Follow the Leader: Opinion Polls and the Modern Presidents

By Barbara Hinckley

Book Overview

With elections drawing fewer and fewer voters, US presidents govern increasingly on the strength of support from public opinion polls. This is a systematic account of how modern presidents from Truman to Bush have interpreted and responded to changes in their popularity as reflected in the polls.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0465013341
• ISBN13: 9780465013340
• Release Date: November 1992
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 256 Pages

Customer Reviews

Useful Framework

Brace & Hinckley's work provides a relevant and useful framework for understanding the interdependencies of popularity, policy, perception and politics and thier importance vis-a-vis the American presidency ---- a must read for citizens and the Obama administration.

A good read, but nothing special

Brace and Hinckley's book is somewhat outdated nowadays, but still can be a useful primer on how presidents relate to opinion polling, and how they attempt to shape public opinion to suit their needs. It's well written and clear. Overall useful and interesting, but nothing special.Anyone looking to learn more about this subject needs to read Going Public by Samuel Kernell, which is the basic text for understanding how, when and why presidents take their message to the public.