Yes, Americans took a gigantic leap of faith in 1932 after 3 years of failure of the Hoover administration. Anybody but Hoover would have won in 1932. Americans wanted change and help, hope. But not in 1936, 1940 or 1944. Americans stayed with a known quantity. They stayed with the president that gave them hope and then steady guidance through WWII. 1948 was again staying with the party that lead us out of the depression and victory in WWII. People were comfortable with FDR and in 1948 with Harry Truman. They weren't comfortable with Truman in 1952. IKE won in 1952 not as a radical, but as a popular general who led the armed forces to victory, as one who promised to go to Korea to end that unpopular war. Everyone liked IKE, short and simple. No one knew what IKE's politics was or were to be. Truman's approval rating was down to 27%. IKE led the GOP to a clean sweep in congress also. The last time the Republicans would control the House for 40 years until 1994.

IKE provided no gigantic lead forward, small steps and he accomplished his agenda by working closely with LBJ, then the senate majority leader. In fact IKE had LBJ over to the white three times a week to work on how to get his, IKE's agenda through congress. JFK work closely with Everit Dirksen, then the GOP minority leader in the senate. Reagan and Tip O'Neal also worked good, closely together for the entire Reagan's eight years. Bill Clinton's tax increase via a party line vote, his failed healthcare initiative, his gun control ban lead directly to his loss of congress in 1994. Way too much for the normal American. But exactly what most Democrats wanted. But not the majority of Americans, he over stepped, over reached. He learned and adjusted, he made his last six years productive. Unlike Obama who didn't adjust to the new realities. Obama's last six years were wasted years of what might have been.

to understand history one first must place the events in the context of the times, not looking at them trough 21st century eyes.

Last edited by perotista; 04/08/20 06:29 PM.
It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.