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Summary
Summary
As the 2012 presidential campaign begins, Almost President profiles a dozen men who have run for the American presidency and lost--but who, even in defeat, have had a greater impact on American history than many of those who have served as president. Scott Farris tells us the stories of legendary figures from Henry Clay to Stephen Douglas, William Jennings Bryan to Thomas Dewey. He also includes mini-profiles on every major candidate nominated for president who never reached the White House but who helped ensure the success of American democracy. Farris explains how Barry Goldwater achieved the party realignment that had eluded FDR, how George McGovern paved the way for Barack Obama, and how Ross Perot changed the way all presidential candidates campaign. There is Al Smith, the first Catholic nominee for president; and Adlai Stevenson, the candidate of the "eggheads" who remains the beau ideal of a liberal statesman. Others covered by this book include Al Gore, John Kerry, and John McCain. The mini profiles also include evocative portraits of such men as John C. Fremont, the first Republican Party presidential candidate; and General Winfield Scott, whose loss helped guarantee the Union victory in the Civil War.
Author Notes
Scott Farris is an experienced political journalist, speechwriter, adviser, and political candidate. A former bureau chief for United Press International and a political columnist, Farris has interviewed most of the men and women who have sought the presidency over the past thirty years. He managed several political campaigns, and was the Democratic Party's 1998 congressional nominee for Wyoming's at-large district, the seat once held by former Vice President Dick Cheney. Farris worked as a senior policy and communications adviser to a U.S. senator, the governors of Wyoming and California, the mayor of Portland, Oregon, two university presidents, and the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne. He worked closely with three presidential administrations and as a volunteer on multiple presidential campaigns. The first American journalist selected to participate in the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service's prestigious International Leadership Seminar, Farris has a master's degree in history from the University of Wyoming, where his thesis focused on President Kennedy's battle with the radical right. He is currently the Director of Government Relations in the western United States for TransCanada, a Canadian-based energy infrastructure company. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and two children.
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
When former UPI bureau chief and political columnist Farris lost a 1998 race for Wyoming's at-large congressional district, he was prompted to examine the role losers play in democracy. Farris notes that some unsuccessful White House aspirants have had a far greater impact on American history than many who became president: "They created, transformed, and realigned our political parties. They broke barriers and taboos around religion and gender, ushered in new political movements.." Moving chronologically through 184 years, he finds past/present linkages as he profiles Henry Clay, Stephen Douglas, William Jennings Bryan, Al Smith, Thomas E. Dewey, Barry Goldwater, George McGovern, Ross Perot, Al Gore, John Kerry, and John McCain. In an in-depth essay on "egghead" Adlai Stevenson, the candidate's "soaring rhetoric" is contrasted with presidents who believed in "cultivating an everyman image." An appendix provides brief coverage of 22 more, including Hubert H. Humphrey, Walter Mondale, and Bob Dole. Documenting changes in the face of America and the impact of such issues as race, religion, and workplace reform on elections, Farris writes with a lively flair, skillfully illustrating his solid historical research with revelatory anecdotes and facts. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
aide-mmoire for situating the upcoming presidential slugfest.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
Farris (former bureau chief, United Press International) bases this book on the premise that the losers of our country's presidential elections can be as influential-and as interesting to read about-as the winners. From Henry Clay, "the greatest legislator in American history," to Al Gore, who went on to devote his efforts to fighting global warming, to John Kerry to John McCain, Farris effectively demonstrates that many party nominees in presidential races were able to accomplish more in defeat than they ever could have achieved through victory. He profiles 12 losing candidates, e.g., Al Smith, who lost to Herbert Hoover in 1928, who fought bias and bigotry simply in being the first Roman Catholic presidential nominee and helped change the landscape for Catholics in politics. Ross Perot's surprisingly successful campaign challenged the political status quo and set the stage for future "outsider" candidates. Verdict Based on published sources, this book does a great job supporting the thesis that the profiled figures had greater ability to promote their agendas precisely because they did not win the presidency. A terrific resource for general presidential history buffs and high school and undergraduate libraries.-Michele Martin, Sonoma Acad. Lib., Santa Rosa, CA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Table of Contents
Introduction | p. iv |
Chapter 1 The Concession | p. 1 |
Chapter 2 Henry Clayù1824,1832,1844 | p. 20 |
Chapter 3 Stephen Douglasù1860 | p. 46 |
Chapter 4 William Jennings Bryanù1896,1900,1908 | p. 73 |
Chapter 5 Al Smith--1928 | p. 95 |
Chapter 6 Thomas E.Deweyù1944,1948 | p. 122 |
Chapter 7 Adlai Stevensonù1952,1956 | p. 149 |
Chapter 8 Barry Goldwaterù1964 | p. 175 |
Chapter 9 George McGovernù1972 | p. 204 |
Chapter 10 Ross Perotù1992,1996 | p. 232 |
Chapter 11 Al Gore, John Kerry, and John McCainù 2000,2004,2008 | p. 260 |
Appendix | p. 283 |
Acknowledgments | p. 321 |
Bibliography | p. 323 |
Index | p. 334 |
About the Author | p. 340 |