Politics with Paul
Politics with Paul
Approachable, nonpartisan, and nonideological analysis of various political topics by nonpartisan political analyst, writer, researcher, and speaker Paul Rader.
Paul Rader
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Politics with Paul #25: Consequential Presidential Elections in US History

E26 • Feb 4, 2025 • 50 mins

Every presidential election is important, but some have more long-lasting impacts than others. These include changes to the political landscape, fundamentally reshaping the executive branch and the presidency's power, establishing precedents, and establishing long-lasting programs. Today's episode covers some of the most consequential presidential elections in this regard, focusing on both the elections themselves and the results thereafter. (In some cases, the loser of the election had a monumental impact, too.) Then, at the end, we examine how Donald Trump's elections could potentially compare to those impactful elections of years past.

Key Points

  • The most consequential presidential elections in US history have enormous impacts including long-term programs and policies, major influences on economic and political philosophy of the parties, and reshaping government institutions.
  • Such impactful presidential elections are scattered all throughout US history, with 19th century (such as Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876) and 20th century (such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan) examples.
  • The impact isn't all just from the winners of the elections: Losing candidates such as Democrat William Jennings Bryan in 1896 and Republican Barry Goldwater in 1964 had major influences on the political landscape despite coming up short of the presidency.
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Speakers

Paul Rader

Host • 100%

Chapters

0:00
Introduction to Consequential Elections
2:57
The "Revolution of 1800": Thomas Jefferson (1800)
9:07
Expanding the Power of the Presidency: Andrew Jackson (1828)
16:10
Manifest Destiny: James Polk (1844)
20:33
The Great Emancipator: Abraham Lincoln (1860)
23:58
The Compromise of 1877: Rutherford B. Hayes (1876)
27:36
Turning of the Century: William McKinley (1896)
31:05
The New Deal: Franklin D. Roosevelt (1932)
36:29
The "Great Sorting Out": Lyndon B. Johnson (1964)
41:34
Modern Conservatism: Ronald Reagan (1980)
44:47
Are Donald Trump's Elections Among the Most Consequential in US History?
48:53
Closing

Transcript

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