Presidential Campaigns

Gr 9 Up—Using critical commentary and primary-source documents, this evenhanded work sheds light on "crisis points" in presidential campaigns from 1952 to 2012. The authors chose documents that they feel represent "critical events" in election campaigns, with the majority being speeches and addresses; also provided are political ads, press conference excerpts, debate transcripts, memos, reports, and a photograph. From Richard Nixon's "Checkers" speech to the Lyndon B. Johnson campaign "Daisy Girl" ad to Eagleton's press conference regarding his treatment for depression, the documents impart a flavor of the corresponding time. Each entry begins with a brief introduction, which is followed by two columns that present source text on one side of the page and comments and analysis on the other. Shaded boxes, boldface, and colored type clearly indicate the specific areas expanded upon. The inclusion of a portion of the Starr Report requires the authors to touch on specifics of the affair between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. While students might not gravitate to this volume on their own, it provides examples of close and critical reading, and using text to support analysis within an historical framework, both expectations of the Common Core State Standards. Consider for specialized government classes, courses needing primary-source analysis, or those teaching speech and debate.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX