1.Which Political Party currently controls the White House? 2.Which Party currently controls the House of Representatives? 3.Who is your U.S. Representative, and what Party does he/she belong to? 4.Which Party currently controls the Senate? 5.Name one of our two California U.S. Senators, and the Party he/she belongs to. 6.When is the first national election you will be eligible to vote? 7.Are you going to vote in that election? Why, or why not? 8.What animal symbol is used by the Democrats?, by the Republicans?

The now-famous Democratic donkey was first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign. His opponents called him a donkey (or something closely similar to Jackson’s name), and Jackson decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign posters. Democrats today say the donkey is smart and brave.

Republicans say the elephant is strong and dignified. That's all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party. In a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, famous cartoonist Thomas Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled “The Republican Vote.”

1.Please take notes (Cornell Style). 2.Got a question?, raise your hand! 3.Notes will help with the homework questions.

Richard M. Nixon Republican, 1st president of the Divided Gov’t. Era. Former Vice Pres. under Eisenhower, Beat V.P. Humphrey in election. Dems. divided over war in Vietnam, civil rights, and social welfare issues. Credited with ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam, opening “detente” with Soviet Union, and opening relations with Communist China. Implicated in Watergate Affair, break-in to Dem. HQ’s. Beat Sen. Geo. McGovern of S.D. in a landslide in Resigned in disgrace following start of Congressional impeachment hearings in 1974.

Gerald R. Ford Republican, Vice President under Nixon who assumed office of the president with Nixon’s resignation. First and only president who was not elected to serve as either the Vice President or President. (25 th Amendment) U.S. economy mired in a deep recession during his time in office. Granted Nixon a Presidential Pardon for any crimes Nixon may have committed while in office. Lost the very close presidential election of 1976 to Democrat Jimmy Carter. Continued economic issues and the Nixon pardon hurt his reelection bid.

Jimmy Carter Democrat, former governor of Georgia. U.S. continued to be stuck in a deep recession and American pride and prestige heavily beaten down over the fall of the South Vietnamese government. Iranian Revolution–Hostage Crisis (seen the movie Argo?) Never fully established a feeling of confidence in his abilities to be an effective president. Landslide loss to Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election. Know today as a great humanitarian – one of the most famous volunteer workers of Habitat for Humanity

Ronald Reagan Republican, former governor of California. Initiated sweeping political and economic initiatives to effect recovery. “Reaganomics,” reduced taxes to spur spending and economic growth, deregulated much of the economy and reduced government spending. Won re-election in 1984 in another landslide, beat Carter’s V.P., Walter Mondale. Second term focused on foreign policy, put pressure on the Soviet Union through defense spending, “Star Wars” space initiative. End of the “Cold War.”

George H. W. Bush (“41”) Republican, Vice President under Reagan. Beat Democratic challenger, Mass. Governor Michael Dukakis. Focused on foreign policy during his term. Built the military coalition that fought the first Gulf War to push Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. Famous quote from 1988 nomination acceptance speech, “read my lips, no new taxes!,” hurt him in his 1992 re-election bid when he agreed to allow tax raises due to a weakening economy.

William “Bill” Clinton Democrat, Governor of Arkansas. Beat President Bush (41) in an election that featured a strong showing from “3 rd party” candidate, Ross Perot. First “Baby-Boomer” president. Initiated welfare reform and presided over a recovering economy. Beat Republican Congressman Bob Dole in 1996 presidential election. Sex scandal involving a White House intern. Impeached by Congress in 1998 for perjury and obstruction of justice but was acquitted by Senate on a 55 to 45 vote.

George W. Bush (“43”) Republican, Governor of Texas. Beat Democrat, V. P. Al Gore in a close election, the “hanging chad” in Florida issue. Lost popular vote but won electoral vote. Sept. 11 th attacks took place during first year of term. Launched the “War on Terror” that led to invasion of Iraq and attacks in Afghanistan. Re-elected in 2004 in a close challenge by Democratic Senator John Kerry. “The Great Recession,” deepest economic decline since the Great Depression of the 1930’s took place at the end of his second term in office.

Barrack Obama Democrat, Senator from Illinois. First since J.F.K. Defeated Republican Ariz. Senator John McCain. Assumed office in midst of the Great Recession. Initiated numerous economic stimulus packages to help pull the U.S. economy out of the recession. The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) established due to his domestic initiatives. Defeated former Republican Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney in 2012 presidential election. Ended U.S. military involvement in the Iraq War, but has had to initiate military action in the region against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

1.Since 1969, how many Republican presidents has the U.S. had, and how many Democrat presidents? 2.What are the animal symbols of the Democrat and the Republican parties? 3.Who was the first “Baby Boomer” president elected? 4.Which president lost the popular vote, but won their office by electoral votes? 5.Which two presidents had impeachment hearings started against them. 6.Who was the first Senator to be elected president since John F. Kennedy. 7.Why is the period from 1968 through today called the Divided Government Era? 8.Name two presidents during this era who were not reelected to second terms as president. Extra Credit: Bush “41” and Bush “43” are not the first Father & Son to serve as U.S. presidents. Can you name the one other Father & Son U.S. presidents?