08-10-2020, 05:21 PM
Going back further in time, let's look at the close election of 1960, when JFK defeated Nixon.
Key
1
Party Mandate
After the midterm elections, the incumbent party holds more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives than it did after the previous midterm elections. FALSE. 1958 was a big Democratic victory. 50 seats lost compared to 1954.
2
Contest
There is no serious contest for the incumbent-party nomination. TRUE
3
Incumbency
The incumbent-party candidate is the sitting president. FALSE
4
Third party
There is no significant third party or independent campaign. TRUE
5
Short-term economy
The economy is not in recession during the election campaign. TRUE I think
6
Long-term economy
Real per-capita economic growth during the term equals or exceeds mean growth during the previous two terms. FALSE I think. There had been a recession in the late 50s, compared to the great post-war growth.
7
Policy change
The incumbent administration effects major changes in national policy. TRUE, the interstate highway system.
8
Social unrest
There is no sustained social unrest during the term. TRUE
9
Scandal
The incumbent administration is untainted by major scandal. TRUE
10
Foreign/military failure
The incumbent administration suffers no major failure in foreign or military affairs. FALSE. The U2 incident was very damaging. The Hungarian Revolution was crushed, and the Suez Crisis ruptured our alliance. France went its own way. Cuba fell to the communists. The Russians beat us to space in 1957.
11
Foreign/military success
The incumbent administration achieves a major success in foreign or military affairs. FALSE
12
Incumbent charisma
The incumbent-party candidate is charismatic or a national hero. FALSE
13
Challenger charisma
The challenging-party candidate is not charismatic or a national hero. FALSE. JFK was more charismatic, and beat Nixon in the debate on TV although Nixon won it on the radio.
7 false keys. The incumbent Republican Party lost. Had Ike been the candidate, they might have won.
Key
1
Party Mandate
After the midterm elections, the incumbent party holds more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives than it did after the previous midterm elections. FALSE. 1958 was a big Democratic victory. 50 seats lost compared to 1954.
2
Contest
There is no serious contest for the incumbent-party nomination. TRUE
3
Incumbency
The incumbent-party candidate is the sitting president. FALSE
4
Third party
There is no significant third party or independent campaign. TRUE
5
Short-term economy
The economy is not in recession during the election campaign. TRUE I think
6
Long-term economy
Real per-capita economic growth during the term equals or exceeds mean growth during the previous two terms. FALSE I think. There had been a recession in the late 50s, compared to the great post-war growth.
7
Policy change
The incumbent administration effects major changes in national policy. TRUE, the interstate highway system.
8
Social unrest
There is no sustained social unrest during the term. TRUE
9
Scandal
The incumbent administration is untainted by major scandal. TRUE
10
Foreign/military failure
The incumbent administration suffers no major failure in foreign or military affairs. FALSE. The U2 incident was very damaging. The Hungarian Revolution was crushed, and the Suez Crisis ruptured our alliance. France went its own way. Cuba fell to the communists. The Russians beat us to space in 1957.
11
Foreign/military success
The incumbent administration achieves a major success in foreign or military affairs. FALSE
12
Incumbent charisma
The incumbent-party candidate is charismatic or a national hero. FALSE
13
Challenger charisma
The challenging-party candidate is not charismatic or a national hero. FALSE. JFK was more charismatic, and beat Nixon in the debate on TV although Nixon won it on the radio.
7 false keys. The incumbent Republican Party lost. Had Ike been the candidate, they might have won.