Brain Fuel

Recorded just before the election of President Obama, Professor Pious weighed in on his chance of being one of the country’s great leaders. He also looked a challenger John McCain’s chances at greatness. Pious suggests one of the most likely choices for Obama were to be like Clinton’s and Carter’s presidency—beset by divided government and minor accomplishments? The other model would be like that of FDR—driven by a strong coalition that enacted policies like Social Security, unemployment protection, and public housing? If McCain were elected would he have been a transcendent Republican figure like Reagan, or would he be a middle-of-the-road and accommodating president in the mold of Eisenhower? The answers, according to Professor Pious, can be found by looking at past presidents, their margins of victory, and their ability to maintain party dominance across the U.S. government—not just in the White House. Join Professor Pious as he uses history as a guide to forecast the success or failures of the two presidential candidates.