THE ELECTION: Harrying Truman

Is his fall and rise a valid model for Bill Clinton or merely a bedtime story for wishful Democrats?

America was not buying the President's health-insurance plan, the one that guaranteed every citizen "ready access to all necessary medical, hospital and related services." The populace held him partly responsible for the economy, which looked good on paper but not at the grocery store. But mostly, it appeared, his fellow citizens simply disdained him. So much that the 87% approval rating he enjoyed after taking over was down to 32%. So much that when the midterm election approached, his party leaders implored him not to campaign. So much that his party got trounced anyway, reversing its long- standing majorities in both...

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