POL 313

Making of the President 1968

Today and Friday we will be watching “The Making of the President, 1968”. This is part of a series of films based upon the books by historian Theodore White that explore the presidential elections during the turbulent decade of the 60s and then the 70s.

While you watch this film, keep in mind the following:

1) the popular connection

Elections are one of the important processes that establish a connection between the president and the people. The history of presidential elections is one of expanding popular participation in elections (ie., increasing the electorate) and allowing more people to select candidates of the respective parties.

Watch how the presidential primaries impact the candidate selection process— in terms of:

a) the number of primaries;

b) their effect on the party “establishment”; and

c) particularly the increasing importance of the media in the process

2) the institutional connection

Think about how these changes affect the relationship between the president and Congress! Does the president owe any allegiance to his congressional party allies? What about the reverse?

3) Personality

What type of personality fits in to this “new era”?

Is Nixon a “good fit---OR---Is he an aberration?