1968: The Election That Changed America (The American Ways)

Rating:
Summary: An Election That Changed America
Review: The election of 1968 is one of the most significant in American history. While the 2000 and 2004 are the most controversial elections in our immediate hindsight, they pale in comparison to 1968.

Lewis Gould's argument suggests that race was the primary factor in the 1968 election. The assassination of Martin Luther King, the race riots that proceeded the assassination, as well as the civil rights movement were on the minds of voters. With the riots, some felt blacks received equal rights too soon. Others felt the rights they received were the cause of the riots and increases in crime. Yet still other voters questioned if laws that mandated such change as school desegregation was a proper solution. From differing perspectives, race was a prominent issue. Third party candidate George Wallace became the choice of those disenchanted with the civil rights movement.

Vietnam was the other "hot button" issue. With no apparent end to the war in sight, the polls showed disapproval for Lyndon Johnson. He never declared candidacy for reelection, and waited until March 31 to announce he would not run. Some sighted poor health among the reasons for this choice. Johnson's lack of action, in addition to his unwillingness to endorse Hubert Humphrey, crippled the chances of the democratic party. While the democratics were in disarray, the republicans were united behind Richard Nixon. With more funds and a united party, Nixon never had to reveal a platform for most issues. Nixon's campaign was only threatened by a potential cease-fire in Vietnam brokered by Johnson which Gould alleges Nixon lobbied to prevent the South Vietnamese from accepting.

Gould also addresses the candidacy of Robert Kennedy. Unfortunately, he will never know what would have happened had he not been assassinated. The author contends that Kennedy faced nearly insurmountable odds to gain the nomination of his party, much less defeat Nixon. Based on the confused state of the democratic party in 1968, I believe Kennedy's chances are much less clear.

The legacy of the 1968 election is more clear. It marked a clear shift from democrat dominance to a republican dominated government which is still evideant today. The strength of this book is its ability to draw out how the parties went different ways in 1968, and with few aberrations continue this trend today. It will only be when the democratic party realizes the change in voter tendencies that the legacy of 1968 will fade.

Rating:
Summary: solid introduction to a pivotal election
Review: This is an interesting, highly readable account of the 1968 election. Actually, it's a political history of the entire year, taking us through the primaries and conventions and campaigns and highlighting the important events and issues that shaped that year's (and beyond) politics. Gould argues, with moderate success, that the election was shaped the most by racial issues, not Vietnam. I think that case can be made, especially when the candidates were talking about "law-and-order" issues (i.e. race riots, urban crime); the presence and performance of George Wallace only underscores the role race played, and after all, this was the pivotal election in turning the South Republican. Gould, though, slightly overstates the case. The enduring significance of the election might well be race (and I think so), but at the time, Vietnam was key--for example, in LBJ's decision not to run (to which Gould gives in depth attention but which he seems to attribute largely to Johnson's health concerns). He also makes a provocative and appealing case that Robert Kennedy's potential for victory, in the nomination and the general, has been overstated by historians and Kennedy supporters ever since his tragic death after the California primary.

The book is brief and not deep; it is American Political History 100, maybe 200--not 400. One gets an overview of the year but not an in depth picture or analysis. Somewhat detached (which might be a laudable achievement, considering the high emotions that surround the Sixties), it doesn't quite capture the mood of 1968. It's still a solid starting point and a decent read.

Rating:
Summary: solid introduction to a pivotal election
Review: This is an interesting, highly readable account of the 1968 election. Actually, it's a political history of the entire year, taking us through the primaries and conventions and campaigns and highlighting the important events and issues that shaped that year's (and beyond) politics. Gould argues, with moderate success, that the election was shaped the most by racial issues, not Vietnam. I think that case can be made, especially when the candidates were talking about "law-and-order" issues (i.e. race riots, urban crime); the presence and performance of George Wallace only underscores the role race played, and after all, this was the pivotal election in turning the South Republican. Gould, though, slightly overstates the case. The enduring significance of the election might well be race (and I think so), but at the time, Vietnam was key--for example, in LBJ's decision not to run (to which Gould gives in depth attention but which he seems to attribute largely to Johnson's health concerns). He also makes a provocative and appealing case that Robert Kennedy's potential for victory, in the nomination and the general, has been overstated by historians and Kennedy supporters ever since his tragic death after the California primary.

The book is brief and not deep; it is American Political History 100, maybe 200--not 400. One gets an overview of the year but not an in depth picture or analysis. Somewhat detached (which might be a laudable achievement, considering the high emotions that surround the Sixties), it doesn't quite capture the mood of 1968. It's still a solid starting point and a decent read.