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PSC 311: Book Outline:
Michael Nelson (ed) (1993) The Elections of 1992
This set of workbook outlines may be useful for organizing your notes.
See especially the Tables in chapter 6: on the Presidency cycle theory.
Created by Jeremy Lewis 31 Oct '00.

  • 1: The setting
  • 2: Nominations
  • 3: Election
  • 4: Media
    		•
  • 5: Issues
  • 6: Presidency

    •         (cycle theory, skills tables)
  • 7: Congress
  • 8: Conclusions: Valence Issues
    		•
  • 311 Syllabus
    		•
    Chap. 1: The Setting: 
    Valence Politics in Modern Elections.

    Donald E. Stokes and John DiIulio, Jr.

    The Extent of Volatility.

    The Lens of History.

    Position Politics and Valence Politics.

    Valence Politics and the Amplitude of Swing.

    The Sources of Valence Politics.

    Valence Voters are not Fools.

    Conclusion: Valence Politics and Presidential Trustees.
    Chap. 2: The Nominations: 
    Process and Patterns.

    Ryan Barilleaux and Randall E. Adkins.

    The Nominating Environment.

    Balance of power has shifted from bosses to activists in primaries. Contrast with 1960s.

    4 characteristics: delegate selection, media's role, funds, entrepreneurial candidate.

    Dems: Proportional Rep'n. Quotas.

    Repubs: winner take all.

    Front Loading: Super & Junior Tuesdays.

    Money primary, then IA and NH.

    "Big MO" gives free media.

    The Rhythm of the Race.

    Exhibition season for "outs".

    Winnowing: IA & NH.

    Breakaway Stage: the Tuesdays.

    Convention Stage: VP, Platform.

    Wild card challengers.

    The Process at Work in 1992.

    Conclusion.
    Chap. 3: The Election: 
    A "New Democrat" and a New Kind of Presidential Campaign.

    Paul J. Quirk and Jon K. Dalager.

    The Candidates, Organizations and Strategy.

    The Dynamics of the Campaign.

    The Result.

    Explaining the Outcome.

    Evaluating the Campaign.
     
     Chap. 4: The Media Reformation: 
    Giving the Agenda Back to the People.

    Philip Meyer.

    The Old Media Fight Back.

    Broadcasting: The Rise of the Talk Shows.

    Political Advertising in Eclipse.

    Polls: Beyond the Referendum Model.

    Was it an Aberration?
     
    Chap. 5: Issues and Themes: 
    Spiral of Delegitimation or New Social Covenant?

    Jean Bethke Elshtain.

    The Economy: What do People Want?

    The Issue that was not: America and the World.

    The Year of the Woman, the Talk Show, and a New Social Covenant.

     
    Chap. 6: The Presidency: 
    Clinton and the Cycle of Politics and Policy.

    Michael Nelson.

    The Cycle of Politics and Policy.

    Dynamics of the Cycle.

    Three Turns of the Cycle: 1901-77.

    The Fourth Turn of the Cycle: 
    Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush.

    President (of Preparation) Bill Clinton.

    Conclusion.
     
    Preparation Achievement Consolidation
    TR WW Harding

    Coolidge

    Hoover
    FDR DDE
    JFK LBJ Nixon

    Ford
    JEC RWR Bush
    Clinton?
    Skill Preparation Achievement Consolidation
    Strategic sense X X X
    Present self X X
    Tactical skills X
    Management:
    Lieutenants X X
    Bureaus X

    (p.131)
     
    Chap. 7: Congress: 
    Unusual Year, Unusual Election.

    Gary C. Jacobson.

    Unusual Year.

    Unusual Election.

    Toward 1994.

     
    Chap. 8: Conclusion: 
    Some Things Old, Some Things New.

    Michael Nelson.

    Some Things New.

    Some Things Old.

    Conclusion.