Jews in American Politics: Essays

Donald Altschiller, Sandy L. Maisel, Ira N. Forman, Charles Walker Bassett

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2004 - History - 350 pages

Joseph Lieberman's Vice Presidential nomination and Presidential candidacy are neither the first nor last words on signal Jewish achievements in American politics. Jews have played an important role in American government since the early 1800s at least, and in view of the 2004 election, there is no political office outside the reach of Jewish American citizens.

For the first time, Jews in American Politics: Essays brings together a complete picture of the past, present, and future of Jewish political participation. Perfect for students and scholars alike, this monumental work includes thoughtful and original chapters by leading journalists, scholars, and practitioners. Topics range from Jewish leadership and identity; to Jews in Congress, on the Supreme Court, and in presidential administrations; and on to Jewish influence in the media, the lobbies, and in other arenas in which American government operates powerfully, if informally. In addition to the thematically unified essays, Jews in American Politics: Essays concludes with an invaluable roster of Jews in key governmental positions from Ambassadorships and Cabinet posts to federal judges, state governors, and mayors of major cities.

Both analytical and anecdotal, the essays in Jews in American Politics offer deep insight into serious questions about the dilemmas that Jews in public
service face, as well as humorous sidelights and authoritative reference materials never before collected in one source. The story of the rich tradition of Jewish participation in American political life provides an indispensable resource for any serious follower of American politics, especially in election year 2004.

Contents

• The Lieberman Candidacy: xxv
• THEMES TRENDS AND AMERICAN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: 1
• IDENTITY AND POLITICS Dilemmas of Jewish Leadership in America: 3
• AT THE SUMMIT Presidents Presidential Appointments and Jews: 29
• ON THE HILL Jews in the United States Congress: 49
• ON THE BENCH The Jewish Justices: 65
• MOVERS SHAKERS AND LEADERS Jewish Party Politicians: 81
• WHO DOES WHAT? Jewish Advocacy and Jewish Interest: 99
• A PART AND APART Jewish Americans the Media and American Politics: 121
• THE POLITICS OF MINORITY CONSCIOUSNESS The Historical Voting Behavior of American Jews: 141
• STILL LIBERAL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS? The Contemporary Political Behavior of American Jewry: 161
• RIGHT TURN? Jews and the American Conservative Movement: 195
• FAMISHED FOR JUSTICE The Jew as Radical: 213
• ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZERS Jewish Women and American Politics: 231
• ISRAEL AND BEYOND American Jews and US Foreign Policy: 251
• HOSTS NOT VISITORS The Future of Jews in American Politics: 271
• ANNOTATED SOURCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS: 287
• ROSTERS OF JEWISH LEADERSHIP AND VOTING: 297
• Jewish Cabinet Officers: 299
• Jews in the United States Senate: 301
• Jews in the United States House of Representatives: 303
• Jews on the United States Supreme Court: 307
• Jewish Governors: 309
• Jews Holding Statewide Constitutional Offices: 311
• Jewish Mayors of Major Cities: 313
• Concentration of Jewish Population 18002000: 315
• Jewish Voting Patterns in Selected Elections: 319
• Jewish Voting Pattern in Selected Gubernatorial Elections: 320
• Jewish Voting Patterns in Selected United States Senatorial Elections: 322
• Jewish Voting Pattern in Selected City Elections: 324
• INDEX: 325
• LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS: 347

About the author

Ira N. Forman is Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council and the Research Director of the Solomon Project.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Jews in American Politics: Essays; Politics - judaica; Solomon project book
• Editors: Donald Altschiller, Sandy L. Maisel, Ira N. Forman, Charles Walker Bassett
• Edition: illustrated, revised
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2004
• ISBN: 0742528804, 9780742528802
• Length: 350 pages
• Subjects: History / United States / General; Language Arts & Disciplines / Journalism; Political Science / American Government / General; Political Science / American Government / National; Political Science / Essays; Political Science / Political Process / General; Political Science / Political Process / Media & Internet; Social Science / Media Studies