Jack’s Angle: The Ossification of American political parties & Presidential politics – John J. “Jack” Partridge

by John J. “Jack” Partridge, contributing writer, commentary

THE Ossification of American political parties and Presidential politics

The recent presidential debate was revealing and troublesome. It was a case of two elderly men who, for very personal reasons, have contrived to lead their parties into partisan canyons, as one periodical called it. “the infirm vs. egocentric”.

Over 51 million Americans were tuned in to watch the expected carnage of the debate and they were not disappointed. “How was it that these two became the leaders of their respective national political parties,” viewers asked themselves. Has it ever happened before?

Yes, it has, and with dramatic results – when the Democrats were taken over by the oratory and inflationary politics of William Jennings Bryant at the turn of the nineteenth century. And how did that work out?  

And the GOP had to live through Theodore Roosevelt’s  rebellion and third party candidacy. Roosevelt gave Woodrow Wilson and the Democrats the presidency in 1912, and eight years in power until the enfeebled Wilson and a bitterly divided Democratic party gave up power to the Republicans in 1920.  Remember the “return” to  normalcy slogan?  

Voters back then asked similar questions. They often looked to third parties for directions, and were frustrated when there were not credible answers from the splinters emerging from what were the leading parties.  In fact, the major parties were as ossified in terms of new ideas and people as those of today. Yet they managed to get through the tough years and find new leaders.

As the two debate participants  jeered at each other in their confrontation of last week, and both claimed to have been a better president on no discernible or consistent basis, one wonders where is it all heading.

In fact history tells us we will have to wait for a politician like a Roosevelt or Reagan who can galvanize support from the generally middle of the road voting Americans, again. While the bench appears to be weak at the moment, I believe there will be someone, hopefully sooner rather than later.

He or she will have to suffer through years of battling the poohbahs and strictures of the parties, old loyalties, and unnecessary road blocks that frustrate ambitions, and learn how to raise awareness, to organize, use social media, and find important funding. The traditional process seems to be broken at this moment, with these two elderly men presented by the parties as leaders.  

One wonders if these parties will still be around when new leadership with ideas arrives; or will the parties break apart by then, because they have become too rigid to ever be led by someone fresh and thoughtful, with allegiance as to American values that deserve to be refreshed by and with the consent of the people through the electoral process.

The Republican party was founded in 1858 at such a  moment, when Democrats were captured by southern slave holding constituents and the Whigs couldn’t get their policies  and personalities, like Lincoln, in alignment. It is possible a new party could develop, despite the odds, given new candidates with ideas and personalities, and issues that appeal to voters.

For my part, I feel certain Biden will continue the campaign, as he appears to have turned for advice only from those who want him to continue. Isn’t it a wonder that we have not had him seek, at least publicly, medical advice? And it is also a wonder “the Donald” seems to have been relatively quiet, leaving surrogates to question Biden’s advisors and to chortle at the apostasy of the New York Times and similar “bed wetters”. That is a minor marvel.

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To read more columns by Jack Partridge, go to: https://rinewstoday.com/our-team/john-j-jack-partridge/

John J. ‘Jack’ Partridge, is a retired lawyer and Senior Counsel to the firm of Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, with four offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.A Pawtucket native, Jack graduated from St. Raphael Academy and suMMA cum laude of Providence College, where he majored in History. After Harvard Law School, he served in the United States Army in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal. In 1967, he joined the firm of Tillinghast Collins & Tanner. In 1988, he became a founding partner of Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP.

Jack has been engaged in many civic, political, governmental, and Business organizations, serving as legal counsel to the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce for 27 years and was chairman of the Old Slater Mill Association, Common Cause Rhode Island, and Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island.

He is the co-founder of The Pawtucket Foundation and an officer and director of innumerable not-for-profit entities. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club and was Treasurer of the Ocean State Charities Trust.

Jack has a long history of leadership involvement with Providence College, which recognized him in 1999 with the Providence College Alumni Association Recognition Award for Public and Community Service, and in 2011, with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

He is married to the former Regina McDonald and has three children: Sarah, Gregory and David.

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