The virtues of a president with humble origins

Since World War II, Americans have tended to elect middle class presidents. With the exception of the two Bushes — the first of whom lost his second election, the second of whom "lost" his first — both parties succeeded by nominating candidates from modest backgrounds: Republicans Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan were hardly products of affluence, nor were Democrats Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton or Barack Obama.

Thomas F. Schaller

October 30, 2012