Book Review: Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics by Lawrence O'Donnell

Introduction

Playing with Fire: The book, The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics by Lawrence O’Donnell is a very informative and interesting analysis of one of the most volatile and electrifying years in the American political calendar. This book came out in 2017 and focuses on the events of 1968, by then the Vietnam War had reached its peak, civil unrest, and the United States society was hugely polarized. This book by a political analyst and a commentator O’Donnell offers a profound look at the 1968 presidential election and its impact on the American political system.

Click here to read Playing with Fire, for free with a 30-day free trial

It is more than a journalistic account of what took place in the election, as it presents a dissection of the aspects of politics and the characters behind the selection that influenced the period and began the current political generation. O’Donnell takes advantage of his expertise and history to explain who are the most influential characters in the elections and what are the significant events that took place. In this research O’Donnell brutally presents the Mosse, describing the emotional turmoil of the year 1968 and arguing that this election was a decisive moment in American history.

Historical Context

For those who would watch Playing with Fire to get the substance of the 1968 campaign, it’s better to know some historical background before viewing the movie. The United States was very polarized in the Vietnam War, and thus there were demonstrations all over the nation. The civil rights movement had registered major victories, although racial relations were still strained especially after the assassination of Martin Luther King Junior in April 1968. Also, within the context of the country there were problems of poverty, social unrest in the urban areas; and a gap between generations.

The political situation was no less tumultuous than the economic one and this was perfectly illustrated. President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat who came into the presidency following the death of John F Kennedy was not popular due to the Vietnam War. The very surge of American’s intervention in the struggle advanced him many critics within his party, not to mention the protests. The Democratic party itself was divided and was also torn between the progressives and the establishment.

At the same time the Republican Party was changing The foundation of this political change was set down in 1896. Richard Nixon who had recently lost the presidency to Kennedy was also in the mix; Nixon was pitching himself as a law and order candidate in a nation that seemed to be out of control. The election of 1968 did assume the characteristics of a critical election that shaped the subsequent course of United States politics.

Click here to read Playing with Fire, for free with a 30-day free trial

Narrative Structure and Style

What is more, O’Donnell frames Playing with Fire in a way that mimics the organization of the 1968 election. Structured by months, Kelis’ book illustrates the major events of the year from the primaries, the conception of Richard Daley formed by Mike Wallace, and the convention in Chicago to the general election in November. The use of this structure enables O’Donnell to develop tension and suspense because the people are waiting to see the development of the election although they know who is going to win.

Of all the facets of characterization, O’Donnell does a particularly good job of engaging the reader with history’s people. This is achieved through narrating specific aspects such as describing events and cases, providing quotations; and understanding the motives and conduct of the concerned parties. Hence, Lyndon Johnson, Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon; and Hubert Humphrey are not merely political characters for Karen O’Donnell’s narrative; they are human beings who endeavored political choices cordoned off by personal ambitions, wired fury as well as stress cascade out of the apex social crises.

Thus, O’Donnell’s style of writing is informative and friendly at the same time. The author resigns himself from the conventional writing style that many historians employ when writing their books which is rather stiff and serious. This makes Playing with Fire not only an informed book but also an interesting one even to persons who may not have an interest in the complex politicking that defined early 1960 America.

Key Players

Perhaps one of the most enriching features of Playing with Fire is the identification and analysis of the key actors of the 1968 election by O’Donnell. All of these persons had a vital part in determining the outcome of the election together with the political processes in the United States.

Lyndon B. Johnson: It was anticipated that as an incumbent president; Johnson would stand for re-election when the next elections were called. But his management of the Vietnam conflict had left him highly unpopular among some voters and his foes within his party vehemently criticized him. A specific aspect that O’Donnell covers concerning Johnson is his inner demons that led to him out of the race something that amazed the country and paved the way for a very competitive Democratic primary.

Robert F. Kennedy: His election campaign gathered a lot of popularity especially among the youth and other minority voters due to the emergence of the younger brother of John F. Kennedy, the then Robert Kennedy. Accurately, O’Donnell describes the key points of Kennedy’s campaign; the man was indeed passionate about the Vietnam War which he was against, and he was deeply involved in the fight for social justice. Unfortunately, Kennedy’s crusade was adamantly brought to an early halt by his assassination in June 1968, and O’Donnell gives a profound account of the incident.

Hubert Humphrey: Humphrey who served as the Vice president under President Lyndon Johnson was also tipped in the Democratic primary as the man most likely to continue with the policies of the administration. O’Donnell describes how Humphrey was in a dilemma – trying to become far from Johnson’s administration policies, and at the same time, keep the support of the Democratic Party kingpins. Seeing Humphrey’s nomination at the end of the Democratic National Convention depicted to be in chaos in the city of Chicago is a moving scene in the book.

Richard Nixon: It is possible to agree with O’Donnell in his deep analysis of Nixon’s political coming back in 1968. Before the presidential campaign of 1960 and the following attempt to become the governor of California, Nixon was considered by many as the kind of political figure who had no more chances to struggle for power. However, using the example of Nixon, O’Donnell explains how the candidate’s, gradual and conscious<|reserved_special_token_258|> process of building up support among the so-called ‘silent majority’ together with his earlier pledge to restore law and order was indeed appealing to the voters concerned about the social turmoil of the 1960’s. Nixon’s pandering to the white working-class electorate would go on to become a solid foundation for Republican electoral politics for years to come.

George Wallace: A major third-party candidate Wallace campaigned for segregation and states’ rights, winning votes from dissatisfied white people in the South and other regions. O’Donnell discusses how Wallace’s appeals cut off England and how his victory predicted the emergence of the Right in America.

The Democratic National Convention

Another crucial event of the race to the 1968 election that people can still vividly recall is the Democratic National Convention that occurred in Chicago in August. O’Donnell pays much attention to this event which has become a hallmark of the disorder and split in the society. The event was accompanied by aggressive actions of the protesters against the war in Vietnam and the police, witnessed on TV, as a result of which many Americans left the Democratic Party.

O’Donnell’s narration of the convention is involved and colorful. In this context, he gives details of the mood at the convention hall, pointing out that the delegates were sharply polarized in their views on the party’s stance on the Vietnam War. In the outside world, the avenues of Chicago were turning into a war theatre, dozens of thousands of protesters confronting with the police armed to the teeth. The shocking images of police authorities’ violence, which went viral on television to millions of people, also greatly influenced the perception of millions of people about the Democratic Party.

The convention also served to show the intense divisions among Democrats. Humphrey got his nomination through a party elite, and thus, the protest of the ‘’new politics’’ wing felt marginalized. O’Donnell far from describing them as simply the destruction from within goes on that they diminished the Democratic Party in the short term and paved the way for manifestations of far more radical political movements in future years.

Click here to read Playing with Fire, for free with a 30-day free trial

Nixon's "Southern Strategy"

Arguably, the best-known aspect of Nixon’s campaign in 1968 was the “Southern Strategy. “ This strategy was based on the appeal to the white population in the South who did not like the stand of the Democratic Party in terms of civil rights. O’Donnell describes how in Vietnam, Nixon; and his aides tried to make a message that favored law and order, and states’ rights and at the same time signified an implicit racial moderation than George Wallace.

Overall, this piece by O’Donnell can be regarded as analytically sound as well as skeptical. In his view, this move by Nixon was not simply an act to gain votes in 1968 but a complete redirection of the republican party regarding race and politics. Because of his appeal to the electrified white Southern voters, Nixon assisted in rewriting the political map in the south region that was a previously strongly democratic region to a strongly Republican one. This realignment; however, had a significant impact on American politics and strengthened the racial and cultural polarization that we see in today’s politics.

Impact and Legacy

In terms of political history in America, O’Donnell provides fruitful arguments to designate the year 1968 as a turning point. He consequently says that the election started modern politics in America by creating sharp division between the Democrats and Republicans, activating identity politics, and incorporating the media into politics.

Undoubtedly, another of the legacy issues resulting from the election of 1968 was the change of the Democratic Party. This is because the party failed to coalesce around a message and being identified with the anarchy of the Chicago convention played a major role in the party’s loss in the general election. After that, the Democratic Party evolved a lot and shifted to the left; especially in the social agenda but lost its connection to the working-class audience.

Thus, the election of Nixon in 1968 could be regarded as the final stage of the process of the transformation of the Republican Party. The Southern Strategy and the appeal to the “silent majority” also assisted the process of changing the party’s base and thus the respective party became the dominating force in the national politics during most of the following several decades. The targeted voter groups and the language used by Nixon in 1968 are still considered relevant to this day, as O’Donnel demonstrates the continuity of the Republican Party as heir to the Watergate scandal.

It also influenced how political campaigns are conducted and took a toll on it. According to O’Donnell the 1968 election is remembered for being one of the earliest to incorporate television as a prominent campaigning tool in forming the public’s attitude towards the hopefuls. Violence scenes depicted at the Democratic convention

Click here to read Playing with Fire, for free with a 30-day free trial