The Journal of Politics

Table of Contents - November 1968 - Volume 30, Issue 04  

Research Article

Presidential Leadership and Party Success

Joseph Coopera1 and Gary Bombardiera1

a1 Rice University

The legislative accomplishments of the Democratic Party in the 89th Congress (1965–1967) resulted in widespread acclaim for President Johnson's skill as a legislative leader and in numerous comparisons with President Kennedy that were highly unflattering to the latter. Yet the basis and significance of Democratic party success in the 89th Congress remain far from clear, especially since in the 90th Congress (1967–1969) President Johnson encountered difficulties that are reminiscent of the Kennedy years. The object of this paper is to analyze and evaluate Democratic party success in the 89th Congress. In so doing we shall focus on the House of Representatives and use the 87th Congress (1961–1963), Kennedy's only complete Congress, as a point of comparison. Thus, this paper will be centered around three basic questions.

Joseph Cooper is Chairman of the Department of Political Science at Rice University.

Gary Bombardier is a graduate student and teaching fellow in the Department of Government at Harvard University.