History Lists: The Evolution of Presidential Politics - HISTORY

Get a quick rundown of some things you might not know about the history of U.S. presidential elections.

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In a Path to the Podium video, see how celebrities get involved in politics. While some celebrities stump for causes or candidates, the celebrities in this video take it to the next level by holding political office. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former Mr. Universe and star of Terminator, is nicknamed "the governator" after being elected the governor of California in 2003. Sonny Bono, who sold more than 40 million records as part of Sonny and Cher, was elected to Congress as a Republican for Palm Springs, CA in 1994. Clint Eastwood, a favorite movie star, was elected mayor of Carmel, California in 1986. Shirley Temple Black, once America's top-grossing box office star, was appointed as the first female Chief of Protocol of the U.S. Ronald Reagan, who once starred in a string of B-movies, became the governor of California in 1966; 15 years later, he becomes the President of the United States.

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In this clip of Path to the Podium, minorities in politics are discussed. The first of their races in political positions, and their importance to our society. From Martin Luther King Jr. to Barack Obama, this clip includes a wide variety. Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Antonia Novello, Patsy Mink, Thurgood Marshall, and Hiram Rhodes Revels are the others discussed. Their positions range from first Hispanic Surgeon General to first African American Justice in the Supreme Court. They have made differences in cases like Brown vs. Board of Education, and on Amendments like the IX Amendment banning sex discrimination in schools.

Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin describes how past presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, mastered the technology of their times to bring their message to the masses.

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