Year of the Survivor

Before the November election produced constitutional contortions unseen since 1876, we were considering a variety of candidates for Person of the Year. We have often chosen a new President-elect, but not always: neither John F. Kennedy nor Richard Nixon was selected the year he won.

But as the postelection turmoil escalated, it became clear that it was the story of the year and more: whoever was the survivor would be not only the next President but a symbol of a historic showdown that would be remembered and cited a century hence. So by early last week, without knowing whether Al Gore...

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