Political Science 3300     
The American Presidency       October 6, 2008

The Media

“Going Public”: The Social Security Campaign

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The President, Political Parties and Interest Groups

1. Political Realignments

    3 examples: 1860, 1932, 1980

2.  Presidents and their Policies Make Politics

    Collaborative breakthrough: Interest groups help presidents govern

    The New Deal Democrats & Labor

    The Reagan Republicans and conservative Christians

 3. Why is political polarization so intense?

a. cultural and political divisons since the 1960s.

    b. Some of these cultural divisions became partisan divisions

    c. The partisan balance has been growing closer

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Personality, Character, and Skill

1. A human being in an extraordinary job

2. Different Backgrounds

3. Different Personalities

    "Active" versus "Passive" personalities

    "Negative" versus "Positive personalities

    Some other personality characteristics

    Assessing recent presidents

4. Differences in Character

    What is character?

    How do you know good character when you see it?

4. Different Skills

    Managerial Skills

    Political Skills

5. Different States of health