Historian & presidential biographer, William E. Leuchtenburg, weighs in on the perceived similarities between George W. Bush & Herbert Hoover.

Leuchtenburg takes issue with the numerous public comparisons of George W. Bush and Herbert Hoover.  These comparisons are unfair – to Hoover – and they represent, in Leuchtenburg’s enlightened opinion, “… a grossly distorted view of history.”

President Herbert Hoover

From The New Republic, tnr.com, Oct. 21, 2008 post, by William E. Leuchtenburg:

In contrast to George W. Bush, who, as the Yale historian Beverly Gage has said, “stood by and didn’t forge a clear direction” as the housing market collapsed around him, President Hoover moved in unprecedented ways to cope with economic calamity. Two days after entering the White House in March 1929, Hoover, who for years had been warning about “the fever of speculation,” exhorted Federal Reserve officials to rein in brokers and investment bankers…

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See Also:

Herbert Hoover’s Legacy: Great Depression Goat Inherited Laissez-Faire Economic Policy

Historians, no doubt, will be anxious to scrutinize Rhenquist’s papers.  Personally, I’d love to get a look at the late Chief Justice’s notes regarding the 2000 presidential election.

From the San Francisco Chronicle, SFGate.com, Oct. 23, 2008 post, by Bob Egelko:

The papers of the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, including correspondence with fellow justices during 33 years on the Supreme Court, have been donated by his family to the Hoover Institution Archives at Stanford University…

[snip]

…the first material to be released to researchers and the public, probably this year, will cover 1972 through 1974, including papers related to the 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion…

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General Powell declares ‘shenanigans’ on GOP during Obama endorsement –

Meet the Press – 19 October 2008

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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president on Sunday, criticizing his own Republican Party for what he called its narrow focus on irrelevant personal attacks over a serious approach to challenges he called unprecedented.

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When historians expound upon this chapter in American presidential politics, they are going to have an absolute blast analyzing the 2008 presidential debates.

The third and final debate between Barack Obama and John McCain was certainly the most entertaining of the three. However, the most memorable aspects of the debate had little to do with perceived rhetorical punches thrown or landed by either candidate. Rather, it was the demeanor of John McCain that – much to his detriment – stole the show.

McCain’s exasperation with Obama wasn’t worn on his sleeve, but on his face:
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The obviousness of the Arizona senator’s irritation was also betrayed by his audible sighs, bringing back memories of Al Gore’s lack of breath control in 2000 while debating George W. Bush. As Gore lost that debate, McCain certainly lost last night.

While the third presidential debate may have been an improvement for John McCain, his enhanced performance had more to do with him being seated behind a desk rather than the content of his arguments. Being seated prevented McCain from awkwardly wandering around the stage as he did during his second face off with Barack Obama.

Who looks more presidential?

I urge you, don’t take my word for it that Obama won. The “read more” link below leads to the October 16, 2008 Americablog.com post, aptly titled by John Aravosis: McToast. The post consists of blurbs from the Detroit Free Press, Des Moines Register, Duluth News Tribune, Columbus Dispatch, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, NY Post, Boston Globe, LA Times, NY Daily News, TIME, Washington Post, Newsweek, The Hill, Politico, & NY Times. All declared Barack Obama the victor.

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Key points from the debate on 10/7 for those who missed it, or want/need a recap.

Raw Story has provided a succinct set of highlights from last nights debate along with a couple of CNN video clips.

From the October 7, 2008 Raw Story post:

Senators McCain (R-AZ) and Obama (D-IL) sparred on issues such as government spending, war, the environment and health care Tuesday evening at the second presidential debate at Nashville’s Belmont University, moderated by Tom Brokaw…

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