America and its Presidents

Introduction

Part II

Who can become President(or Vice President)?

• Anyone who is:• At least 35 years old• Natural-born American (Amendment proposed)• Resident in U.S. for at least 14 years• But usually:• White male protestants from wealthy, political

backgrounds (Kennedy first Catholic, as yet no women or minorities)

Who can vote for candidates?

• Anyone who is:• 18 years of age• An American citizen• Registered to vote in their home town (ca. 25%

of Americans don‘t register)• Voter participation usually about 60% (51% in

2000; 60.7% in 2004)• Lower participation by young people, poorly

educated and Hispanics

Political Parties I

• George Washington opposed parties - politicians: independent views

• By end of his 2nd term: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

• In 1850‘s Whigs and Democrats• 1854 New anti-slavery party founded:

Republicans, took old name and absorbed Whigs• After civil war Republicans represented main

stream of developing northern industry and free private enterprise

Political Parties II

• Outside South Democrats attracted those outside dominant system (Eastern Europeans, Irish, Jews, Catholics, intellectuals, blacks, labor unionists)

• Since 1933 Democrats party of left (New Deal, Great Society) but little progress since 1970‘s

Polititical Parties III

• Democrats in South• For many decades only party in South• Political contests between factions with

conservative ones usually winning• By 1960‘s conservatives voting Republican• As a whole Democrats have diverse interests

- not only leftist ones

Political Parties IV

• Republicans since 1900:• Less govt. intervention in economy• Sceptical of new social programs• Patriotic language• Responsibility of individual• State and local autonomy• Generally supported by business interests• Fundamentalist Christian wing

Political Parties V

• But third party candidates also possible• 1890‘s Populist party (crisis over monetary policy and

capitalism)• 1912 Teddy Roosevelt‘s Bull Moose Party• 1924 Progressive party (17% of vote) issue: corporate

domination• 1992 Ross Perot (19% of vote) cost George Bush re-

election (ran as independent) formed Reform Party 1995 (8% of vote in 1996)

• 2000 Ralph Nader (Green Party) took votes from Al Gore (2.88 million) Independent in 2004

Choosing the Candidates

• In late 19th C. parties chose political candidates at assemblies of party activists

• Some activists used corrupt methods to dominate political apparatus

• Reformers: public elections of candidates to break party bosses‘ grip on power

• 1903 Wisconsin first state requiring parties to choose candidates by public vote

• Now most states do so (primaries); others have caucuses

Caucuses and Primaries

• Caucuses meetings of party activists; Primaries elect delegates for party convention

• Registered voters can take part (some states have party registration, others don‘t)

• Ca. 2,000-3000 delegates to National Convention• Usually several candidates, but also write-ins in

some states• Delegates must support winner of primary (deals

possible if winners have no chance)• Last from February to to June

Party Conventions

• Only full gatherings of national parties• About 3 months before election• Different city each time (2004 New York &

Boston)• Speeches, then voting until overall majority for

one candidate.• Preparation of party platform• Selection of vice-presidential candidate• Proclamation of unity behind candidates

Campaigning I

• Main part: Labor Day (1st Mon. in Sept.) to election (1st Tues after 1st Mon. in Nov.) = ca. 2 months

• Stressful battle; candidates already exhausted

• E.g. 1960 Nixon travelled 65,000 miles, made 212 speeches, visited 50 states and lost

Campaigning II

• 3 organizational elements in campaign:• 1. Campaign committee• 2. Regular party organization headed by

national. committee• 3 Citizens‘ groups• All coordinated by campaign manager

(good coordination esp. betw. 1 and 2 needed)

Campaigning III

• National party organization can provide:• Some funds• Volunteer help• Contacts• Get-the-vote-out drives• Opinion research• Publicity• Can encourage support from special interest

groups

Campaigning IV

• Campaign strategy: Charisma or issues?• Often advised:• Avoid clear distinction between self and

opponent• Avoid taking stands on issues• Make no enemies• Sound like saying something but say

nothing

Campaigning V

• Walking a Tightrope• Since Watergate, press and people prefer stands• Stands get zealous supporters early• But not unpopular stands: 1964 Barry Goldwater

denounced social security; thousands of Republicans voted Johnson

• Yet flexibility needed for greater appeal• Timing: start slow and build up (some advise: spend

¼ money in first half and ¾ second half)• →Heavy reliance on experts, esp. opinion polls

Campaigning VI

• Raising money• After Watergate, Federal Election Campaign Act• Political committee required• Report all contributions over $100 (donor‘s name, address,

place of work)• Federal matching funds possible (max. $40 million spending

limit during primaries) If don‘t want funds, can spend more.• Must raise min. $100,000 and at least $5,000 in each of 20

states• Limits on contributions (max $250 matching funds per

individual contribution )

Campaigning VII

• Other strategy considerations:

• Where to campaign hardest

• How to deal with the press

• Women/minority votes

• How to get volunteer support

• How to use wives and families

The Electoral College I• Election Day: First Tuesday after first Monday in November• Each party chooses state electors equal to the state‘s total

number of representatives and senators, e.g. CA 54, WY 3• 538 total, 270 needed to win• Voters vote either for President and Vice-President (Bush-

Cheney/Kerry-Edwards) or for slate of electors• Candidate with most votes gets all electors of state (possible

to get majority of popular vote but lose election – Second-Place Winners: 1824: John Quincy Adams; 1876: Rutherford Hays; 1888: Benjamin Harrison; 2000 George Bush)

• Carter had 1.7 million votes more, but less than 15,000 more in two states

The Electoral College II

• Electors cast votes in state capitol on first Monday after second Wednesday in December

• Vote for other candidate possible, but usually pledged to vote for theirs

• Votes certified by states and sent to Congress• President of Senate opens certificates and has

them counted in front of both houses on January 6

• New president inaugurated at noon on January 20

Term of Office

• Elected for 4 years, one further term possible• Originally tradition started by Washington (F. D.

Roosevelt ran 4 times)• 1951: 22nd Amendment set 2-term limit• Criticism: too short• 6-9 months learning job• Maximum 1 ½ years doing job• 2 years campaigning for next election• Single 6-year term suggested

The President and the Media I

• If public behind him, Congress cannot and will not oppose him

• Therefore, greatest power of president: shaping public opinion

• Theodore Roosevelt first president to do so – Presidency as Bully pulpit, forum to use his influence to promote his causes. Went on speaking tour against Congress conservatives

• Woodrow Wilson: started regular press conferences• State of Union address in person to Congress

The President and the Media II

• Radio allowed President to reach public without leaving White House

• Franklin Roosevelt first to address public with fireside chats, total of 27 during his presidency

• John F. Kennedy first „television president“, used TV to give well-timed, well-written, and well-delivered speeches

• J.F.K. first president with live press conferences on TV, total of 64 before his assassination. (Eisenhower had taped and edited his)

The President and the Media III

• Today, inaugural addresses, State of Union addresses, and press conferences all designed to reach out to public and convince them to support president (George Bush and his 9/11 speeches, breaking press conferences on CNN)

• Influence on public facilitates dealings with Congress