Polish Scholar Opens the 2016-17 History & Politics Event Series at Daemen College on September 13

People's Forum on the American Presidency: Oct 1

By Penny Messinger 

Why do Presidencies matter? How should we commemorate presidents? How do historical interpretations shift as new issues and questions change our understanding of public and personal behavior? 

Image created by Gabrielle Sinnott (Daemen, '19)

From 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, the History & Political Science Department of Daemen College will host an in-depth exploration of these questions, focusing on history and memory, Presidential reputation, and the understanding of past Presidents at "The People's Forum on the American Presidency." As with previous events in our History & Politics events series, the goal of the People's Forum on the American Presidency is to bring together members of campus community and the general public with scholars who have deep knowledge of issues from history and political science. Our "People's Forum on the American Presidency" takes as its model the "People's Forums" held in Buffalo a century ago, which regularly brought together people from all walks of life to discuss matters of public importance and common interest. 


  





This March 1913 story from The Buffalo Courier informed readers about the topics discussed at Buffalo's People's Forum. 

In keeping with the times, discussion centered on political corruption and reform, and such third party movements as the Progressive Party and the Socialist Labor Party.

The “People’s Forum on the American Presidency” is structured as a half-day public forum. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with five nationally prominent scholars to explore the intersection of history and memory, Presidential reputations, and the scholarly and popular understandings of past Presidents. Our experts will provide an overview of the presidency, along with in-depth discussions of four past presidents: Thomas Jefferson, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, and Warren G. Harding.

The afternoon forum includes three sessions, and attendees can choose to attend any or all of these. We start at 1:00 with an overview of the presidency and a round-table discussion that features our five Presidential scholars. From 3:00 until 4:00, participants will choose among breakout sessions, each led by a scholar who will focus upon a particular President; this enables members of the public to able to engage directly in Q&A with that scholar about the president of their choice. In the final session, running from 4:15 to 5:15, participants will reassemble for a final group conversation to share insights and observations derived from the earlier sessions. The day will conclude with a book signing by the authors (titles are available for purchase on-site).


Full Schedule:

1:00--1:15:  Introduction and Welcome (Wick Social Room)

1:15--1:45:  Introductory overview by Political Scientist James Campbell on the focal issue of presidential reputations (Q: Why do presidencies matter?)

1:45--2:45:  Roundtable Panel of historians discussing presidents:
        Peter Onuf on Thomas Jefferson
        Charles Lachman on Grover Cleveland
        Phillip Payne on Warren G. Harding
        John Milton Cooper on Woodrow Wilson

3:00--4:00:  Concurrent breakout sessions. Attend a session with the scholar of your choice:
Members of the audience have the opportunity for direct Q&A/discussion in smaller groups with our presidential scholars. Each scholar will have a separate space for this session. (Breakout sessions may pick up on themes we identify but participants will have a significant role in shaping the direction of these sessions.)

4:15--5:15:  People’s Forum on historical memory and the role of the Presidency (Wick Social Room):
Participants reassemble for an open discussion about topics and issues sparked by the opening sessions (overview of presidency and roundtable discussion of individual presidents), along with questions and insights shared from the individual breakout sessions. 

5:15--5:45: Book sale/signing:  Books by our scholars are available for purchase.

** An exhibit of presidential memorabilia created for The People's Forum on the American Presidency by members of The American Political Items Collectors will be on display throughout the event and during the following week. 


The People's Forum on the American Presidency is supported by an Action Grant from the New York State Council for the Humanities, by the Office of Academic Affairs, the Division of Arts & Sciences, and the History & Political Science Department at Daemen College. We also wish to acknowledge our two community partners: the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site (NPS) and the Association for a Buffalo Presidential Center. Additional thanks to members of The American Political Items Collectors for creating an exhibit of presidential memorabilia.

**For more information about this event, contact
Dr. Penny Messinger: pmessing@daemen.edu or
Dr. Andrew Wise: awise@daemen.edu

Key themes and questions:

The daily news is flooded by the controversies swirling around historical issues, symbols, and individuals (for examples, see the links at the end of this blog post). Our speakers will address a number of questions, many of them inspired by this year's lively campaign season, with discussion focusing around four presidents: Jefferson, Cleveland, Wilson, and Harding:

* Q:  How does our understanding of history shape public debate in this presidential election year?

* Q:  How do citizens acknowledge the important role of men such as Thomas Jefferson who founded this nation, while also wrestling with their less than stellar actions in personal and public life?

Renowned as the author of the Declaration of Independence and as the first Secretary of State (in Washington's administration) before being twice elected to the presidency (1801-09), President Thomas Jefferson's personal behavior has been the topic of historical scrutiny. This is most notable with his relationship with Sally Hemings, his enslaved concubine who gave birth to their four children.

Portrait of Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale, ca. 1805. (Image from U.S. National Archives) 




 
*Q:  How should communities commemorate or remember Presidents with difficult (and negative) reputations? 

President Grover Cleveland (president 1885-89, 1893-97) was a civic leader from Buffalo and a two-term president, but recent scholarship has highlighted charges of sexual assault against Maria Halpin, who gave birth to a son for whom Cleveland acknowledged paternity.

1892 photo of Grover Cleveland from U.S. Library of Congress, digital ID: cph.3a10549

Evaluating the legacy of President Warren G. Harding (1921-23) is even more difficult. Harding regularly comes in dead last in presidential rankings, thanks to the combination of scandals in his administration and his private life.

 
Photograph of Warren G. Harding from Business Insider: "Ancient US Presidential Sex Scandal Revealed," July 8, 2014.



* Q:  How does the Wilsonian legacy continue to shape public debate about domestic and foreign policies in this presidential election year?





President Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) also has a complex presidential legacy; Wilson’s world vision still guides American foreign policy and international relations, yet his administration also oversaw the segregation of Washington, D.C., and the federal government. 
 

This photograph of Woodrow Wilson accompanied the CNN story: "Erasing Woodrow Wilson's name is not that easy,"

             
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Politicians are flawed vehicles for expressing private virtues, a point that is perhaps more evident when viewed more dispassionately through the lens of time than in the heat of the present moment. Both symbolically and practically, the president represents the United States, and history is a profoundly public endeavor, since it belongs to all of us. Historians and political scientists have much to contribute to public discussions about past and present presidents, memory, and commemoration.

While the presidencies to be discussed during The People's Forum on the American Presidency should be understood through the historical lens of their own time, participants will be interested in the ways that the issues of these past presidencies continue to resonate today. We will also consider how past issues continue to spark public debate.

One area of connection between past and present lies in the 2016 presidential campaign, which has unfolded in unexpected ways with outsider candidates such as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and businessman Donald Trump injecting energy into the campaign and drawing the interest of many voters. Ironically, Hillary Clinton's insider status as the candidate of choice for Democratic Party leaders overshadowed her groundbreaking role as the first female nominee of a major party. Divisive issues, personalities, and controversies threaten party unity, reflecting current social tensions in ways that evoke concerns of past  generations. While the 2016 election seems like a new event, it is actually very similar to previous elections where popular discontent has disrupted the plans of party regulars. Our five presidential scholars--four historians and one political scientist--will help participants explore the legacies of Thomas Jefferson, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, and Warren G. Harding, leaders whose presidencies collectively raise issues of institutional politics and matters of individual character during eras characterized by important social, economic, and political changes:

● Thomas Jefferson’s election in the “Revolution of 1800” made him the first president to oversee a transition of power from one political party to another as Jefferson’s Republicans defeated John Adams’s Federalists. This transition followed one of the most bitter campaigns in United States history. Jefferson’s party represented the boisterous frontier states, filled with voters eager to embrace a more democratic form of politics than the Federalists were comfortable with.

The eagle on this 1800 textile holds two banners: "T. JEFFERSON President of the United States of America" and "JOHN ADAMS no more."

● Grover Cleveland was elected in 1884 but lost his reelection bid in 1888 by losing the Electoral
College, even as he won the popular vote. He went on to victory in the election of 1892 only to see the economy collapse in the Panic of 1893 as insurgent populists angry over Cleveland’s conservative economic policies overtook the Democratic Party.




In this 1896 political cartoon from Judge, Cleveland is front and center among several politicians already attracted (and destroyed) by the appeal of "Free Silver," the central economic issue of the Populist movement of the 1890s.

Uncle Sam eyes Progressive, Republican, & Democrat candidates in 1912 (LOC)

● Woodrow Wilson was a latecomer to politics after an academic career. Following his brief stint as governor of New Jersey, he tossed his hat in the ring and won the Democratic Party nomination in the election of 1912. This election was a high water mark for the Progressive Movement, with voters divided between rival plans to address the social and economic disruption of industrialization, urbanization, and globalization. Wilson won despite the Democratic Party’s minority status because the GOP split between the progressive Teddy Roosevelt and the conservative William Howard Taft.

Peace was a major theme in 1916

With the emergency of WWI in Europe in 1914, Wilson urged neutrality and his 1916 re-election campaign used the slogan, "He kept us out of war."  A year later, the US entry into the war launched an "American century" of increased power and influence in world affairs. Although Wilson's vision shaped the post-war world, both Wilson and the peace treaty were deeply unpopular in the US. A post-war recession was accompanied by continuing racial backlash, nativism, and a "red scare" that targeted political radicals.





● By 1920, World War I had left voters disillusioned with Wilson and with progressivism. The Republican Party failed, however, to unite behind a candidate and so nominated Warren G. Harding of Ohio as a compromise nominee at a contested convention. Harding went on to win a landslide victory that began a political realignment resulting in a decade of conservative Republican rule.

GOP party pin, ca 1940 (credit: Andrew Wise)

Themes from the 1920 campaign of Republican candidate Warren G. Harding (at R) and his running-mate Calvin Coolidge (at L) have reappeared in 2016 Presidential campaign of Donald Trump. (Inaugural artifact from the Library of Congress.)

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  Biographical Profiles of Scholars

Dr. James E. Campbell

James E. Campbell is University at Buffalo Distinguished Professor of Political Science, and a leading analyst of American electoral politics and the presidency. Campbell is the author of a number of studies, among which are Before the Vote: Forecasting American National Elections (2000); The American Campaign: U.S. Presidential Campaigns and the National Vote (second edition, 2008); and the widely anticipated Polarized: Making Sense of A Divided America, scheduled for publication in fall 2016.

John Milton Cooper (Princeton Alumni Weekly, 3-17-2010)

John Milton Cooper is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and a leading historian of early twentieth century American politics. He is the author of three widely discussed books on  Woodrow Wilson: The Warrior and the Priest: Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt (1983); Breaking the Heart of the World: Woodrow Wilson and the Fight for the League of Nations (2001); and most recently Woodrow Wilson: A Biography (2009), which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Charles Lachman (photo credit: Lisa Berg)

Charles Lachman is Executive Producer of the television news magazine Inside Edition, which has been on the air for over two decades and is consistently one of the top ten rated programs in national syndication. He still finds time to publish studies of history, and is the author of two works about American presidents: The Last Lincolns: The Rise and Fall of a Great American Family (2008); and A Secret Life: The Lies and Scandals of Grover Cleveland (2011).

Peter S. Onuf

A leading Jefferson scholar of recent decades, Peter S. Onuf is Thomas Jefferson Memorial Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Virginia, and a Senior Fellow at Monticello’s International Center for Jefferson Studies. His many publications on Jefferson include: Jefferson’s Empire: The Language of American Nationhood (2001); The Mind of Thomas Jefferson (2007); and with Annette Gordon Reed, “Most Blessed of Patriarchs”: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination (2016). He cohosts the weekly public radio program and podcast Backstory with the  American History Guys.

Phillip G. Payne

Phillip Payne is Professor of History at St. Bonaventure University and an expert in early twentieth century American History, particularly issues around the presidency, political history, commemoration and public memory, and political economy. His publications include Dead Last: The Public Memory of Warren G. Harding’s Scandalous Legacy (2009) and Crash! How the Boom and Bust of the 1920s Worked ( 2015). He has also published articles and essays on popular culture, digital and public history.


Acknowledgements: 

This unique event was supported by an Action Grant from the New York State Council for the Humanities, and made possible by additional support from Daemen College's Office of Academic Affairs (student-faculty think-tank grants), by Division of Arts & Sciences, and by the History & Political Science Department at Daemen College.
We also wish to express appreciation for help with publicity to our two community partners: the Theodore Roosevelt (TR) Inaugural National Historic Site (National Park Service), and the Association for a  Buffalo Presidential Center. Additional thanks to members of The American Political Items Collectors for creating an exhibit of presidential memorabilia for our event.

Planning Committee:

Dr. David A Gerber, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University at Buffalo (SUNY);
Dr. Penny Messinger , Associate Professor of History and Chair of History & Political Science Department, Daemen College;
Dr. Phillip G. Payne, Professor of History, St. Bonaventure University;
Dr. Andrew Kier Wise, Professor of History, Daemen College.



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In the news: Recent press coverage about the presidents and issues related to our event:

Thomas Jefferson

• Review of "Most Blessed of Patriarchs": Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination by Peter S. Onuf and Annette Gordon-Reed, (2016) "Thomas Jefferson, Neither God Nor Devil," The New York Times

Peter Onuf & Annette Gordon-Reed, (The New York Times, April 5, 2016)

• Scott Jaschik, "Jefferson Is Next Target," Inside Higher Ed. November 23, 2015. This story discusses student-led efforts to remove statues of Thomas Jefferson from the University of Missouri and William & Mary College. The story makes comparisons with similar efforts aimed at removing statues of Woodrow Wilson from Princeton: 

Students comment on Jefferson's legacy (Inside Higher Ed)

"...Once again, students are raising the question of whether men seen as heroes in American history were decidedly unheroic when it came to issues of race -- and black students are demanding that colleges consider the impact of various honors for people whom they do not consider heroes. While Princeton has said it is considering the issue of the Wilson name, which could well remain, the student protest movement has led to widespread discussion of Wilson's record on race, which even fans of his idealistic internationalist vision admit was horrible. Publications such as Vox and Salon are running articles detailing just how bad Wilson was with regard to issues of race -- and giving prominence to a part of the historical record many have never considered...."

Woodrow Wilson

• Lillian Cunningham, "Racism, Feminism, and the Complicated Legacy of Woodrow Wilson," The Washington Post, July 11, 2016. Historian John Milton Cooper is featured in this issue of the Washington Post's "Presidential Podcast" series. From the lede: 

"For a long time, the main legacy of President Woodrow Wilson’s hinged on his progressive domestic policies and his leadership during World War I that reshaped American diplomacy. But more recently, another part of his personal and presidential story—racism—is starting to overshadow those other elements."

• Jennifer Schuessler, "Woodrow Wilson's Legacy Gets Complicated," The New York Times, Nov. 29, 2015.

Challenging Wilson's legacy at Princeton (NYT 11-29-15)

"Was Woodrow Wilson a key founder of modern liberalism, a visionary whose belief in an activist presidency laid the groundwork for the New Deal and the civil rights legislation of the 1960s?

"Or was he a virulent and unrepentant racist, a man who not only segregated the federal work force but nationalized the Southern view of politics, turning the federal government itself into an instrument of white supremacy for decades to come?"

• Editorial: "The Case Against Woodrow Wilson at Princeton," The New York Times, Nov. 24, 2015.  The Times Editorial Board endorses efforts by students at Princeton College to highlight Wilson's racist actions as President of the College and as President of the United States. 

 Warren G. Harding

President Harding (The Atlantic)

• Russell Berman, "Warren G. Harding's Terrible Tenure," The Atlantic, August 14, 2015. This story discusses the reassessment of Harding's presidency following upon the results of DNA testing that validated claims of the extra-marital affair between Harding and Nan Britton. In addition to the personal scandals, the story highlights other shortcomings of Harding's presidency.    

•  Ben Brumfield and Aparnaa Seshadri, "DNA test reveals President Warren Harding's affair and love child," CNN, August 14, 2015. Story reporting on DNA testing that validated Nan Britton's claim (made public in her 1928 book, The President's Daughter, to have had a relationship and a daughter with Harding. 

• Peter Baker, "DNA Is Said to Solve a Mystery of Warren Harding's Love Life," The New York Times, August 12, 2015. Reports on DNA tests confirming that Nan Britton's daughter Elizabeth Ann was also Warren G. Harding's daughter. The tests also disproved claims that Warren G. Harding had black ancestry. 

Nan Britton & daughter Elizabeth (with Harding). (NYT)

"Long before Lucy Mercer, Kay Summersby or Monica Lewinsky, there was Nan Britton, who scandalized a nation with stories of carnal adventures in a White House coat closet and endured a ferocious backlash for publicly claiming that she bore the love child of President Warren G. Harding.

"Now nearly a century later, according to genealogists, new genetic tests confirm for the first time that Ms. Britton’s daughter, Elizabeth Ann Blaesing, was indeed Harding’s biological child. The tests have solved one of the enduring mysteries of presidential history and offer new insights into the secret life of America’s 29th president. At the least, they demonstrate how the march of technology is increasingly rewriting the nation’s history books..."

  Grover Cleveland

• Angela Serratore, "President Cleveland's Problem Child." The Smithsonian, September 26, 2013. This article recounts details of Cleveland's actions in relation to Maria Halpin, who said that a sexual assault by Grover Cleveland had resulted in her pregnancy and the birth of a son (named Oscar Folsom Cleveland). Cleveland admitted paternity for the child, but later took action to consign Halpin to a Buffalo insane asylum. He was also involved in legal maneuvers that resulted in the loss of her parental rights and her surrendering of the child for adoption.

"Not even a specific allegation of philandering, illicit pregnancy and coverup barred Grover Cleveland from the White House."

Frank Beard's 1884 political cartoon about Cleveland

"...The story filled major newspapers during the summer and autumn of 1884—had Cleveland really taken part in the “seduction and ruination” of such a goodly woman? Was he indeed too much of a libertine to lead the nation? Or was his campaign telling the truth—that Maria Halpin was a harlot looking to cash in on a distant dalliance with the upstanding lawyer running for office on a clean-government ticket?"

Removing Statues

 

Removing statues--and redefining the standards for reputation, memory, and historical significance of "greatness"--occurs around the world:

• Finlo Rohrer, "When is it right to remove a statue?" BBC News Magazine, December 23, 2015. Popular pressure has led to the removal of statues in many countries. This story highlights efforts aimed Confederate president Jefferson Davis and South Africa's Cecil Rhodes, among others:  

"The problem with statues is that stone or bronze is meant to last forever, but reputations crumble much more easily." Historian Madge Dresser commented: "I think it is a process, rather than the actual removal, starting a debate about collective values. Statues are lightning rods, symbols of the prevailing values of the society. When those values are not shared a debate needs to be started."

 

"He Denied Blacks Citizenship. Now a City is Deciding His Statue's Fate," The New York Times, September 4, 2016. Frederick, Maryland, is debating the future of a statue of Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney, author of the infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision that denied the citizenship of black Americans:

 

"Here in Frederick, the effort to purge Taney from city property has been led since 1998 by Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak, who says anything that so deeply offends a portion of the citizenry “needs to go.” She almost succeeded in 2009, but the city instead paired the bust with a plaque about Dred Scott and his wife, Harriet."

 

"Willie Mahone [r], a lawyer in Frederick, asked, “Why would we opt to display a symbol of racial hatred on the lawn of City Hall?”Credit Lexey Swall for The New York Times

 

 

Therese Huston to speak on "How Women Decide" -- August 25

Join author Therese Huston for a talk on her recent book, How Women Decide: What's True, What's Not, and What Strategies Spark the Best Decisions, at Daemen College's Rosary Hall on August 25.

Co-sponsored by the Daemen College Women's Studies Program. This is a free event but let us know you're coming with an RSVP to: bit.ly/WomenDecide

Political Science Makes Sense of the Media’s Role in the 2016 Presidential Nomination Contests

As happens every four years, the American public is subjected to a presidential election.  However, before the November election, we are subjected to at least a year and a half of campaigning (first for the nomination and then the presidency).  With the campaign comes nonstop media coverage of the candidates: their views on the issues, where they are visiting, what scandalous things they have said or done in their past, and most importantly polls and projections of who is going to come away the victor.  The nomination process can be described as a game of attrition, in which we watch the candidates battle it out until only one remains standing.  With the nomination contests coming to an end June 14, we now know that this general election season pits Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, against Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee. 

Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

Donald Trump (R-NY)

The media coverage of this election cycle has received a fair amount of scrutiny from political scientists, media pundits, and the candidates alike.  This should be expected as it happens every four years.  However, this year many scathing articles have discussed at length the failings of the media and the shallow reporting done on the main news channels and in the major newspapers.  The New York Times ran an article entitled “The Republican Horse Race Is Over, and Journalism Lost.”  Huffington Post wrote about “Why the Media Got it Wrong about Trump and Sanders Phenomena” and Politico said “The Media’s Trump Reckoning: ‘Everyone was Wrong’.”  Finally, even Vanity Fair stated “The Media is Very Sorry for Getting Trump Wrong.”  So, did the media “get it wrong?”  Is the media the reason Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are the nominees?  What were the media outlets actually reporting on?  Looking at the data provided for us in Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government’s Shorenstein Center on Media sheds some light on these questions. 

Much of the coverage focused on the horserace and not issues.  This too should have been expected.  Usually we see about 75% of news reports focusing on who is ahead in the polls and who is on the verge of dropping out while 25% of reports focus on the actual substance of what the candidates stand for.  This year, this trend seems to play out once again.  According to the Shorenstein Center’s report, throughout the invisible primary (the year leading up to the primaries) Hillary Clinton received the most issue coverage with 28%.  In contrast, her Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders received 7% coverage on his issues.  On the Republican side, 13% of the news coverage of Trump was focused on issues, while Ted Cruz (Trump’s biggest Republican competitor) received only 9% coverage of his issue positions.

In addition to the difference between horserace and issue coverage is the difference between positive and negative coverage of the candidates.  According to the same report, 84% of the issue-related coverage of Clinton was negative in tone, while only 17% of Sanders’s coverage was negative.  On the Republican side, we see that 43% of Trump’s issue coverage was negative, compared with 32% negative for Cruz. 

This Chart shows the Percentage of Total Media Coverage Each Candidate Received

An arguably even bigger story from this the “free” advertising candidates receive through media coverage, especially when it is positive.  As the chart above demonstrates, Trump received the most media coverage of any Republican candidate in the 2016 field.  Specifically, Trump receive 34% of the total media coverage of the Republican contests.  Jeb Bush, who received the second most, only received 18% of the media coverage.  Trump received more than two times as much media coverage as Ted Cruz (Trump’s closest competitor), who received only 13% of total media coverage.  What this meant for Trump is that he received roughly $55 million in “free” advertising from this media coverage, compared with the $32.5 million in free advertising Cruz received. 

So, why did Trump receive so much free advertising?  And why was it so favorable compared with his competitors?  The short answer is because he was leading in the polls and thus winning the nomination contest.  As the Shorenstein Center’s report reminds us, covering the horserace means that journalists often phrase their articles in one of four ways: a candidate is "leading," "trailing," "gaining ground," or "losing ground."  Trump started small but quickly rose in the polls.  So, many articles were framed in a way to demonstrate that Trump was indeed "gaining ground" on his competitors and then that he was "leading" the pack of Republican contenders.  What this tells us is that Trump received a lot of positive media coverage.  He was rarely seen as "trailing" or "losing ground."  While many people may remember the more controversial statements uttered by Trump on the campaign trail (think "Build a wall," deport Muslims, women are pigs), these statements did not make up the majority of Trump's coverage.  The chart below depicts the news coverage Trump received.

This chart shows what the media focused on while covering Trump on the campaign trail

So, Trump received a fair amount of positive media coverage because 55% of media coverage focused on his activities, events, polls, and projections.  All of these would give Trump positive coverage because he was ahead in the polls and looked poised to win the nomination. 

Now, what explains the negative coverage of Hillary Clinton?  After all, Clinton was seen as the Democratic frontrunner from the very beginning of the nomination season.  Bernie Sanders was seen as a long-shot candidate compared to Clinton’s establishment background.  So, by coming in a very close second place in Iowa (49.9% to 49.6%) and soundly defeating Clinton in New Hampshire (60% to 38%) Sanders was suddenly seen as a viable contender and a number of news reports covered Sanders as “gaining ground” on Clinton, while Clinton was “losing ground” to Sanders.  So, while Clinton never fully lost the mantle of frontrunner, she did struggle to maintain the air of inevitability that her candidacy had throughout the invisible primary period.  Because expectations for Clinton were incredibly high, when she lost a contest it reverberated through the media as a major blow to her campaign.  In contrast, when Sanders won, the media often focused on growing enthusiasm for his message or increasing angst towards, and distrust of, the establishment.   

So now that the presidential selection process has come to an end and each party has selected a nominee, the focus has already shifted to the general election.  More specifically, the media is currently speculating who each candidate will choose as their running mate (Elizabeth Warren?  Chris Christie?).  Will we see the same patterns we saw in the nomination coverage play out in the general election?  Partially.  The horserace coverage is already starting.  As I write this blog post, depending on which source you look at, Hillary Clinton is leading Trump by 5 points, 10 points, or 12 points.  The horserace coverage will continue until November and will likely increase as we get even closer.  However, what will likely change is which candidate receives positive coverage and which candidate receives negative coverage.  Whichever candidate is leading in the polls will likely get the more positive coverage.  Provided Clinton maintains her lead in the polls, we could be in for a very different type of media environment from now until November. 

To keep up with the election, what the media is reporting, or if you have general questions about the election, the History and Political Science department welcome you to stop by!  We also encourage you to check out our courses in the Fall that are election-focused: Seminar on the Presidency, Political Parties and Interest Groups, and Media and Politics!  All of them should produce lively discussions all semester long!  

Grossman: "History Isn't a 'Useless' Major: It Teaches Critical Thinking, Something American Needs Plenty More Of"

Today's issue of The Los Angeles Times includes an Op-Ed by Dr. James Grossman, Executive Director of the American Historical Association: "History Isn't a 'Useless' Major: It Teaches Critical Thinking, Something America Needs Plenty More Of."

As Grossman explains, the number of students majoring in history has declined dramatically at colleges and universities across the country. In part, this decline is a response to the financial melt-down that started in 2008, which has led students and their parents to focus on what they see as more "practical" degrees that seem to lead directly to a career. Although political leaders from President Barack Obama to Senator Marco Rubio have encouraged this turn, Grossman points both to the skills and earning potential that come from degrees in liberal arts and humanities fields, like History. At the "mid-career" point (approximately 15 years after college graduation), people with an undergraduate degree in History earn the same average salary ($71,000/year) as those who majored in Business Administration; the History major brings a higher salary than many other majors that emphasize their "practical" earning potential. (Read more at "Majors That Pay You Back" from payscale.com) Note that these figures are for bachelor's-degree-holders, and do not factor in the additional earnings accompanying a graduate degree or law degree.

As Grossman writes:

"...Employers interested in recruiting future managers should understand (and many do) that historical thinking prepares one for leadership because history is about change — envisioning it, planning for it, making it last. In an election season we are reminded regularly that success often goes to whoever can articulate the most compelling narrative. History majors learn to do that.

"Everything has a history. To think historically is to recognize that all problems, all situations, all institutions exist in contexts that must be understood before informed decisions can be made. No entity — corporate, government, nonprofit — can afford not to have a historian at the table. We need more history majors, not fewer."

Read the full essay here.

Guest Blog: Kelya Marte (2016, Political Science)

Keyla Marte receiving the Chair Person’s Award at the 2016 Award Ceremony 

Up until this point…

When I first applied to the 2016 New York State Assembly Internship, I was unsure if I would really receive the chance to participate in such a prestigious program. Previously, I struggled throughout my academic career and I was not always the top scorer in my class. With this being said, I was hesitant to apply and worried that I would not be able to get into such a competitive internship.

But regardless of my doubts, I decided to take a risk and apply. Within two short weeks of sending my application, I received my acceptance letter in the mail and was ecstatic that I had been selected to participate. This news came as a shock to not only to me, but also to the campus community as I would be the first Daemen student ever to attend this program. With less than two months left of the fall semester, I had to make a decision on whether or not I would move to Albany to embark on an opportunity that was truly once in a lifetime.

I arrived in Albany, January 3^rd 2016, and prepared for my first day of orientation. The infrastructure of the tan castle-like building known as the Empire State Plaza was breathtaking. The splendid elevated staircase and the historic Philip Henry Sheridan statue that stands in front of the staircase made me feel as if I was a part of our great national history in real time.

I quickly learned about the brief history of the Empire State Plaza, which was built under Governor Rockefeller, and many of the buildings that were designed by founding architects. The historic aspect of our nation’s capital architecture speaks volume on the importance of this institution. As I entered the Legislative Office Building, I noticed the marble halls and it suddenly hit me that this would be my home for the next four months. 

The New York State Legislature and the Empire State Plaza

From the moment I stepped in the Legislative Office Building in the Capitol of New York, I did not know exactly the journey that lay before me but I was determined and willing to learn all that I can.

Attending and completing the New York State Assembly internship is one of my greatest achievements. This institution has allowed me to challenge myself and really understand the importance of applying skills outside of the classroom and implementing them in the real world. I was granted the opportunity to develop personal and professional skills. The internship at the Assembly has been an enriching and surreal experience. During my time at the Assembly, I was able to review and conduct research on topics in regards to laws of New York State. These topics include areas such as childcare, education, women’s rights, prison systems and much more.    

Kelya and Assemblymember Jaffee (D-97th District)

It has been such a profound honor to serve Assemblymember Ellen C. Jaffee, who represents District 97, Rockland County, located 30 miles from New York City. Her tenacity and commitment to the work of her community has been enlightening. Mrs. Jaffee is a pioneer in the legislature who is committed to ensuring everyone has fair access to their rights. She is a wonderful role model and mentor and I am so grateful I was able to experience the program under her leadership.  

A Day in the Legislature

My first few days in the office were right at the beginning of  what is known as “budget season” This is the time period in which the Assembly, the Senate and the Governor have to all come together to decide where funds will be allocated to each year. During this time, advocates representing various government-funded issues come to Albany requesting an increase in aid for various programs. I was able to meet with constituents from District 97 as well as many other districts to discuss legislation and hear them voice their concerns about what was important for their community. The diversity of topic areas has expanded my knowledge in all areas and has encouraged me to remain updated on issues affecting citizens. 

Keyla Marte as Ellen C. Jaffee during Mock Session 2016: explaining her vote in the affirmative on raising the age.

The spontaneity of the Legislature will consistently keep you on your toes. There is so much to learn about New York State policy. Contrary to popular belief, your major or choice of interest should not limit your ability to participate in this program. Although, I have a Political Science background I was able to learn about issues affecting the health field, sustainability, education, social services and much more. I was able to meet with physicians, doctors, lawyers, psychologists, scientists and more to discuss laws that affect them. In other words, no topic area is off limits when it involves the well-being of individuals. The legislator's duty is to serve the persons who elected them and that includes people from all backgrounds and occupations.

Prior to the internship, I had a negative view of politicians, especially after hearing negative news often shared in the media. Participating in this internship allowed me to change my perception and come in contact with leaders who are passionate, diligent and dedicated to the betterment of society. As elected officials, their duty includes ensuring fairness is being practiced in all topic areas and to contribute to the development of New York State.

The Internship Committee gave us the opportunity to attend issue forums with powerful individuals and share our questions or concerns. In addition, I was able to attend class once a week with Dr. Ledford and receive extensive information on how the legislative body operates.

Furthermore, I was able to witness history as New York State raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and legalized Mixed Martial Arts.  

Keyla and Assemblymember, Charles Barron

New York City Mayor, DeBlasio

Assemblymember, Victor Pichardo

Keyla Marte an d Assemblymember, Maritza Davila at SOMOS weekend in Albany

Intern Class of 2016 with State Comptroller, Tom DiNapoli

The Final Stretch  

Throughout this experience, I have been able to push myself beyond my limits and fully understand the context of chasing after what you want. Although I was hesitant to apply in the beginning, I remained enthusiastic and determined to make the most of this experience and as a result, came out soaring.

On May 11, 2016, I was awarded the Chairperson Award for the New York State Assembly Intern Class of 2016. This award is the highest award to receive and demonstrates that I displayed active political engagement, leadership skills, academic success and an overall outstanding performance during my duration of the program. This award was given to me by the Intern Committee's first African American NYS Speaker, Carl Heastie, and the Chair of the Higher Education committee, Debra Glick.

Professor in Residence Dr. Angela Ledford

Dr. Maniscalo and Dr. Nyshima presenting award to Keyla Marte

Dr. Nishiyama, Vickie Presti, Keyla Marte, Dr. Ledford and Dr. Maniscalco

It is such a profound honor to receive this recognition and confirmed to me that embarking on this experience was indeed the right decision.  

Legislative Director Christina Philo, (left of Keyla)
and Assemblymember Ellen C. Jaffee (right) with the new interns.

I would like to thank my Assemblymember Ellen C. Jaffee (seen on right in photo immediately above) and her Legislative Director, Christina Philo (on left)  for their commitment to my professional and academic development. They were so instrumental to every part of making this experience memorable.

All the staff in the office both in Albany and in the District are committed to realizing Assemblymember Jaffee's vision for a better New York. Her passion and rigorous commitment to improving the condition for all is a powerful reminder to keep fighting.

Now more than ever, as I prepare to walk the stage at Daemen College's 65^th annual Commencement ceremony and enter the real world, I feel more confident and equipped with the academic and professional skills to ultimately fulfill my dream of becoming the Secretary of Education.

Overall, this has been by far one of the best experiences in my undergraduate career. Every professor and staff member in the internship program was available at all times and ensured that all of the interns had the necessary skills and background knowledge needed to be successful during our internship duties.  

This entire experience would have not been possible without the Career Services Office and History & Political Science Department at Daemen College. I cannot express my gratitude to each and every one of you for supporting me and ensuring that my transition to Albany was as smooth as possible.

I hope that my time here in Albany can serve as an inspiration for other students to participate in the program of their choice. Although, doubts and fears may be present, I would encourage you to go for it.  I have been honored to have been asked to extend my internship until the end of June and I look forward to continuing my professional network at the Legislature.

The memories and skills I have gained in Albany will continue to serve me as I move forward to the next part of my journey.  

College Day

New York State Assembly Intern Class of 2016

**Keyla Marte will graduate on May 14th with a degree in Political Science.

Her senior thesis project was entitled,"The Role of Corporations in Public Education: A Case Study on Charter Schools in New York."

Keyla's Faculty Academic Advisor is Dr. Lisa Parshall, Associate Professor of Political Science