Barber posits a recurring series of themes in elections
1) conflict
2) conscience
3) conciliation
Conflict: people ready for action and struggle
Conscience: people question the "morality" of action
Conciliation: people demand a respite
| CONFLICT | CONSCIENCE | CONCILIATION |
| 1948
Truman/ Dewey |
1952
Eisenhower/ Stevenson |
1956
Eisenhower/ Stevenson |
| 1960
Kennedy/ Nixon |
1964
Johnson/ Goldwater
"A choice, not an echo" |
1968
Nixon/ Humphrey
"Bring us together" |
| 1972
Nixon/ McGovern
Vietnam |
1976
Ford/ Carter |
1980
Reagan/ Carter |
| 1984
Reagan/ Mondale |
1988
Bush/ Dukakis |
1992
Clinton/ Bush/ Perot |
| 1996
Clinton/ Dole/ Perot |
2000
Bush/ Gore/ Nader |