This week, we explored the issue of biography. Lincoln ended slavery. FDR won World War Two. Nixon resigned in disgrace. But what will define the next president? How are the current candidates crafting their life stories to appeal to voters?
Professor Balogh explained why candidates are today more likely to highlight the "rags" part of their "rags-to-riches" tales than in the past; how they're using supposed outsider status to craft their narratives; and how much valour or moral failings matter.
It's not an easy task to convince voters that you're an outsider when you've been a US Senator.
The fact that wanting to be a president in kindergarten could be characterised as a bad thing tells us a lot about how attitudes about government have changed in the last 30 or 40 years. Prima facie, it would be nice if more kindergarteners wanted to go on to become president of the United States.
I think she's actually trying to have it both ways. I think part of her message is: I'm an outsider; I'm a woman; we've never had a woman president before. And part of her message is: I'm the ultimate insider, I was there for all the crucial decisions -- at least the decisions that worked out -- in my husband's administration.
Let us know how you're judging the current presidential crop.
Listen to the full audio interview (17:56 min | 8.2 MB)
Also, this week's conversation is about what's said in public. If you want to hear what past presidents said in private, you can listen in here to previously secret presidential recordings: Nixon, LBJ, FDR, and more. These are from the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs, where Dr Balogh is a Senior Analyst.