Political Science and Political Culture
No TL;DR found
Abstract
MAY I BEGIN by thanking you for the honor you have done me in electing me to the presidency of the Pacific Northwest Political Science Association. I am especially gratified because in truth this office constitutes the final achievement of my political ambitions and the culmination of my political career. Can it be that all political scientists are frustrated politicians at heart? Perhaps I have just been overstimulated by the presidential politicking that is under way this year. Yet with all our knowledge of politics, campaign strategy, and voting behavior, I must confess that I have no idea how I got elected. Applying election analysis to my experience tells me nothing. Since I came to this region from the mid-West twenty-one years ago, I am first of all a carpetbagger. I was elected the first secretary-treasurer of the Association, serving three years from 1948 through 1950, and later vice president in 1954-55. Then pass thirteen years before I am summoned to office again. Does this make me wheel-horse or dark-horse? Modesty forbids me to explore charisma here; but I certainly have no demonstrated ability as a quick vote-getter. Still and all, General de Gaulle also was kept waiting in the wings for thirteen long years. Perhaps the fact that I went to Europe last Spring was taken as a sign of my imminent availability. But actually I was elected before I could return, which may suggest the trip abroad is not so important as presidential hopefuls think. I was notified of my election in Rome, where I was much affected by the atmosphere of this ancient center of political authority, and where so many men before have seized the levers of power. I would like to find some significance in that, but it seems to have been only simple coincidence. That same day I also visited the Vatican, and while I was in St. Peter's, Pope Paul made an appearance and gave us all his blessing. Surely another auspicious sign! Yet I come today to the end of my term of office without having penetrated any of the mysteries. Perhaps we must draw upon the Poet for an answer: