Overview

Few relationships have proved more pivotal in changing the course of American politics than those between presidents and social movements. For all their differences, both presidents and social movements are driven by a desire to recast the political system, often pursuing rival agendas that set them on a collision course. Even when their interests converge, these two actors often compete to control the timing and conditions of political change. During rare historical moments, however, presidents and social movements forged partnerships that profoundly recast American politics. Rivalry and Reform explores the relationship between presidents and social movements throughout history and into the present day, revealing the patterns that emerge from the epic battles and uneasy partnerships that have profoundly shaped reform. Through a series of case studies, including Abraham Lincoln and abolitionism, Lyndon Johnson and the civil rights movement, and Ronald Reagan and the religious right, Sidney M. Milkis and Daniel J. Tichenor argue persuasively that major political change usually reflects neither a top-down nor bottom-up strategy but a crucial interplay between the two. Savvy leaders, the authors show, use social movements to support their policy goals. At the same time, the most successful social movements target the president as either a source of powerful support or the center of opposition. The book concludes with a consideration of Barack Obama’s approach to contemporary social movements such as Black Lives Matter, United We Dream, and Marriage Equality.  

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9780226569390

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Reviews

Presidents are not natural allies for social movements, but when their ambitions coincide, the political effects can be of first order significance. In their penetrating analysis of this delicate relationship, Milkis and Tichenor provide a guide to the future, for interactions like these are bound to figure more prominently in the years to come. --Stephen Skowronek, Yale University Rivalry and Reform is that rare book that will be of interest to scholars of the presidency and APD but at the same time attract a broader reading public. Well written and original, it's an important contribution to the field of presidential studies, one that will be widely read and discussed. --Richard Ellis, Willamette University

Author Information

Sidney M. Milkis is the White Burkett Miller Professor in the Department of Politics and Faculty Associate of the Miller Center at the University of Virginia. Daniel J. Tichenor is the Philip H. Knight Chair of Political Science and director of the Program on Democratic Engagement and Governance of the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics at the University of Oregon.

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