Summary Of Stephen Hess's 'Foreign Policy And Presidential Campaign'

Gisselle Milena Ruiz April 8, 2024 Professor Sasha Issenberg Pol Sci 149 Goldwater’s Limitations

Stephen Hess is the author of “Foreign Policy and Presidential Campaign,” published by the SLate Group, LCC, where he argues that foreign policy plays an integral role in presidential elections despite the traditional belief that domestic issues are the main priority of citizens. Several contextual factors occurred from the election of 1964 to 1972 that influenced the writer. Significant political and social developments were occurring during this time, including the Civil Rights Movement alongside other social movements, the Vietnam War, the Space Race, et cetera. The prevailing issue Hess focused on was the lack of debate on foreign policy issues

Hess claims, “A rough gauge might weigh “the party factor” at 60 percent and give 40 percent to be divided between issues and candidates.” (9) He bases his argument on the belief that individuals like Goldwater, who communicate complex foreign policy matters to the public, improve their positions in the campaign and provide beneficial discourse. Although this may not have resulted in a win for Goldwater at the time, Hess recognized that this tactic had value, as he was witnessing a rise of polarization. Goldwater’s far-right campaign, while it labeled him an extremist, his positions influenced the discourse during this campaign and brought forth attention to foreign policy issues that grabbed voters' attention. However, Hess describes Goldwater’s willingness to employ nuclear weapons and his political language caused the public to label him a "nuclear bomber,” leading citizens to believe he was unsuited for office. Hess explained this as “an attempt to translate these technicalities into the idiom of political discourse.” (Hess 16) Hess recognized there was a growing value in making political language understandable to the public,