice the incredible ease that Reagan was able to tell the different jokes from this video. Try imagining another president (think Richard Nixon) trying to pull off such a feat. It is not something all that easy at all.

The Speech [excerpt]

I think this excerpt from Ronald Reagan's "A Time for Choosing" speech shows how confident Reagan is in front of the camera. The way he delivers the speech makes it very believable - the way he says the words, the way he holds his body and the way he is not nervous shows how his acting career made it easier for him to be in front of the camera during his presidency. I think this is a good example of what Gould describes: "the modern presidency was more about the visual images that viewers saw each day than the substance of what the president said or what was said about him by reporters or his political opponents" (195). The way he delivers this speech is very important, and important consequences came from this speech as well.

"The Speech" October 27th, 1964 [entire speech]

In the fall of 1964, while campaigning on behalf of Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan delivered a speech entitled "A Time for Choosing" that generated an unprecedented enthusiasm in Republican circles and marked the Gipper's arrival as rising political star on the national stage. In substance the speech was very similar to those delivered by Barry Goldwater in 1964, stressing a profound distrust of LBJ's "Great Society" programs, describing the threat of international communism in apocalyptic terms, and condemning the growth of the federal government's power, size, and influence in American life. In style, however, Reagan's address outshined anything that Goldwater had done, and it came to be known simply as "The Speech". Two years after this address, Ronald Reagan would be elected governor of California and by 1976 he would mount a viable challenge to Gerald Ford for the the GOP presidential nomination. When Reagan won the presidency in 1980, he would continue to sound many of the same themes that he first set forth in this 1964 barnburner.


---rsd

Here is the text.

Ronald Reagan and PATCO

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/mediaplay.php?id=44138&admin=40

"A second key dramatic event in Reagan's revival of the authority of the presidency was his handling of the August 1981 unauthorized strike by the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO). The confrontation between the president and what appeared to be an arrogant and greedy labor organization was made to order for Reagan's sense of public drama. He came across as a heroic president confronting the representatives of a narrow special interest group. The nation appreciated a chief executive who took a firm position and did not waver, as Jimmy Carter had done on a number of issues" (Gould 198).

New Nixon Movie: Winter 2008

In addition to my previous post, Ron Howard is directing a new movie on the controversial Frost/Nixon interview which is scheduled to come out in late December this year. Here is the trailer to the movie, it looks pretty good and Frank Langella seems to do a good job of playing a devious and manipulative Nixon.

Frost/Nixon Interview

I posted this clip from the David Frost interview with Richard Nixon after our discussions about Presidential power and the "Unitary Executive." We already discussed Nixon's comment that "if the President does it, its not illegal," but here's the clip in his interview three years after Watergate.

mp3 files for the Oct 15 lecture on Nixon's foreign policy

If you missed class on Oct 15, here is the lecture from that day, divided into two mp3 files. Just click the link and press the play button to listen:

Oct 15 lecture, pt one

Oct 15 lecture, pt two

Note: Special thanks to Professor Swapna Kumar, Coordinator of Online Education at BU's School of Education, for making this possible.

I was going to post the clip from 1984 Reagan-Mondale debate where Reagan jokes about his old age, but someone already posted that particular clip.  In relation to Reagan's humorous response to concerns about his old age, McCain took a similar comedic approach (to the age issue) when he appeared on SNL earlier this year and claimed, "I have the oldness it takes to protect America..."



I think this is a good example of the way modern media has altered presidential campaigns and elections. Today, critics use the media to exploit flaws in candidates that, earlier in history, would likely have been disregarded or ignored. However, candidates use the very same medium to refute any uncertainty the exploitation of their flaws may inspire and depending upon how they do so, they may even succeed in making themselves appear more likable and competent in light of such faults.

"I can't believe I'm losing to this guy": 1988 SNL parody of Dukakis-Bush Debate

video here

TRANSCRIPT:

Peter Jennings: Good evening. I'm Peter Jennings, in Los Angeles awaiting the start of the second and final presidential debate between Michael Dukakis and George Bush. As you may know, the League of Women Voters withdrew their sponsorship of this debate, citing unreasonable demands by both candidates. In fact, one of the conditions of the Bush camp requires us to tell you what's on other channels. On HBO is "The Sensuous Nurse", starring Ursula Andress and Udo Kier; on Showtime, "The Making of 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?'", an entertaining look at this summer's blockbuster hit; and on ESPN, a repeat of the LSU-Georgia Tech Southeast Conference showdown. And the Democrats have asked us to announce that C-Span will be rerunning the Bentsen-Quayle debate at 4 a.m. Eastern time. Well, this debate is about to start, so let's go to the moderator - Diane Sawyer.

Diane Sawyer: Good evening, I'm Diane Sawyer of "60 Minutes". Welcome to the second presidential debate between Vice-President George Bush and Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis. Gentlemen.

[ Bush and Dukakis enter the arena, the taller Bush immediately patting an angry Dukakis on the head. Bush stands behind his podium. Dukakis, too short for his podium, raises himself via a hidden scissorlift - now, up too high, he lowers himself to an optimum height. ]

Diane Sawyer: Our panel of questioners are Elizabeth Dowd of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sam Donaldson of "ABC News", and syndicated columnist Carl Rowen. The first question goes to Governor Dukakis, and will be asked by Elizabeth Dowd.

Sam Donaldson: [ waving frantically ] Governor Dukakis!! Governor Dukakis!!

Michael Dukakis: Sam.

Sam Donaldson: Your leadership style has been described as technotronic, cool, emotionally dead. Even your closest admirers admit that sometimes you are distant and aloof, a bit of a cold fish. Pundits are saying that one of the reasons you trail in the polls is that you are uninspiring, and seem totally devoid of passion.

Michael Dukakis: What's the question?

Sam Donaldson: Well, I suppose the question, Governor, is do you have the passion necessary to lead this country?

Michael Dukakis: [ unemotional ] Sam, that kind of asperation to my character, quite frankly, makes me - well, there's no other word for it - enraged. Maybe I shouldn't say that in the heat of the moment, but I can't control myself. I apologize for flying off the handle. And I'm just sorry my kids had to see me like this.

Diane Sawyer: Mr. Bush. Rebuttal?

Sam Donaldson: [ interrupting ] Mr. Vice-President!! Mr. Vice-President!!

George Bush: Sam.

Sam Donaldson: Do you really think SDI, or Star Wars, will work? Do you really think it's possible to create a shield that would prevent any or all nuclear missles from striking the United States?

George Bush: I'm glad you asked me that, Sam.. because tonight I can reveal something that's just been declassified. The key to SDI, to the whole concept, is a Time Machine. It's a beautiful idea. Let's say the Soviets launch a surprise attack, and a few of their missiles do get through our floating network of particle beam lasers. Then we use the Time Machine. We go back in time, before the surprise attack. It's defensive, it's clean, and it'll save our kids in the event of a Russian first strike. Now, who could be against that?

Diane Sawyer: Governor Dukakis?

Michael Dukakis: Well, if such a Time Machine were possible, I'd like the vice-president to explain why we haven't been visited already by time travelers from the future. You can't tell me that responsible members of a future government of the United States wouldn't, with access to a Time Machine, come back to reverse some of the mistakes - cockamamie mistakes - made by this administration. Of course they would! This idea is ridiculous! Spending billions and billions on a Time Machine whose very existence defies logic is, in my mind, lunacy.

George Bush: Well, Mr. Massachusettes, Harvard Yard Braniac. You may prove to yourself that it's impossible, but I think I'm like most Americans who'd rather see a Time Machine with an American flag on the side, and not a hammer and sickle.

[ the audience applauds ]

Diane Sawyer: Please, as I warned you before, hold down your reaction. It will only come out of your candidate's.. [ a tub of popcorn is thrown at her - she holds back her tears ] That was uncalled for. Next.. Sam Donaldson, with a question for Governor Dukakis.

Sam Donaldson: Vice-President Bush, there are millions of homeless in this country - children who go hungry, and lacking in other basic necessities. How would the Bush administration achieve your stated goal of making this a kinder, gentler nation?

George Bush: Well, that is a big problem, Sam, and unfortunately the format of these debates makes it hard to give you a complete answer. If I had more time, I could spell out the program in greater detail, but I'm afraid, in a short answer like this, all I can say is we're on track - we can do more - but we're getting the job done, so let's stay on course, a thousand points of light. Well, unfortunately, I guess my time is up.

Diane Sawyer: Mr. Vice-President, you still have a minute-twenty.

George Bush: What? That can't be right. I must have spoken for at least two minutes.

Diane Sawyer: No, just forty seconds, Mr. Vice-President.

George Bush: Really? Well, if I didn't use the time then, I must have just used the time now, talking about it.

Diane Sawyer: No, no, Mr. Vice-President, it's not being counted against you.

George Bush: Well, I just don't want it to count against Governor Dukakis' time.

Diane Sawyer: It won't. It will come out of the post-debate commentary.

George Bush: Do you think that's a good idea?

Diane Sawyer: You still have a minute-twenty, Mr. Vice-President.

George Bush: Well, more has to be done, sure. But the programs we have in place are doing the job, so let's keep on track and stay the course.

Diane Sawyer: You have fifty seconds left, Mr. Vice-President.

George Bush: Let me sum up. On track, stay the course. Thousand points of light.

Diane Sawyer: Governor Dukakis. Rebuttal?

Michael Dukakis: I can't believe I'm losing to this guy!

Ford's Slip Up

Ford sounds like an ignoramus here, but as Brinkley says in the textbook, he didn't mean to phrase his statement this way. He says later on that Yugoslavia and Romania don't "consider themselves" dominated by the Soviet Union. This is what he actually meant - too bad he had to say something that sounded foolish beforehand. Alas, the media takes everything at face value, and the slightest slip up (no pun intended, since he slipped and fell a lot) can ruin you. I'll conclude by just saying the way Frankel stutters before responding to Ford is priceless.

Clinton and Dole debate and for something fun.
Bush vs. Bush

It's interesting to see the difference.

"There you go again"

1980 Reagan and Carter Debate



1984 Reagan and Mondale Debate



The following excerpt is from an August 7, 1989 interview of Reagan in which he is asked about the phrase when it was used in the 1980 debate against Carter:

JIM LEHRER: That debate is remembered for several things. One of them is your line, "There you go again." Tell me about that. How did that come about?... It was about Medicare. It came up in a discussion about Medicare, and whether you had favored it or not, early on. And you said, "There you go again."

PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: Oh, yes. Well, at that time, some of the people who were proposing this, and I wasn't against the Medicare bill that finally came along, but some of the people that were proposing this, it was obvious that they, in reality, wanted socialized medicine. And I know a little bit about socialized medicine as it's practiced in a number of other countries...

JIM LEHRER: Was "There you go again" a line that just came to you spontaneously, or was it something that you had worked on?

PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: No, it just seemed to be the thing to say in what he was saying up there, because it was to me it felt kind of repetitious, something we had heard before.

(http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/interviews/reagan.html)

1992 Presidential Debate opening

I like this clip because it's one where the candidates are forced to argue what they have done as opposed to what they are thinking that they could do given the chance; they have to highlight their contributions so far. It gives the audience an opportunity to weight the abilities of the candidates.

It's strange to me to see a presidential debate that features three candidates instead of just the two of the larger and more influential parties; don't worry though for Ross Perot, he gets his shot in at the other two with about 30 seconds left to go.

"...others may hate you..." Nixon's Farewell, August 9, 1972

August 8, 1974: Nixon prepares to broadcast resignation announcement

What's remarkable here is Nixon's very calm demeanor before the broadcast. He is at ease, and does not appear in any way to be worried about facing indictment after leaving the White House.

1976 Vice Presidential Debate-Dole on Nixon's pardon

Maybe it's just me but this seems to be a very odd answer to the question. It proves that politicians will tear down their enemies at every opportunity.

Television Influence in the 1960 Presidential Debate

This is just a short video I found on youtube. It gives a little more insight into Nixon's inability to correctly use the television media during the presidential debate.

Presidential Temperament

The cover story for Time Magazine for the week of October 27, 2008 caught my eye. The article analyzes role that temperament plays in effective campaigns and presidencies. The article discusses the temperaments and administrations of many of the 20th century presidents we have discussed including, Nixon, Eisenhower, Truman, Roosevelt, Hoover, and Johnson.

Below you will find the link to the full Cover Story from Time magazine online:

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1850921,00.html

The actual magazine also has a segment that includes the opinions of 4 presidential historians who analyze and suggest what type of temperament is best for a president. The link to this discussion is: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1850921,00.html

It really is interesting to consider temperament especially when watching many of the presidential debates that have been posted. Many of the clips show varying levels of emotion and reactions to criticism.

Just something else to think about when picking a candidate for this year's election too!

1960 Kennedy Song Ad

Republicans weren't the only ones hopping on the musical political ad bandwagon...  And then because I came across this song awhile ago, I thought I'd share a reworked version of "High Hopes" by Frank Sinatra - back when he was still a Democrat - in support of Kennedy in 1960. It's in the following highly uninteresting video - ay, there's the rub.

Sound Familiar?

Ok, so we may not hear much criticism for Sarah Palin's actual name, but both Quayle and Palin draw similar objections from Democrats and even Republicans.

1984 Reagan-Mondale debate clip

One sided debate

In this political ad, Hubert Humphry attempts to ask the public exactly what has nixon done for you? This seems to be the biggest problem in campaigns especially of late. What legislation has a candidate been a part or in the past?
This ties into Nixon's ad in 72 of "Nixon Now". He shows his Foreign Policy but no other domestic policy. The ad is obvoiusly a one sided piece of propiganda, but provokes the viewer to ask what the republican party had done for the public in 1968.

Reagan Mondale Debates

Interesting how specific Reagan is able to get about the budget and his plan.

Reagan Mondale Debates

Interesting how partisan they were about journalists even in 1984. Also, how specific they are able to get about the budget.

Nixon vs Kennedy - Cold War

2008 Vice-Presidential Debates: The "Mavericks"art

I don't know if this is going to work, but I'm trying to post the first 10 minutes or so of the 2008 vice-presidential debates, Sarah Palin vs. Joe Biden. I want to call attention to Palin's repeated attempts throughout this debate to portray herself and John McCain as a pair of "mavericks." I think this is excellent, deceptive subterfuge on Palin's part, drawing this sort of alignment between herself and John McCain, when the two really aren't that close policy-wise in terms of their personal politics.

Think back four years. During the run-up to the 2004 election, people were talking about a John Kerry-John McCain ticket as an astute and viable option for the Deomcratic ticket, a match-up that would really attract the moderate, independent vote. How quickly the political landscape changes and how quickly people forget.

I think the McCain-Palin ticket speaks to the beginning of a deep and serious fracture within the Republican party. Palin represents the Reagan-Bush legacy of the party, the Evangelical right from the South and the West that has a stranglehold on the GOP, whose views have become the party's ideological foundation. What was once ultra-right-wing conservatism has moved to the center of the party. Palin now represents the party's centrist views. This has left moderate Republicans underrepresented, without a standard-bearer of any sort, but specifically without a new generational face; but more importantly, I think moderate Republicans are starting to feel seriously disenfranchised, as if their party is a going in a direction they can no longer support. We're not at the point of schism yet, but I think the situation is creeping close to the situation of the Democratic Party in 1968, and I think a catharsis of that sort is needed. The moderate Republicans need to break off from the agenda of the conservative Christian right.

I think John McCain is essentially part of this moderate, pragmatic Nixon-tradition of the Republican party, but his campaign has consistently shown his inability to break away from and distinguish himself as his own moderate Republican in opposition to the ultra-conservative, right-wing base of the Republican Party. Nothing displays this problem more than McCain's choice of Palin as VP.

Bush's Evil Twin?

I felt bad that I hadn't watched a lot of the current debates, but then I saw this...it just shows how little campaigns can relate to what a president will actually do. Its like a movie trailer that promises entertainment but actually robs you of two hours (eight years?).

Clinton vs. Bush in 1992 Debate

There are a couple of things to notice in this video of the Clinton Bush debate in 1992. The most obvious being that the question asked is quite relevant to the current economic situation and should perhaps be posed to the current candidates. Also, consider the differences in the way Bush and Clinton choose to address (and attempt to understand) the question and their general attitude toward the woman asking the question. And as an example of the fact that actions often speak louder than words, notice about three seconds into the video when Bush glances at his watch while the woman poses her question.

Lloyd Bentsen puts down Dan Quayle

As you can see from this 1988 vice-presidential debate, comparing yourself to other famous politicians might not be such a good idea.

http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-7gpgXNWYI

A Clip From The Televised Nixon/Kennedy Debates

It's obvious here why these debates really gave Kennedy the edge. He is confident, speaks with a stronger voice, and of course is generally more attractive. Nixon also seems somewhat uneasy, especially at the beginning where his eyes dart back and forth and he replies to Kennedy's first statement with "no comment".

One important part of this clip, I think, is when Nixon talks about executive power and how advisors should play a part only when the president asks for their opinions. Obviously, this belief can be seen in his presidency, where he made himself the center of control based on his lack of trust in others.

The other important part of this video is when Kennedy speaks of the power of America in the context of the world. At this point in time, the arms race with the Soviet Union is in full swing, and Kennedy basically says that one of his goals is to make America more advanced than any other country.

Ford vs. Carter 1976 Debate

Before he ran for presidency, Carter, agreed to do an interview with Playboy. To his dismay, this was used against him during the presidential debates for the Election of 1976. Carter was criticized for this move but not as much as Ford's pardon toward Nixon. This video shows Carter trying to explain himself about the playboy interview but it's clear he is extremely uncomfortable.

Colin Powell weighs in on 2008 Presidential Race

from the annals of TV debate: Penguin v. Batman

In this episode of the 1960s ABC prime-time show "Batman" Penguin runs for mayor of Gotham and Batman challenges him. In a televised debate (begins around the 4:30 min mark), Penguin attacks Batman for associating with the wrong crowd, then uses his supporters to shout Batman down when the Caped Crusader attempts a rebuttal. (thanks to wonkette for digging this old video up)

a walk down memory lane: 40 years of negative campaign ads

I'm Chevy Chase... and you're not.

The scene: 1976 Presidential Debate. Gerald Ford debating Jimmy Carter. Enter.... an actual political gaffe of Ford's.

Yes, you heard it here first, the Soviet Union did not have an influence in Eastern Europe.

And, while not my favorite, I thought I'd share a video of Chevy Chase's first impression of Gerald Ford (as this one is also partially mocking Ford's speaking skills, as evidenced above):

Clinton in the 1992 debate

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

1980 Debate Reagan v. Carter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px7aRIhUkHY

Clip 2 from this link on Youtube is concerned a decisive moment in the 1980 election campaigns. Reagan asks the audience if they are better off than they were 4 years ago.
Reagan asks voters to ask themselves if they are better off now than they were 4 years ago. With the state of the economy and "Crisis of Confidence" that Carter himself spoke of, many people found reagan's question to be very powerful.
This is considered to be a turn around in Reagan's campaign and a major contributing factor to why he ultimately wins the election.

(I had a lot of trouble posting the actual video- so just click on the link!)

Dukakis/Bush 1988

I can't imagine someone asking this question in a debate today.

1972 Nixon ad aims at youth culture

Nixon 1972 Election Ad
by DwightFrye

Youth Vote

Just going off of the topic of getting young voters to actually turn out (especially in relevance to this election), I thought I'd share a bit of Colbert wisdom. 

Sneak Preview:

"I always wanted my first time to be special; instead, I just gave it away to Michael Dukakis."

AuH2O

Film on Barry Goldwater at BU tonight.

Phil Ochs Original "Love me, love me, I'm a liberal"


There are some parodies also on youtube that are a bit crude, and quite conservative-leaning, but show a more contemporary paradox of the Democratic party.

The Vital Center: a founding text of "the liberal consensus"

Published in the late forties, Arthur M. Schlesinger's The Vital Center was a founding document of what later came to be called "the liberal consensus" in American politics; here is an excerpt from the book. As noted in lecture, it was also Schlesinger who popularized the concept of "the imperial presidency" in the early 1970s.

Cronkite's broadcast on the Tet offensive

this is the video of Cronkite discussing the Tet offensive.


This is him reflecting on it years later



-Joseph Gels

April 4, 1967: King's "Beyond Vietnam" speech

Here is the text and mp3 of King's speech on Vietnam. Dr. King's criticism of the war marked an open break with the policies of LBJ.

Mailer Quote - The Not-So-Great Cities of America

"Chicago is the great American city. New York is one of the capitals of the world and Los Angeles is a constellation of plastic, San Francisco is a lady, Boston has become Urban Renewal, Philadelphia and Baltimore and Washington wink like dull diamonds in the smog of Eastern Megalopolis, and New Orleans is unremarkable past the French Quarter. Detroit is a one-trade town, Pittsburgh has lost its golden triangle, St. Louis has become the golden arch of the corporation, and nights in Kansas City close early. The oil depletion allowance makes Houston and Dallas nought but checkerboards for this sort of game. But Chicago is a great American city. Perhaps it is the last of the great American cities." - opening paragraph, The Siege of Chicago

Cities have always been the bastions of support for the Democratic party. By attacking each of the "great American cities," Mailer does more than show off his own new-journalistic poeticism. He articulates the feelings and ideology of the New Left as well, it's disillusion with the Democratic elite and the structures of the Democratic Party. He's attacking everything traditional about the Democrats - their most cherished areas of support within the country.

Yet Chicago is where hope remains, and it's probably where hope remained for alot of Democrats going into the 1968 convention, hope that a new Democratic consensus could emerge and continue the Deomcrats' hold on the White House and the Great Society policies of LBJ, combined with the more direct action and politics the New Left demanded. As Mailer goes on to describe the darker underbelly of Chicago along with the greatness of the city, he foreshadows the violence and contention to come at the Democratic National Convention, and the accompanying disillusionment and crushing of hope it brought.

Beyond all this, I just found this particular quote very readable and entertaining. In several instances, he manages to completely encapsulate and enunciate the inadequacies of several major American cities in a mere few words. His assertions are thought-provoking, and as a Midwesterner, I'd like to think Chicago IS the last great American city. With every city's mention, you get a picture of that city, through Mailer's eyes, with just a few words - New York as an international capital, the fakeness of LA, how Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington just aren't quite great enough. Mailer seems to think New Orleans and Detriot are nothing beyond their stereotypes - Mardi Gras and automobiles. Kansas City is too sleepy and slow-paced.

I only wish he included a reference/shout-out to Milwaukee in there somewhere! ;)

- Joy Tesensky

LBJ and Pants

This is a well-known (yet still hilarious) clip of LBJ ordering custom-made pants in 1964. His descriptions (somewhat crude, in LBJ-style) of how he wants the trousers to fit are classic.

I can't help but wonder, though, about his personal taste in colors...

Covert Operations

Reagan Diaries, pg. 351-352

"That was also the day I received a "secret" phone call from Bud MacFarlane. I t seems a man high up in the Iranian govt. believes he can deliver all or part of the 7 Am. kidnap victims in Lebanon sometime in early Sept. They will be delivered to a point on the beach north of Tripoli & we'll take them off to our 6th fleet."

I find it so foreign to have a covert operation spoken about so openly and in such a nonchalant demeanor. Certainly, this is a private diary, but to have it published for the general public seems so wrong! As if I know I shouldn't be reading this. I get the feeling that I've been coerced by society to never know or want to know about what the government does beyond our daily knowledge.

Travis Clarke

Quote from Eleanor Roosevelt's Autobiography

"I, however, could not help this feeling that it was the New Deal Social objectives that had fostered the spirit that would make it possible for us to fight this war, and I believed it was vastly important to give people the feeling that in fighting the war we were still fighting for these same objectives. It was obvious that if the world were ruled by Hitler, freedom and democracy would no longer exist. I felt it was essential both to the prosecution of the war and to the period after the war that the fight for the rights of minorities should continue." (Pg. 230)

While FDR and his administration felt that preparing for war should be at the forefront of domestic policy, Eleanor Roosevelt directly challenged her husband and continued to fight for the rights of the poor and minorities. Eleanor's interpretation of the role of first lady drastically altered what was once a social obligation into a high postion of power. Although her passionate stances on issues sometimes went against those of her husband, Eleanor was not afraid to speak up and was able to continue her husband's new deal legacy by overseeing the development of welfare and other social projects as well as improving conditions across the continental United States. Whereas FDR's focused predominantly on the war overseas, Eleanor kept an eye on domestic issues. She was a daring political figure who could sometimes be seen as a liability to her husband's campaign but all the while was working hard as a champion of this country's youth; a group that would continue to be influenced by her strength long after her stay in the white house ended.

Midterm: Review Terms and Essay Topics

The midterm will consist of six ID answers worth ten points each and one essay worth 40 points. Below are 18 possible ID terms, only nine of which will appear on the midterm, and 3 possible essay topics, only tw0 of which will appear on the midterm.

ID Terms:

"A Cross of Gold"

George B. Cortelyou

"Muckrakers"

Great White Fleet

Underwood Tariff

Henry Cabot Lodge

A. Mitchell Palmer

The Dawes Plan

The Wagner Act

The "Court Packing Crisis"

Robert Oppenheimer

Berlin Airlift

NSC-68

"The New Look"

Guatemala, 1954

"A Cross of Iron"

Strategic Hamlets

The Daisy Ad


Essay Topics:

Compare and contrast the domestic policy initiatives Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson, and assess the effectiveness of each.

Compare and contrast the foreign policy initiatives of Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower, and assess the effectiveness of each.

Analyze the concept of the "imperial presidency" and describe its evolution during the first two decades of the Cold War (1945-65).

"Merely another weapon?" The other nuclear LBJ ad.

LBJ - Daisy Advertisement

Forty years later, base still strong

"No, so far as there was an American faith, a belief, a mystique that America was more than the sum of its constituencies, its trillions of dollars and billions of acres, its constellation of factories, empyrean of communications, mountain transcendent of finance, and heroic of sport, transports of medicine, hygiene, and church, so long as belief persisted that America, finally more than all this, was the world's ultimate reserve of rectitude, final garden of the Lord, so far as this mystique could survive in every American family of Christian substance, so then were the people entering this Gala willynilly the leaders of this faith, never articulated by any of them except in the most absurd and taste-curdling jargons of patriotism mixed with religion, but the faith existed in those crossroads between the psyche and the heart where love, hate, the cognition of grace, the all but lost sense of the root, and adoration of America congregate for some."

Mailer's long, winding description of the conservative Republican base on pp. 33-34 could have been recycled to describe attendees at the 2008 Republican National Convention.  The group Mailer observed at the delegates' dinner forty years ago would no doubt support John McCain, American war hero, and embrace unabashedly religious and socially conservative Sarah Palin as one of their own and a wonderful ambassador for their Christian-themed, family values patriotism.

David Brand

Reagan Quote

The Reagan Diaries: Page 217-218:

"Called a woman in Peoria Il. who had wired after the St. of the U. Her complaint was over freedom of choice. She was referring to abortion & she called herself an ex Repub. who wouldn't vote for me. I was going to write her & then just on a hunch I phoned. It took a little doing to convince her it was really me. We had a nice talk & and I was right that her problem was abortion. I made my pitch that there were 2 people's rights involved in abortion - the mother's & the unborn child. She promised to give that some deep thought. We had a nice visit. She's a 51 year old divorcee working for less than $10,000 a year - has a 17 year old son ready for college & a married daughter. I think I made a friend."


Wow, the thought of a president phoning a constituent to speak on such a hot-button issue as abortion is so incredibly foreign to me. I can't even imagine Bush taking time out of his day to phone someone who he didn't know to "discuss" something. Although the fact that he made a pitch to her leaves a slightly sour taste in my mouth, Reagan's obvious care for the people of this country is startling. How personal and compassionate. He made no strong point in his entry that he had tried to seriously convince her of anything, only offer a differing opinion. How refreshing. The "I think I made a friend" aspect of the entry is where I question its meaning. A friend as in someone who he may speak to again, or a friend as in a supporter? Was he doing it for a vote or for the genuine want to create a connection with someone? Is it a double entendre or sincerity? Obama seems to care so deeply about the "American people" but would even he do this? As much criticism as one can give Reagan, you can't say he didn't care....

Interesting address as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy5YldZ1iaY

Operation Coffee Cup: Reagan warns that Medicare will lead to Socialism

In last night's VP Debate, Sarah Palin quoted Ronald Reagan in her closing remarks:

"It was Ronald Reagan who said that freedom is always just one generation away from extinction. We don’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream; we have to fight for it and protect it, and then hand it to them so that they shall do the same, or we’re going to find ourselves spending our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children about a time in America, back in the day, when men and women were free."

The source of this quote was a recording that Ronald Reagan had made in the early 1960s, descrying Medicare as an insidious form of socialism. Here is a brief description & MP3 of the original Reagan recording.

Mailer Quote

When speaking about the Republican gala:
"Yet here they were, the economic power of America (so far as economic power was still private, not public) the family power (so far as position in in socation was still a passion to average and ambitious Americans) the military power (to the extent that important sword-rattlers and/or patriots were among the company, as well as cadres of corporations were unmarried to the Pentagon) yes, even the spiritual power of America (just so far as Puritanism, Calvinism, conservatism and golf still gave the American WASP and American faith more intense than the faith of cosmopolitainists, one-worlders, trade-unionists, Black militants, new Leftists, acid-heads, tribunes of the gay, families of the Mafia, political machinists, fixers, swingers, Democratic Lobbyists, members of the Grange, and government workers, not to include the Weltanschauung of every partisan in every minority group)."

This one, paragraph-long sentence illucidates the sense erosion of traditional American values within the Republican Party. The counter-culture movement was much smaller than its legacy, but seems to have this profound effect on the party of Eisenhower. It is a stream of conscious fear in the back of the minds of the traditional, small-government Rockefeller Republicans. It is out of this fear of the counter-culture and desperation to keep the traditional American values that the GOP was able to cater to the Southern working classes and evangelicals in a coalition that continues (however precariously) until today through fear of these groups. It plays to the human response to band together to fight against the common enemies. This sentence embodies the sentiment that as the New Left and other counter-culture groups embraced change and rebellion, that there must be a New Right movement. While all the attendees at the gala wore their best furs and diamonds to celebrate a party fundamentally based on the economic principle of trickle-down, they were able to galvanize a base constituency, decades later, focused on family values, starting with the fear of this counter culture. The sentence structure demonstrates the degree to which the party had to adapt. Their traditional principles were eroding quickly with the social mobilization of the counter-culture and they needed to tap a new constituency in the New Right--young people who did not believe in protesting in the streets and embraced the system.

LBJ and Immigration Reform

Here is a fairly informative overview of the 1965 legislation that LBJ signed eliminating the 1924 quota system for U.S. immigration.

Reagan and This Year's election.

After flipping through the Reagan book, It's amazing to me how much Reagan is brought up in this year's presidential campaign. Last night Sarah Palin used the phrase "city on the hill," which came from Reagan. McCain has constantly reference Reagan as well. He seems to be the Republican FDR.

-james sherrill

ER: The Ideal First Lady

"Nothing we ever learn in this world is ever wasted and I have come to the conclusion that practically nothing we do ever stands by itself. It it is good, it will serve some good purpose in the future." -ER

I particularly highlighted this quote as I was reading her autobiography because her words are rather inspiring. As the first lady, she took steps that no other women would have dreamed of taking. She stepped out of her comfort zone and defied others expectations and so created the role of the first lady. No other first lady can compare to the work Eleanor Roosevelt did while she was in the White House and even afterwards until her death.
It is true that everything she learned from others and what she taught was not wasted time in the White House. She built upon her goals and made a name for herself. I see her in a completely different light and expect more of the future first ladies' of this nation.

1964 - Johnson Campaign Ad

Mailer Quote

"They believed in America as they believed in God-they could not really ever expect that America might collapse and God yet survive , no, they had even gone so far as to think that America was the savior of the world, food and medicine by one hand, sword in the other, highest of high faith in a nation which would bow the knee before no problem since God' own strength was in the die." Pg 34 Miami and the Siege of Chicago

I feel that this quote exemplifies the rise of the imperial presidency. I find it interesting that the reporter seems to think that this is a new idea. I feel that since the presidency of McKinley, the idea of an imperial America was established. I think that by Mailer writing this it shows that the idea of an Imperial Presidency was not as wall known as established until the mid 1900s.

Eleanor Roosevelt Quote

"I...came back to the White House shortly before twelve to go with my husband to the Capitol to hear him deliver his message to a joint session of Congress. I was living through again, it seemed to me, the day when President Wilson addressed the Congress to announce our entry into World War I. Now the President of the United States was my husband, and for the second time in my life I heard a president tell the Congress that this nation was engaged in a war. I was deeply unhappy. I remembered my anxieties about my husband and brother when World War I began; now I had four songs of military age." pg. 229

This particular quote jumped out at me for a number of reasons. Roosevelt makes a direct correlation to World War One. Although two different political situations and twenty years apart, she finds herself in very similar mindsets. She is filled with regretfulness, sorrow, and fear. She lived through the first World War, the "war to end all wars." She saw the destruction and mayhem. She experienced the rocky peacetime in which nations worked for collective security yet kept their own security and goals first priority. She is in disbelief that in the twenty years since Wilson spoke to Congress, nothing was accomplished. Roosevelt also faces this issue from multiple positions: first lady, U.S. citizen, and mother. She must look at the issue from a political standpoint. She understands that for the United States to survive, these are the actions that must be taken. As a mother and U.S. citizen, she experiences anxieties for her sons and the rest of the youth. They must fight in a war and risk their lives. She is upset for multiple reasons and uncertain about the years that lie ahead.

Reagan Quote

Thursday, April 18, 1985
"Another backbreaker. The press continues to chew away on the German trip & my supposed insensitivity in visiting a W.W.II German mil. cemetery in spite of the fact I'm going to visit a Concentration camp. They are really sucking blood & finding every person of Jewish faith they can who will denounce me" (316).

Wednesday, April 24, 1985
"Every day seems to begin with latest press- muck raking over whether I should or shouldn't go to the Bitberg cemetery in Germany. Well d--n their hides I think its morally right to go and I'm going"(318).


I found this to be a great example of Ronald Reagan acting in the way that he feels is correct and pushing aside those people (the press) who disagree with him. In just glancing through his diaries it can be seen just how strong his moral convictions were and the role they played in his decision making. I think this is a good thing, to have a strong, convicted president at a time where the Cold War is nearing its end but at the same time it can and did lead to trouble for Reagan in making ill-advised decisions and creating enemies for himself both abroad and at home especially in Congress. Yet, I think for him to act upon his own convictions is a sign of a strong leader who is going to attempt to do what is best and in this case it is to visit the Bitberg cemetery.

Norman Mailer Quote

Chapter 5, Pg. 101

“Here my friends, on the prairies of Illinois and the Middle West, we can see a long way in all directions…here there are no barriers, no defenses to ideas and to aspirations. We want none. We want no shackles on the mind or the spirit, no rigid patterns of thought and no iron conformity. We want only the faith and the convictions of triumph and free and fair contest.”  - Adlai Stevenson, Democratic convention in Chicago, 1952

This quote stuck out to me due to its irony. The quote from Adlai Stevenson 16 years before the 1968 convention is proclaiming the freedom of thought, acceptance of new ideas and change that the Democratic Party is trying to bring forth at that time. The irony lies in the fact that this speech was given in Chicago and that the 1968 convention was not a demonstration in free flowing thought and that there was a standard of the party that seemed to be iron and rigid. The change and flow of newer and brighter ideas that Stevenson is speaking of in 1952 are no where to be found in 1968. Sixteen years is a long time and many, many things changed in that time period, however what should have been a platform for ideas to be heard and dreams to be dreamt, turned into absolute chaos and confusion. In 1952 there may have not been barriers or defenses to ideas or aspirations, but in 1968 Chicago was a blockade to progress

Miami and the Sige of Chicago

"Your seat was very important.
It was also important because the microphones for the delegates were varied in their volme. The Illinois, Texas, Michigan, Ohio and other Humphrey microphones were very clear. The New York, Wisconsin and California microphones were weak in volume." (115)

I was shocked to see exacly how political and fierce a brokered convention could be. Today, presidential nomination convention is merely for show, and shown widely in primetime. In 1968 and i'm sure prior elections, the party "bosses" who set up the structure of the convention obviously placed poor mics in front of NY WI and CA but gave strong mics to powerful Humphrey states. It was a different world in '68, full of turmiol and uncertainty, especially after a higly regarded candidate had been killed. Although the party was utterly chaotic in 1969, part of me wanted to see a brokered convention in 2008. The drama of not knowing a candidate until delagates come to a concensus is incredible and clearly shows a republic in action. It would have also destroyed the democratic party, possibly leaving a silent majority by the wayside.

Partisan Alliances (and rivalries)

I thought it was interesting to see how many familiar names from present day politics kept popping up in Reagan's diaries. Here are two of my favorites, showing that sometimes friends/enemies can stay the same in party politics...

"Charlie Wick brought in Rupert Murdoch for a meeting. He is supportive of me which means some of the press is with us--his press." (Pg. 126)

"1st meeting with Ken D. & the V.P.-- Howard late getting back from Tennessee. Some talk about Sen. Biden-- now cand. for Pres. I saw him on CNN last night speaking to the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard U. He's smooth but pure demogog--- out to save Am. From the Reagan Doctrine."

Mailer Quotation

"The country was in a throe, a species of eschatological heave. The novelist John Updike was not necessarily one of his favorite authors, but after the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, it was Updike who had made the remark that God might have withdrawn His blessing from America." (15)

In this passage Mailer captures the troubled state of America during 1968. Such events as the Tet Offensive, the Free Speech Movement, and the Civil Rights Movement contribute to the unrest in America and between the citizens. It is the differences between the citizens ant their opinions that highlight this time. Examples of this conflict of groups can be seen between Democrats and Republicans or college students and their school administration. It is also interesting that Mailer uses God within the passage in a sense that America was once "blessed" by God. Mailer seems to be suggesting that the reign of harmony in America has ended, not even God can create a compromise.

War on [Insert Cause here]

A more lighthearted quote from Reagan (not that his Diaries are particularly known for their... in-depth analysis).. mostly 'cause it's a terribly awesome movie (and they're making it into a musical. amazing.) Set-up: they're at Camp David in Maryland.

Saturday, February 14 [1981]
Slept in -took a morning walk then spent the afternoon with desk work. We had both sneaked out & bought valentines for each other & believe it or not we did surprise each other. Ran a movie & had Dan Ruge & the others who have to go with us over for it. It was a comedy (Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton & Lilli Tomlin) "Nine To Five." Funny- but one scene made me mad. A truly funny scene if the 3 gals had played getting drunk but no they had to get stoned on pot. It was an endorsement of Pot smoking for any young person who sees the picture.

Basically I love this quote because of the famous /infamous (depending on the viewpoint) 'Just Say No' program that Nancy championed during her husband's presidency. The program is the main reason behind her frequent trips away from the White House - all of which result in President Reagan oftentimes commenting on his missing of her (even if it's been just a few hours). It shows just how much the two agreed in their politics and the depth to which their beliefs affected them. Here's the actual scene he's referring to:


Honestly, I'd be more concerned with the discussion of the gun, that Dolly's character clearly has no idea how to use, & gun control policy, if I were to get offended by anything. But then again I don't exactly agree with Mr. Reagan on a lot of issues...

Either way, since I started this comment with the War on Drugs, I thought I'd include Nancy's famed appearance on Diff'rent Strokes as well. All I know is... Nancy really succeeded in her campaign because none of my fellow 10 year olds were as hard into drugs as these kids when I got that old.