Let the People Rule, Geoffrey Cowan
Let the People Rule, Geoffrey Cowan
List: $29.99 | Sale: $21.00
Club: $14.99

Let the People Rule
Theodore Roosevelt and the Birth of the Presidential Primary

Author: Geoffrey Cowan

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Unabridged: 10 hr 21 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/11/2016

Synopsis

The colorful, dramatic, and surprising story of four crucial months in Teddy Roosevelt's 1912 campaign that fundamentally altered the American political process. Between February 24, 1912, when TR came out of political retirement to challenge William Howard Taft for the Republican Party's nomination for president, and June 23 of that year, Roosevelt and his supporters created and benefited from thirteen new presidential primaries, the first in the nation's history. Stressing the importance of primaries, TR's campaign theme became “the right of the people to rule.” Though Roosevelt won about 70 percent of the delegates selected by public vote, it was not enough to overcome the power of party bosses and entrenched interests. He walked out of the convention to create the Bull Moose Party but then shocked many of his strongest supporters by excluding all black delegates from the Deep South. Let the People Rule shows how the political and social turmoil of that landmark year changed politics in ways that provide important lessons for America today.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Bfisher on March 25, 2016

The author was very influential in the development of the modern primary system through the report of the commission he founded (The Commission on the Democratic Selection of Democratic Nominees). The report was delivered at the divisive Democratic convention in Chicago in 1968, and ushered in the m......more

Goodreads review by John on June 27, 2016

Book 9 of 40 for 2016 Well since this primary season was so incredibly odd and frustrating why not go back to the beginning of the primary experience and learn how it all started with an election year even more crazy then this one. Added bonus TR is involved so I was all over the chance to spend some......more

Goodreads review by Wesley on December 08, 2015

I was fortunate to get my hands on an advanced copy of Geoffrey Cowan's "Let the People Rule" (set to be published 1/11/16), which tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt and his push for a presidential primary in 1912. For political junkies, this is a great read, which brings you alongside TR and his......more

Goodreads review by Kenneth on January 11, 2016

This book details the beginnings of the use of the primary system in national elections. The idea was a reform called for by many progressives to take power from the hands of the political machines in presidential elections. The idea was slow to catch but then came the election of 1912. Theodore Roo......more

Goodreads review by Mara on March 08, 2016

I think that if you pick this up wanting a book about the battle between Taft and Roosevelt for the 1912 Republican presidential nomination, you'll be satisfied. If you pick it up because you're interested in the "Birth of the presidential primary" angle, you may be a little disappointed. There defi......more

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List