On Social Position and Political Achievement--Presidents, Privilege and Performance

The route by which E. Digby Baltzell and Howard G. Schneiderman reached their conclusions about social privilege and presidential job performance ("Society," September-October, 1988) is subjected to a critique by Edward Pessen, whose book, "The Log Cabin Myth: The Social Backgrounds of the Presidents," provided evidence for the researchers' claims. Schneiderman responds.