Chapter 1 I Is There a Place for Us? Chapter 2 A Process in Evolution: From the Founding Fathers to 1968 Chapter 3 Evolution Speeds Up: The Modern Era of Nominating Presidents Chapter 4 The Lay of the Land: 2004 Chapter 5 Looking to the World: How Other Countries Select Their Leaders Chapter 6 Can We Do Better Than This?
Rhodes Cook has covered presidential and congressional elections for more than a quarter century - as a political writer for Congressional Quarterly from 1975 through 1997; since then as author of 'The Rhodes Cook Letter,' the host of a political website, and as a contributing editor for 'Public Perspective.' Since 1996, he has been the author of 'America Votes' (a biennial compilation of nationwide election data) and has written several books on the presidential nominating process, most recently 'United States Presidential Primary Elections 1968-1996: A Handbook of Election Statistics' and 'Race for the Presidency: Winning the 2000 Nomination.' He lives in Annandale, Virginia, with his wife, Memrie.
Cook is one of the true authoritative sources on the presidential
nominating process. This short book is jam-packed with important
information on the nominating process, placing it in both
historical and comparative perspective. This truly outstanding work
draws the reader into a complex web of money, primaries, and
politics, offering suggestions for reform but holding out only slim
hopes that the reform will either be enacted of effective.
*Library Journal*
Rhodes Cook delivers an excellent, insightful, and highly readable
work. Cook gives valuable historical and comparative accounts of
leadership selection both in the U.S. and abroad, as well as
authoritative appraisals of previous and proposed reforms, making
this an indispensable book for understanding the evolution of the
presidential nomination process leading to the 2004 primaries and
caucuses.
*Harold W. Stanley, Southern Methodist University*
Rhodes Cook's searching intelligence, his love for what is real—and
local—in American politics, and his indefatigable capacity for
research have made him a national resource. He has turned his gifts
to a nearly impossible problem: the search for a better way to
nominate our presidential candidates. This thoughtful and helpful
book puts so many of his gifts on display—notably fairness,
clarity, sophistication, and an admirable love for democracy and
popular participation. This is an enormous contribution to a debate
we have every four years, and will no doubt have again soon."
*E. J. Dionne Jr., syndicated columnist and senior fellow at The
Brookings Institution*
Terrific insights on how the leader of the free world is chosen.
Read this book and you will never not vote again!
*Richard Bond, former Republican National Committee Chairman*
William Marcy 'Boss' Tweed once said, 'I don't care who elects them
as long as I nominate them.' Tweed was right: the critical first
step in presidential elections is in the maze of primaries and
caucuses, and in this timely book, Rhodes Cook tells us why it
starts so early and costs so much. He also shows us who has the
real power in the system, how it got that way and what reforms are
needed to restore some influence to the average voter.
*Ken Bode, DePauw University*
For an awful lot of Americans, including many of us who cover the
subject for a living, the nation's presidential nominating system
and primaries remain a source of mystery and confusion. With his
signature insight and gift for explanation, Rhodes Cook has written
a political Baedeker's or Michelin—the definitive guide to
understanding the nation's presidential nominating system. If you
read Rhodes Cook's The Presidential Nominating Process: A Place for
Us? I guarantee you will become a more informed - and maybe even a
better—citizen or journalist.
*Mark Shields, syndicated columnist, moderator of CNN's The
Capital Gang, and political analyst on PBS's NewsHour With
Jim Lehrer*
A handy, well-researched guide to the nuts, bolts and history of
presidential politics.
*Baltimore Sun*
Well-written and interesting book.
*The Frey Report*
Concise yet illuminating. . . . This enjoyable, informative book
merits consideration by undergraduate instructors and civic-minded
readers alike.
*Political Science Quarterly*
Cook is one of the true authoritative sources on the presidential
nominating process. This short book is jam-packed with important
information on the nominating process, placing it in both
historical and comparative perspective. This truly outstanding work
draws the reader into a complex web of money, primaries, and
politics, offering suggestions for reform but holding out only slim
hopes that the reform will either be enacted of effective. *
Library Journal *
Rhodes Cook delivers an excellent, insightful, and highly readable
work. Cook gives valuable historical and comparative accounts of
leadership selection both in the U.S. and abroad, as well as
authoritative appraisals of previous and proposed reforms, making
this an indispensable book for understanding the evolution of the
presidential nomination process leading to the 2004 primaries and
caucuses. -- Harold W. Stanley, Southern Methodist University
Rhodes Cook's searching intelligence, his love for what is real-and
local-in American politics, and his indefatigable capacity for
research have made him a national resource. He has turned his gifts
to a nearly impossible problem: the search for a better way to
nominate our presidential candidates. This thoughtful and helpful
book puts so many of his gifts on display-notably fairness,
clarity, sophistication, and an admirable love for democracy and
popular participation. This is an enormous contribution to a debate
we have every four years, and will no doubt have again soon." -- E.
J. Dionne Jr., syndicated columnist and senior fellow at The
Brookings Institution
Terrific insights on how the leader of the free world is chosen.
Read this book and you will never not vote again! -- Richard Bond,
former Republican National Committee Chairman
William Marcy 'Boss' Tweed once said, 'I don't care who elects them
as long as I nominate them.' Tweed was right: the critical first
step in presidential elections is in the maze of primaries and
caucuses, and in this timely book, Rhodes Cook tells us why it
starts so early and costs so much. He also shows us who has the
real power in the system, how it got that way and what reforms are
needed to restore some influence to the average voter. -- Ken Bode,
DePauw University
For an awful lot of Americans, including many of us who cover the
subject for a living, the nation's presidential nominating system
and primaries remain a source of mystery and confusion. With his
signature insight and gift for explanation, Rhodes Cook has written
a political Baedeker's or Michelin-the definitive guide to
understanding the nation's presidential nominating system. If you
read Rhodes Cook's The Presidential Nominating Process: A Place for
Us? I guarantee you will become a more informed - and maybe even a
better-citizen or journalist. -- Mark Shields, syndicated
columnist, moderator of CNN's The Capital Gang, and
political analyst on PBS's NewsHour With Jim Lehrer
A handy, well-researched guide to the nuts, bolts and history of
presidential politics. * Baltimore Sun *
Well-written and interesting book. * The Frey Report *
Concise yet illuminating. . . . This enjoyable, informative book
merits consideration by undergraduate instructors and civic-minded
readers alike. * Political Science Quarterly *
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