Interpreting the 1988 Presidential Election: Considerations on Congress and the Presidency

THE 1988 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PRODUCED A MANDATE. BUSH WON AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF ALL THE STATES IN ALL REGIONS, WITH A COMPARATIVELY LARGE POPULAR VOTE. THERE WERE FOUR BASIC THEMES THAT RAN THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN: A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE NATIONS ECONOMIC PROGRESS SINCE 1980, DEFENSE AND FOREIGN POLICY, THE RULE OF LAW, AND "A KINDER GENTLER NATION". TWO PRINCIPLES WERE DISCUSSED; BUSH RAN AS A CONSERVATIVE AND TRIED TO PAINT DUKAKIS AS A LIBERAL, AND ALSO MAINTAINING AND STRENTHENING THE POSITION OF THE PRESIDENCY. BUSH WOULD LIKE TO STRENTHEN OUR ETHICS LAWS AND APPLY THEM EQUALLY TO CONGRESS.