PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

History professor examines Nelson Rockefeller’s career as a lens for Republican Party’s rightward shift

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign history professor Marsha Barrett examines Nelson Rockefeller’s career and the shift away from moderation in politics in her new book, “Nelson Rockefeller’s Dilemma: The Fight to Save Moderate Republicanism”

History professor examines Nelson Rockefeller’s career as a lens for Republican Party’s rightward shift
2024-08-20
(Press-News.org) CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Politician and businessman Nelson Rockefeller was seen as a moderate or liberal Republican even as he embraced conservative policies as the Republican Party shifted to the right in the 1960s and ‘70s.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign history professor Marsha Barrett uses the political career of Rockefeller — the four-time New York governor and vice president to Gerald Ford — as a lens to explore the evolution of the Republican party and the ascendancy of conservatism in her new book, “Nelson Rockefeller’s Dilemma: The Fight to Save Moderate Republicanism.” Barrett is a political historian who examines how politicians and the state respond to social movements, race and public sentiment.

“I’m really interested in moderate Republicans as an example of politicians who blurred partisan lines in the mid-20th century,” she said.

The prevailing view of Rockefeller as a moderate ignored how embattled moderates were within the Republican Party, Barrett wrote. She examines Rockefeller’s career with an emphasis on policies that affected African Americans.

Barrett said moderate Republicanism came from the tradition of Theodore Roosevelt and the belief that government needed to be big enough to keep corporations in check. “A generation later, the rise of the New Deal and Americans’ changing expectations of government inspired Republicans to embrace an activist government again,” Barrett said.

Moderate and liberal Republicans were concerned about remaining viable in that political environment, she said, and the policy positions between them and Democrats were incrementally different, with many similarities, particularly in relation to civil rights legislation and foreign policy.

As New York governor in the 1960s and early ‘70s, Rockefeller embraced many policies associated with a more liberal agenda, such as infrastructure and housing projects and expanding the state’s university system. At the national level, he advocated for adding language to the party’s platform that committed to achieving racial equity in voting, housing, schools and jobs. Moderate and liberal Republicans became known as “Rockefeller Republicans.”

But the conservative Republican tradition that advocated for small government always had an antagonistic relationship with moderates, Barrett said, and, after the New Deal, there was a movement toward conservatism that was informed by anti-Communism and the feeling that the Supreme Court had overstepped its bounds in the Brown v. Board of Education decision ending school segregation.

In its move to the right, the party discouraged bipartisanship and demanded that Republicans be uncompromising in pursuing their agenda, she said.

“They not only got upset at moderate or liberal Republicans but also at any Republican who was willing to work across the lines with Democrats. That created this very harsh ideology in the Republican party. It grew in popularity and became successful in demanding that everyone have these uncompromising positions,” Barrett said.

Moderates either left the party, were pushed out or lost primary elections to more conservative Republicans. While Rockefeller tried to build a racially and ethnically diverse, bipartisan coalition early in his career, he shifted gears when he realized it wasn’t working, Barrett said.

“One of the central premises of the book is that Nelson Rockefeller wanted the Republican party to be a partner in civil rights legislation, to advocate for African Americans. When that doesn’t work and he’s just trying to get reelected in a more conservative party, we see his policies and rhetoric reflect that change,” she said.

“People think of Nelson Rockefeller as the epitome of moderate Republicanism. In some important ways, he’s an outlier. He had his heart set on becoming president, and he was very much interested in sticking with the Republican party as it moved rightward,” Barrett said. “He was so driven by ambition and a desire to be president, if he was going to remain viable within the more conservative Republican party, he needed to make some changes.”

To show that he was conservative enough for the party, Rockefeller focused on law-and-order policies, enacting punitive drug laws in New York that served as a model for other states and the federal government. He justified welfare cuts by claiming falsely that people were cheating the system, rather than acknowledging that the state had overextended itself, Barrett said.

“You take this vulnerable community that’s already racialized and targeted as being criminal and you make hay with it,” she said of his strategies.

It’s not just a Republican phenomenon; politicians in both parties make similar choices, she said. Many Democrats also have embraced policies to try to show they are tough on crime and protect themselves from conservative attacks, she said.

The more conservative political environment that began in the 1960s with Republicans and Democrats moving right has continued.

“When Ronald Reagan left office, people like Newt Gingrich were more antagonistic and had a more ideological approach to conservatism. They kept pushing the party further and further to the right. What we see now in the Republican party is part of this long tradition during the 20th century,” Barrett said. “It will continue down this path as long as enough voters find this version of conservatism attractive.”

She said she also was interested in understanding how voters responded to moderate Republicans and other politicians who didn't fit neatly in a partisan box.

“It seemed like a lot of voters didn’t like the fact that there was all this inconsistency and diversity of thought in the parties. They wanted to know who they were voting for when they saw an ‘R’ or ‘D’ by their name,” Barrett said. Today’s partisanship is partly based on political leaders seeking power, “but also voters not wanting to think so hard about who they are casting votes for.”

 

Editor’s note: To contact Marsha Barrett, email meb@illinois.edu.

 

END

[Attachments] See images for this press release:
History professor examines Nelson Rockefeller’s career as a lens for Republican Party’s rightward shift History professor examines Nelson Rockefeller’s career as a lens for Republican Party’s rightward shift 2 History professor examines Nelson Rockefeller’s career as a lens for Republican Party’s rightward shift 3

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

International workshop initiates review of opportunities for 4R nutrient stewardship in multifunctional, farmer-centric agricultural landscapes

International workshop initiates review of opportunities for 4R nutrient stewardship in multifunctional, farmer-centric agricultural landscapes
2024-08-20
The review and writing sessions, held from July 22-25, 2024, gathered specialists from South and North America, Australia, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Participants brought expertise in the disciplines of water management, environmental data and modelling, crop nutrition including nitrogen and carbon, and farmer-centric agronomy. “The strategic task for this group was to focus its attention on whether our understanding of landscape relationships between terrain, water, carbon, and changing farming objectives provides opportunities ...

The current status and prospects of early diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in China

The current status and prospects of early diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in China
2024-08-20
Esophageal cancer, a highly aggressive malignancy originating in the esophageal epithelium, poses significant public health challenges in China, where it ranks sixth in incidence and fifth in mortality among cancers. The country's large population contributes to over half of the global cases and deaths from esophageal cancer. This cancer's poor prognosis is often due to late diagnosis, as early-stage esophageal cancer is typically asymptomatic, leading to diagnoses at more advanced stages. The geographical distribution of high-risk areas in China, such as the southern side of the ...

Nakkash & Griffin engaging Virginia youth & community in designing LGBTQ+ inclusive vaping prevention interventions

2024-08-20
Nakkash & Griffin Engaging Virginia Youth & Community In Designing LGBTQ+ Inclusive Vaping Prevention Interventions Rima Nakkash, Professor, Global and Community Health, College of Public Health, and Kenneth Griffin, Professor, Global and Community Health, College of Public Health, received funding for the project: “Engaging Virginia youth and community in designing LGBTQ+ Inclusive Vaping Prevention Interventions.” The researchers are developing evidence-based vaping prevention interventions tailored for LGBTQ+ youth in Virginia, informed by input from youth and stakeholders in this community.  Nakkash and Griffin ...

Cuellar examining negotiated rates for behavioral health & primary care providers

2024-08-20
Cuellar Examining Negotiated Rates For Behavioral Health & Primary Care Providers Alison Cuellar, Associate Dean of Research, College of Public Health; Professor, Health Administration and Policy, received funding for the project: “Examining Negotiated Rates for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Providers.” The goal of the study is to inform future Medicaid policy by examining differences in how much payers reimburse for medical services in Virginia.  Cuellar is a Co-Investigator on the project with ...

USPSTF statement on screening and supplementation for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy

2024-08-20
Bottom Line: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening and routine supplementation for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in pregnant persons to prevent adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Iron deficiency is the leading cause of anemia during pregnancy. According to survey data from 1999 to 2006, overall estimated prevalence of iron deficiency during pregnancy is near 18% and increases across the three trimesters of pregnancy. An estimated 5% of pregnant ...

The International System for reporting serous fluid cytopathology—an updated review

The International System for reporting serous fluid cytopathology—an updated review
2024-08-20
Serous effusion, defined as the excessive accumulation of fluid in body cavities such as the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal spaces, is a critical diagnostic challenge in pathology. Cytological evaluation of serous fluids provides vital information for detecting underlying etiologies, such as malignancy, and helps in evaluating tumor stages and customizing treatment plans. To address inconsistencies in the diagnostic criteria and nomenclature used in fluid cytology reporting, the International Academy of Cytology and the American Society of Cytopathology introduced The International ...

Analyzing ‘Finnegans Wake’ for novel spacing between punctuation marks

Analyzing ‘Finnegans Wake’ for novel spacing between punctuation marks
2024-08-20
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2024 – Statistical analysis of classic literature has shown that the way punctuation breaks up text obeys certain universal mathematical relationships. James Joyce’s tome “Finnegans Wake,” however, famously breaks the rules of normal prose through its unusual, dreamlike stream of consciousness. New work in chaos theory, published in the journal Chaos, from AIP Publishing, takes a closer look at how Joyce’s challenging novel stands out, mathematically. Researchers have compared the distribution of punctuation marks in various experimental novels to determine the underlying order of “Finnegans Wake.” ...

Disproportionality analysis from World Health Organization data on semaglutide, liraglutide, and suicidality

2024-08-20
About The Study: In this disproportionality study of an adverse drug reaction database, researchers identified a disproportionality signal of suicidal ideation with semaglutide, but not for liraglutide, particularly among patients with co-reported antidepressant use, a proxy for affective disorders (a notable exclusion criteria of premarketing clinical trials). A detected signal of semaglutide-associated suicidal ideation warrants urgent clarification.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Georgios Schoretsanitis, ...

Individual- and community-level risk factors of cancer-related financial hardship among cancer survivors

2024-08-20
About The Study: In this cross-sectional study, approximately 50% of cancer survivors experienced cancer-related financial hardship, with a disproportionate number of survivors who were younger, were Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, were socioeconomically disadvantaged, and had advanced disease. Social vulnerability was independently associated with increasing levels of financial hardship, emphasizing the central role one’s community may play in cancer survivorship and the compounding financial detriments of residing in a socially vulnerable community.  Corresponding ...

Can naloxone improve survival rates of patients with cardiac arrest?

2024-08-20
Patients who overdose on opioids and have a pulse are often given naloxone (Narcan) by first responders, a common life-saving measure. However, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies have different protocols for administering naloxone, so there is little evidence to support its use in patients without a pulse who experienced opioid-associated out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). A recent study by UC Davis Health researchers set out to assess the effects of giving naloxone administration by paramedics to patients with OHCA.  The study, published in Jama Network Open, ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

From camera to lab: Dr. Etienne Sibille transforms brain aging and depression research

Depression rates in LGBTQIA+ students are three times higher than their peers, new research suggests

Most parents don’t ask about firearms in the homes their kids visit

Beer-only drinkers’ diets are worse than wine drinkers

Eco-friendly biomass pretreatment method yields efficient biofuels and adsorbents

How graph convolutions amplify popularity bias for recommendation?

New lignin-based hydrogel breakthrough for wound healing and controlled drug release

Enhancing compatibility and biodegradability of PLA/biomass composites via forest residue torrefaction

Time alone heightens ‘threat alert’ in teenagers – even when connecting on social media

Study challenges long-held theories on how migratory birds navigate 

Unlocking the secrets of ketosis

AI analysis of PET/CT images can predict side effects of immunotherapy in lung cancer

Making an impact. Research studies a new side of helmet safety: faceguard failures

Specific long term condition combinations have major role in NHS ‘winter pressures’

Men often struggle with transition to fatherhood amid lack of targeted information and support

More green space linked to fewer preventable deaths in most deprived areas of UK

Immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab improves outcomes for patients with soft tissue sarcoma

A formula for life? New model calculates chances of intelligent beings in our Universe and beyond

Could a genetic flaw be the key to stopping people craving sugary treats?

Experts urge complex systems approach to assess A.I. risks

Fossil fuel CO2 emissions increase again in 2024

Winners of Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2024 announced

A toolkit for unraveling the links between intimate partner violence, trauma and substance misuse

Can everyday physical activity improve cognitive health in middle age?

Updated guidance reaffirms CPR with breaths essential for cardiac arrest following drowning

Study reveals medical boards rarely discipline physician misinformation

New treatment helps children with rare spinal condition regain ability to walk

'Grow Your Own' teacher prep pipeline at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette funded by US Department of Education

Lab-grown human immune system uncovers weakened response in cancer patients

More than 5 million Americans would be eligible for psychedelic therapy, study finds

[Press-News.org] History professor examines Nelson Rockefeller’s career as a lens for Republican Party’s rightward shift
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign history professor Marsha Barrett examines Nelson Rockefeller’s career and the shift away from moderation in politics in her new book, “Nelson Rockefeller’s Dilemma: The Fight to Save Moderate Republicanism”