The Politics of Presidential Selection

The Politics of Presidential Selection examines the complex process of how the United States chooses its presidents, from the early nomination stages through the general election. The book analyzes both formal institutional mechanisms and informal political dynamics that shape presidential selection. The authors break down key aspects of the process including primary elections, party conventions, campaign financing, and electoral strategies. Their analysis spans multiple decades of presidential contests, tracking the evolution of selection methods and campaign practices. The work incorporates empirical data and case studies from presidential races to illustrate core concepts and patterns. Polsby and Wildavsky pay particular attention to the role of political parties, interest groups, and the media in influencing candidate selection. This comprehensive examination reveals the tensions between democratic ideals and practical political realities in America's presidential selection system. The book serves as both a scholarly analysis and a window into the fundamental nature of American democracy.

This book has limited online reader reviews available, making it difficult to gauge broad reader sentiment. The few academic reviews indicate readers found value in its analysis of how presidential candidates get selected and navigate the nomination process. Readers liked: - Clear explanations of complex nomination procedures - Historical examples and case studies - Focus on behind-the-scenes campaign mechanics Readers disliked: - Some dated information (earlier editions) - Dense academic writing style - Limited coverage of more recent elections Available Ratings: Goodreads: 3.67/5 (3 ratings, 0 written reviews) Amazon: No ratings or reviews available Note: This book appears to be primarily used in academic settings rather than for general readers, which may explain the limited number of public reviews online. Most discussion appears in scholarly journals rather than consumer review sites.

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The Party Decides: Presidential Nominations Before and After Reform by Marty Cohen, David Karol, Hans Noel, and John Zaller The work examines how party insiders and political networks influence presidential nominations despite institutional reforms designed to democratize the process.

🔷 Nelson Polsby and Aaron Wildavsky were both influential scholars at UC Berkeley, where they helped establish one of the nation's premier political science departments in the 1960s and 1970s. 🔷 The book examines how presidential candidates are selected through both formal mechanisms (like primaries) and informal ones (like media influence and party networks), making it one of the first comprehensive analyses of the modern nomination process. 🔷 Aaron Wildavsky developed the groundbreaking "Two Presidencies" thesis, arguing that presidents are more successful in foreign policy than domestic policy - a concept that influenced how scholars analyze presidential power. 🔷 The original edition was published in 1971, and subsequent editions tracked major changes in the nomination process, including the shift from party-boss control to a more democratic primary system. 🔷 Both authors were known for challenging conventional wisdom - Polsby famously argued against the popular notion that Congress was in decline, while Wildavsky questioned the effectiveness of policy planning and analysis.