The Voters Voice

History has a funny way of repeating itself.  The famous quote explains that “we must learn from history or we are doomed to repeat it.”  The late Richard Neustadt and Ernest May, professors at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School, explained in their book Thinking In Time: The Uses of History for Decision Makers that “there is symmetry to human behavior that can be useful in understanding matters of state.” Many political pundits are beginning to make the argument that Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadineja resembles many of the characteristics of a pre-WWII Adolf Hitler.  Analogies include the similarities between the two men and their anti-semitic beliefs, and they both had visions of changing the world.  The world is not the same as it was back in the early 1930s.  Americans back in the 1930s were not worried by Nazi Germany’s threats because Americans felt protected by the Atlantic Ocean.  Now, in the age of nuclear warfare, the United States government keeps a much closer watch on Iran and other countries with nuclear weapons.  Similarities from the past are still relevant today.

Similarities are not only visible in international relations but also in our nation’s Presidential Primary.  “Change” elections are nothing new to American voters.  Americans are currently experiencing a historic presidential election.  I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at American political history and revisit the beginning of Presidential Primaries.  CQ Politics created a compressive series on the History of U.S. Presidential Primaries that I would like to share with you over the coming week.  Part One of the eight part series begins by looking at the Presidential Primaries from 1912-1964.  Please read the CQ Politics report on the Presidential Primaries from 1912-1964.  I find it fascinating to look back at America’s beginnings like the long standing tradition of New Hampshire’s Primary first in the Presidential Election Primary process that began in 1920.  I hope you enjoy this series that will premiere every Sunday.