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American Maelstrom: The 1968 Election and the Politics of Division (Pivotal Moments in World History) 1st Edition

by Michael A. Cohen (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 87 ratings
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In his presidential inaugural address of January 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson offered an uplifting vision for America, one that would end poverty and racial injustice. Elected in a landslide over the conservative Republican Barry Goldwater and bolstered by the so-called liberal consensus, economic prosperity, and a strong wave of nostalgia for his martyred predecessor, John F. Kennedy, Johnson announced the most ambitious government agenda in decades. Three years later, everything had changed. Johnson's approval ratings had plummeted; the liberal consensus was shattered; the war in Vietnam splintered the nation; and the politics of civil rights had created a fierce white backlash. A report from the National Committee for an Effective Congress warned of a "national nervous breakdown."

The election of 1968 was immediately caught up in a swirl of powerful forces, and the nine men who sought the nation's highest office that year attempted to ride them to victory-or merely survive them. On the Democratic side, Eugene McCarthy energized the anti-war movement; George Wallace spoke to the working-class white backlash; Robert Kennedy took on the mantle of his slain brother. Entangled in Vietnam, Johnson, stunningly, opted not to run again, scrambling the odds. On the Republican side, 1968 saw the vindication of Richard Nixon, who outhustled Nelson Rockefeller, Ronald Reagan, and George Romney by navigating between the conservative and moderate wings of the Republican Party. The assassinations of the first Martin Luther King, Jr., and then Kennedy, seemed to push the country to the brink of chaos, a chaos reflected in the Democratic Convention in Chicago, a televised horror show. Vice President Hubert Humphrey emerged as the nominee, and, finally liberating himself from Johnson's grip, nearly overcame the lead long enjoyed by Nixon, who, by exploiting division and channeling the national yearning for order, would be the last man standing.

In American Maelstrom, Michael A. Cohen captures the full drama of this watershed election, establishing 1968 as the hinge between the decline of political liberalism, the ascendancy of conservative populism, and the rise of anti-governmental attitudes that continue to dominate the nation's political discourse. In this sweeping and immersive book, equal parts compelling analysis and thrilling narrative, Cohen takes us to the very source of our modern politics of division.
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  1. ISBN-10
    019977756X
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0199777563
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    May 18, 2016
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.6 x 9.4 inches
  8. Print length
    448 pages
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"well-written and highly readable narratives ... thorough in their presentation and offer compelling narratives that a general audience will enjoy and details that will help provide the foundations for scholars to launch into deeper analyses about the sixties, presidential politics, and a host of other fields of inquiry." -- Thomas B. Weyant, H-Net

"The election of 1968 was one of the most pivotal in American history. With vivid detail and unfailing political wisdom, Michael Cohen explains how that tumultuous contest occurred and why its tremors have continued to shake the nation." --Michael Kazin, co-editor of Dissent and author of American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation

"Written like a fast-paced, if far-fetched, political thriller, Michael Cohen's American Maelstrom combines scholarly rigor with narrative drive. Vivid portraits of the protagonists highlight this extraordinary saga that seems at once long ago but also as current as today's Web headlines." --Jeffrey Toobin, author of American Hieress, The Oath, and The Nine

"The furies unleashed in 1968 are still churning. Michael Cohen does a fine job keeping his head in the maelstrom of the last century, explaining how the meanest impulses of American life found their champions and carried us so far into barbarism." --Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage, and The Opposition

"A big, important book about a big, important moment in American history. Taking readers on a fascinating journey through 1968, Cohen revels the forces that shaped the country's politics and culture. Some history, even the best written, can sit on the shelf waiting for that perfect moment to be read. American Maelstrom demands to be read now. I can't imagine a better-timed book." --Stuart Stevens, senior strategist for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign

"A fluid and penetrating account of that most extraordinary of postwar American election years. Like no one before him, Cohen offers a vivid, powerful collective portrait of the key personalities of 1968, and we see in sharp relief why they acted as they did-and why one result was the "politics of division" we live with today." --Fredrik Logevall, Professor of International Affairs and History, Harvard University

"Vivid and compelling... [Cohen] masterfully links the historical antecedents of that momentous election year to the immense and durable political transformation that followed."-- The American Prospect

In American Maelstrom, Michael Cohen... provides substantial support for the widely held view that the presidential election was a pivotal moment in American politics... Embedded in Cohen's vivid narrative are smart, sharply-etched portraits of President Lyndon Johnson and the eight men - Eugene McCarthy, Robert Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, George Wallace, Richard Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, George Romney and Ronald Reagan - who had caught the presidential virus."-- Tulsa World

"Cohen's captivating volume is the new standard."--Choice Reviews

"Outstanding... Cohen's telling, in spirited and vigorous prose... is a carefully-researched account of what happened and how it affected future developments."-- The History News Network

"In Cohen's hands the story [of 1968] reads like a richly imagined novel."--The Jewish Press

"A fast-paced and engaging account... There are countless books declaring that one particular year--or one month, or even one week--changed everything. They're usually a stretch, but they're fun thought experiments, a chance to spitball on the contingencies of history. American Maelstrom offers a better case than most, plus it provides the irresistible opportunity to cast [2016's] candidates in 1968's drama."--Washington Post, Carlos Lozada

"[A] sparkling history of the dramatic and violent 1968 election."--The Financial Times

"American Maelstrom is an impressively well written, researched, organized, and presented study." --Midwest Book Review

"Spot on... [American Maelstrom] makes an important contribution by bringing out the significance of conservative populism in the 1960s... Readers would do well to look back to 1968 as we all try to figure out what the nation is going through today."--The American Prospect, Julian Zelizer

"No matter which side of the political divide you sit, American Maelstrom, Michael Cohen's look back at the 1968 election season, is as close to a must-read as there is."--Mike Vaccaro, New York Post

"[A] thoughtful and revelatory new book."-- Jeet Heer, New Republic

"Michael Cohen's new account of the 1968 elections, American Maelstrom, is a careful, faithful retelling of the story of that year and what it portended... Cohen's take on Wallace is one of the best features of a very good book, and helpful in understanding the otherwise shocking appeal of Donald Trump."-- Ed Kilgore, Washington Monthly

"[Michael A. Cohen] argues persuasively that this election ushered in the politics of division that has shaped American culture for the past 40 years and more."--America Magazine

Book Description

The turbulent election that irrevocably transformed American politics

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 1st edition (May 18, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 019977756X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199777563
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.68 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.6 x 9.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 87 ratings

About the author

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Michael A. Cohen

Michael A. Cohen

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Michael A. Cohen is the national political columnist for The Boston Globe. Michael has written about politics and international affairs for dozens of news outlets, including as a columnist for the Guardian and Foreign Policy. He previously worked as a speechwriter at the US State Department and has been a lecturer at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
87 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book well-paced and readable, providing a great history of the 1968 election. The book is richly researched and engaging, with one customer noting its comprehensive coverage from start to finish.

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12 customers mention "Pacing"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-paced and easy to read, with one customer noting its great eye for telling details.

"...Richly researched with a lucid, engaging narrative, the structure of the book - with deep dives into all the major players in the election, all..." Read more

"...This was an engaging and easy read." Read more

"This is a terrific book, well written and fast paced, about a turbulent era/year in American politics chock full of iconic figures from Richard..." Read more

"...American Maelstrom is a very readable book that I feel has a number of parallels to the way politics are today in this country...." Read more

11 customers mention "History"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's historical perspective on the 1968 election, describing it as a great account of an important political event. One customer notes its relevance to current times.

"...the connection to the larger picture - makes for a dramatic retelling of this critical election that is unlike any other work on 1968...." Read more

"...this history not only surfaced many memories but provided an important link between 1968 and the chaos so evident in the 2016 Presidential Election...." Read more

"...a terrific book, well written and fast paced, about a turbulent era/year in American politics chock full of iconic figures from Richard Nixon and..." Read more

"...Educated me on 1968election. PerhapsCohen writes book on candidates election he admires.. PoliSci lecture at end of book." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great read.

"This is a fantastic book anyone interested in American politics should read...." Read more

"This is a terrific book, well written and fast paced, about a turbulent era/year in American politics chock full of iconic figures from Richard..." Read more

"Nice read, but not sure what side author is on -other than anti-Kennedy. Educated me on 1968election...." Read more

"American Maelstrom is smooth and great read because it tells the story of an election that both reflected and forever changed American politics..." Read more

10 customers mention "Storytelling"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's storytelling engaging, with one customer noting it provides a great description of events from start to finish, while another highlights the chapter on Wallace as particularly interesting.

"...Richly researched with a lucid, engaging narrative, the structure of the book - with deep dives into all the major players in the election, all..." Read more

"...through the 1968 Presidential Election this history not only surfaced many memories but provided an important link between 1968 and the chaos so..." Read more

"...this election when I was 13 years old, I found this to be an interesting account...." Read more

"...The two stories are really intimately bound together...." Read more

5 customers mention "Spacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's spacing, noting it is richly researched and smart, with one customer highlighting its deep sourcing.

"...Richly researched with a lucid, engaging narrative, the structure of the book - with deep dives into all the major players in the election, all..." Read more

"...Well-researched effort coupled with well-paced, clean writing...." Read more

"...Humphrey, Nixon, and Wallace -- well done storytelling, and really incisive analysis...." Read more

"...A fascinating deep-dive, an engrossing read, deeply sourced and completely enjoyable for politics nerds, or anyone who wants to understand how the..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • pf
    5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic book anyone interested in American politics should read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is a fantastic book anyone interested in American politics should read. Cohen impressively lays out how 1968 set the stage for the political divisiveness and polarization of modern American politics. Richly researched with a lucid, engaging narrative, the structure of the book - with deep dives into all the major players in the election, all while retaining the connection to the larger picture - makes for a dramatic retelling of this critical election that is unlike any other work on 1968. The chapter on Wallace is particularly engaging and the vivid description of Wallace rallies is eerily similar to 2016 Trump rallies. Cohen deserves much credit for this timely contribution to our understanding of 1968 and its influence on modern politics.
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  • Tom A. Rafiner
    4.0 out of 5 stars This was an engaging and easy read.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Having lived through the 1968 Presidential Election this history not only surfaced many memories but provided an important link between 1968 and the chaos so evident in the 2016 Presidential Election. The organization by candidate worked for me. This was an engaging and easy read.
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  • Greg Dworkin
    5.0 out of 5 stars What 2016 can learn from 1968
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is a terrific book, well written and fast paced, about a turbulent era/year in American politics chock full of iconic figures from Richard Nixon and LBJ to Robert F Kennedy and Gene McCarthy.

    If you thought you knew these figures, you'll be surprised at how much you learn about their political skills (or lack thereof in some cases), and what they thought their way forward was during the primaries, and how it contrasts with conventional wisdom about the era today. RFK for me required a complete rethink of who I thought he was.

    And, btw, if you thought that political figures from long ago have nothing to teach us today, think again. Richard Nixon's political skills still resonate today (you can question his judgment while admiring his skills), and the retelling of Gene McCarthy's primary fight certainly has parallels today in Bernie Sanders' ultimately unsuccessful bid.

    This book is highly recommended for casual readers and political junkies alike. It's a fast paced look at one of our most interesting elections, and one of my best political reads this year.
    One person found this helpful
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  • robbierobb
    3.0 out of 5 stars Too Analytical
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Nice read, but not sure what side author is on -other than anti-Kennedy. Educated me on 1968election. PerhapsCohen writes book on candidates election he admires.. PoliSci lecture at end of book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • J. Barlow
    4.0 out of 5 stars 1968 was an important election and this is a good book about it.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    As one who lived through this election when I was 13 years old, I found this to be an interesting account. He characterizes Nixon as shrewd, McCarthy as petulant, Robert Kennedy as less liberal than people think of him as being, and Humphrey as insufficiently bold. His chapter on George Wallace reminds me too much of Donald Trump. Wallace rallies had very similar atmospheres to Trump rallies. That ripples from that election are strong to this day.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Michael Griswold
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Maelstrom Still Present Today
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Michael A. Cohen in American Maelstrom the 1968 Presidential Election and the Politics of Division is not just providing a rich narrative of the 1968 Presidential Election but rather how American politics got to be the polarized and often dis-functional mess that it is today. The two stories are really intimately bound together. This was the election where the so called liberal consensus was shattered and division became a political currency.

    Cohen takes a look at all the big figures of 1968 from Lyndon Johnson, Gene McCarthy, Robert Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey on the Democratic side to Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Nelson Rockefeller, and George Romney on the Republican side. George Wallace was floating around as a potent third party force that worried both party candidates. But beyond these big personalities and figures of the day, the reader really gets immersed in the social aspects of the 1960’s riots and social unrest that managed to unseat the so called liberal consensus, which has had consequences down to present day.

    American Maelstrom is a very readable book that I feel has a number of parallels to the way politics are today in this country. If you read just one history book this year, it should be this one.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Nashville shopper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great character sketches, joined with analysis, arguments that speak directly to the present moment
    Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Terrific character sketches of giants in American political history such as LBJ, Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, George Wallace, Robert Kennedy, and Nelson Rockefeller. Cohen has a great eye for the telling detail, which makes this book a terrific read. Its a delight to revisit figures familiar figures such as LBJ and politicians whose significance has faded over time (George Romney) and see them through Cohen's eyes. This isn't just a history of the 1968 election though. It's an account of how the ideas and passions that emerged in '68 continue to reverberate through American politics today. Cohen begins the book with a quote from a George W. Bush advisor, "It's never stopped being 1986." For anyone who wants to understand what that means, this book is a must-read.
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  • old fart
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Good quick reaading.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Marcus Cleaver
    5.0 out of 5 stars Shadows of 2016
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    What a timely publication about a key moment in American political history!

    Whether it is the hate-filled speech of George Wallace or the leftist insurgency of Gene McCarthy it is almost impossible to read this book without thinking about the echoes that still reverberate today.

    Cohen is a more than adept guide through this dynamic and fast-paced election campaign. It would be so easy to get bogged down in the details or, alternatively, to skim over some of the aspects of the campaign but Cohen treads a middle ground and keeps things fresh and interesting throughout.
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