Table of Contents

Timeline (1787-1998)

Cover Story Sidebar | 1787 The Constitution of the United States is ratified, and although political parties are not mentioned, the American party system is born. Throughout the debate about the Constitution-in fact, within President George Washington's own cabinet-two factions appear. The Federalists support a strong national government and the monetary ideas of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. They rally around President Washington and his successor, John Adams, though both men publicly deplore the

Campaign 2000

Cover Story | The price of attending a baseball game has escalated dramatically in recent years. One series of commercials shows the cost of tickets, food, and souvenirs, but notes that the bonding of fathers and sons was "priceless." Political campaigns have also become increasingly expensive, not just in advertising dollars and polling expenses, but in hopes dashed when winning candidates proved personally untrustworthy, as was too often the case during the 1990s. The cost of citizens giving up on

In this issue: "Campaign 2000," July 29, 2000

Features

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Death of the parties?

National |  The presidential primary system-characterized by a fundraising marathon, small-state sprint, and media beauty contest-has virtually displaced the role of the…

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Changing how we choose

National |  Weighing the pros and cons of various proposals to change the way America picks its presidents

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Making a point, or Making policy

National |  Education is not enough: Third-party campaigns serve a useful purpose, but when the time comes to craft public policy, the real work happens inside the…

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Placating the religious right (1796-1800)

Politics |  John Adams defeated Thomas Jefferson in the 1796 presidential campaign, and the rematch four years later was particularly intense. Yale president Timothy…

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Going negative (1824-1828)

Politics |  In 1824 President Monroe announced that he would maintain the tradition set by Washington of two terms and out. The presidential campaign thus opened with…

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Good as gold (1892-1896)

Politics |  Grover Cleveland recaptured the White House in the 1892 election, but his second term was wrecked by economic depression. Perhaps 20 percent of the industrial…

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TR: Bullets and ballots (1912-1916)

Politics |  In 1912 Theodore Roosevelt's successor, William Howard Taft, disappointed him. Roosevelt also disliked Woodrow Wilson, calling him a "Byzantine logothete" (by…

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Quotations

National |  "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys." -Political satirist P.J. O'Rourke Or ... put another way two…

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Who will rule the House?

National |  With reporters emphasizing the presidential horserace, battles within key congressional districts are underreported. First in a series that will continue to…

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More politics, less reporting

National |  Why won't they just admit it? Journalists don't merely "cover" politics, they shape the political agenda

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Blue Nile Blackout II

International |  Even where there is a will, the way to help southern Sudan is long and treacherous

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Learning the hard way

International |  Landmines make war on Sudan's innocent

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The Clinton Factor: Gore's albatross, Bush's advantage

National |  Bill Clinton won't go away, and every time George W. Bush talks about restoring "honor and dignity" to the White House, he reminds voters why. As the fall…

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Confessions of a Convention junkie

National |  Today, mainstream media sources filter out the best part of the messy glory of participatory democracy

Reviews

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Political Bios

Culture |  Recent political biographies of Democrat presidential candidate Al Gore and Republican contender George W. Bush

Voices

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Leaders or followers?

If the courtroom was a microcosm, we need a lot of help

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Consolation prize

A good first start, but more is needed to "save" Social Security

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Wedge issues

An intelligent discussion with Intelligent Design's designer

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Working the system

The praying tailback gains yardage whenever he can

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