Running against the Grain: How Opposition Presidents Win the White House
Some presidents enter office with an uphill climb in front of them: their political party represents a different governing philosophy than the dominant strain of the day. These, David A. Crockett says, are “opposition presidents.” If they are, in a sense, out of step with their times, how do they ever get elected in the first place?

In Running against the Grain: How Opposition Presidents Win the White House, Crockett employs historical comparisons to draw conclusions about what it takes for these candidates to win the office. He focuses on seven presidents in twelve elections: William Henry Harrison (1840) and Zachary Taylor (1848), Grover Cleveland (1884 and 1892) and Woodrow Wilson (1912 and 1916), Dwight Eisenhower (1952 and 1956) and Richard Nixon (1968 and 1972), and Bill Clinton (1992 and 1996). Crockett draws on the work of Stephen Skowronek and others in the

tradition of American political development to establish the periodization for his study.

Through a comparative analysis of victorious opposition candidates, Crockett finds explanations that transcend specific campaigns or even specific eras. He contends that, because the way one acquires the office may have an effect on the practice of leadership in the office, “running against the grain” has implications far beyond Election Day.
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Running against the Grain: How Opposition Presidents Win the White House
Some presidents enter office with an uphill climb in front of them: their political party represents a different governing philosophy than the dominant strain of the day. These, David A. Crockett says, are “opposition presidents.” If they are, in a sense, out of step with their times, how do they ever get elected in the first place?

In Running against the Grain: How Opposition Presidents Win the White House, Crockett employs historical comparisons to draw conclusions about what it takes for these candidates to win the office. He focuses on seven presidents in twelve elections: William Henry Harrison (1840) and Zachary Taylor (1848), Grover Cleveland (1884 and 1892) and Woodrow Wilson (1912 and 1916), Dwight Eisenhower (1952 and 1956) and Richard Nixon (1968 and 1972), and Bill Clinton (1992 and 1996). Crockett draws on the work of Stephen Skowronek and others in the

tradition of American political development to establish the periodization for his study.

Through a comparative analysis of victorious opposition candidates, Crockett finds explanations that transcend specific campaigns or even specific eras. He contends that, because the way one acquires the office may have an effect on the practice of leadership in the office, “running against the grain” has implications far beyond Election Day.
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Running against the Grain: How Opposition Presidents Win the White House

Running against the Grain: How Opposition Presidents Win the White House

by David A. Crockett
Running against the Grain: How Opposition Presidents Win the White House

Running against the Grain: How Opposition Presidents Win the White House

by David A. Crockett

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Overview

Some presidents enter office with an uphill climb in front of them: their political party represents a different governing philosophy than the dominant strain of the day. These, David A. Crockett says, are “opposition presidents.” If they are, in a sense, out of step with their times, how do they ever get elected in the first place?

In Running against the Grain: How Opposition Presidents Win the White House, Crockett employs historical comparisons to draw conclusions about what it takes for these candidates to win the office. He focuses on seven presidents in twelve elections: William Henry Harrison (1840) and Zachary Taylor (1848), Grover Cleveland (1884 and 1892) and Woodrow Wilson (1912 and 1916), Dwight Eisenhower (1952 and 1956) and Richard Nixon (1968 and 1972), and Bill Clinton (1992 and 1996). Crockett draws on the work of Stephen Skowronek and others in the

tradition of American political development to establish the periodization for his study.

Through a comparative analysis of victorious opposition candidates, Crockett finds explanations that transcend specific campaigns or even specific eras. He contends that, because the way one acquires the office may have an effect on the practice of leadership in the office, “running against the grain” has implications far beyond Election Day.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781603441315
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Publication date: 03/01/2009
Series: Joseph V. Hughes Jr. and Holly O. Hughes Series on the Presidency and Leadership
Pages: 342
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

DAVID A. CROCKETT, an associate professor of political science at Trinity University in San Antonio, is the author of The Opposition Presidency: Leadership and the Constraints of History, also published by Texas A&M University Press.

Table of Contents


List of Tables     VIII
Preface     IX
Campaigns and Elections in Historical Context     1
The Governing Party in Trouble     22
The Blank Slate Candidate     54
The Indirect Campaign     87
From Campaigning to Governing: The Electoral Connection     130
Afterword on the 2004 Election     159
Notes     167
Bibliography     183
Index     191

What People are Saying About This

Steven Schier

“A fresh and incisive contribution to our understanding of presidential elections and the presidency. Ranging beyond media horserace coverage and quantitative models of voting behavior, Crockett provides several innovative explanations for presidential elections past and present. This work is an outstanding resource for undergraduate instruction and scholarly research.”--Steven Schier, Congdon Professor of Political Science, Carleton College

Steven Schier, Congdon Professor of Political Science, Carleton College

Charles E. Walcott

A fresh and incisive contribution to our understanding of presidential elections and the presidency. Ranging beyond media horse race coverage and quantitative models of voting behavior, Crockett provides several innovative explanations for presidential elections past and present.—Steven Schier, Congdon Professor of Political Science, Carleton College Well written and carefully argued, Crockett's book continues the exploration of ‘opposition presidencies' begun in his excellent book The Opposition Presidency —Charles E. Walcott, professor of political science, Virginia Tech

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