Our country has elected eight men to the presidency who, after serving one four-year term, were defeated for reelection. The first was John Adams and the most recent was George H.W. Bush. What did they have in common, other than being defeated for re-election? Initially, they all won an election to claim the presidency (so vice-presidents, ascending by succession, are not included in this group) and were defeated four years later. Why? Was it the economy? The vagaries of our Electoral College? Or a third-party candidacy?

Our current president is in his first term. What lessons can we learn from the eight that tried and failed before him? We will also take a brief look at Franklin Pierce, who didn’t run for re-election because he was denied the nomination by his own party. (The only time this happened in American history.)

We’ll also have to make a decision on how to classify Grover Cleveland, the only president to win, then lose, then win, to become the 22nd and 24th president. This course is offered in a historical, rather than political, context, although the two cannot always be separated. A limited amount of reading will be expected; generally 10 – 20 pages a week.