The Making of the President Discussion Guide

General Questions

Going behind the scenes of the campaigns, White trailblazed a new approach to political reporting with his books and films. How does White’s journalistic style compare with today’s campaign coverage by the news media?

What type of political reporting do you prefer: a more intimate look at the candidates and their campaign strategies, or a just-the-facts presentation of their platforms?

In your opinion, what value (if any) do third-party and independent candidates present for the electoral process?

Have you ever participated in a political campaign as a worker, volunteer, or even a protester? What was your experience like?

1960

The 1960 presidential race featured the first-ever televised debates (between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy). Do you think the medium helped or hurt the candidates? How has it evolved?

John F. Kennedy’s Catholicism was a controversial element of his candidacy during the 1960 election cycle. Do you think a Catholic candidate would have the same issues today? What about a Jewish or Muslim candidate?

1964

Barry Goldwater boasted strong support from conservative Republicans, but failed to attract many supporters from the ranks of the moderates. Why do you think he encountered this difficulty?

Did Goldwater’s unapologetic conservatism—despite his crushing loss to Johnson—help lay the foundation for the current resurgence of the Republican Party? Why or why not?

1968

As a third-party candidate, George Wallace garnered 13% of the popular vote. Do you think a third-party candidate will ever have a chance of winning a presidential election in the United States?

In what ways did the public’s weariness with the conflict in Vietnam affect the outcome of the election?

The furor over the Vietnam War in the 1968 election mirrored the controversy over the Iraq War forty years later. In your experience, how do wars play into political campaigns?