Ronald L. Feinman

Ronald L. Feinman received his Ph.D. from the City University of New York Graduate School in 1975. His dissertation advisor was Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. Dr. Feinman is the author of “Twilight of Progressivism: The Western Republican Senators and the New Deal” (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1981) and “Assassinations, Threats, and the American Presidency: From Andrew Jackson to Barack Obama” (Rowman Littlefield Publishers, 2015, Paperback Edition 2017). In addition to this blog, Dr. Feinman has blogged at TheProgressiveProfessor.com since 2008 and is a political and historical Commentator on Radio Station WWGH, 107.1 FM, Marion, Ohio. Dr. Feinman has spent nearly a half century as Professor of American History, Government and Politics and is still teaching a US Presidency class at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida every Fall and Spring term.

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  May 31, 2023
  

  Trump Poised to Join Short List of 3-Time Presidential Nominees

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  Although other figures have appeared on the presidential ballot three times, and FDR did it four times, Trump could potentially become the first three-time popular vote loser. 

  

• 
  Apr 19, 2023
  

  US Senators are Older than Ever – Could California Actually Continue the Trend with Barbara Lee?

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  If Senator Dianne Feinstein completes her term in office through 2024, California Democrats will have a battle royale to succeed her. A progressive challenge from Rep. Barbara Lee would seek to make her the oldest senator ever elected to office. 

  

• 
  Mar 19, 2023
  

  Will 2024 Follow 1912 with a Former President Running on a Third Party Ticket?

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  If Trump follows the lead of Teddy Roosevelt and pursues a third party run, the Democrats will be the big winners. 

  

• 
  Mar 3, 2023
  

  Custom and Law Have Limited Most Presidents' Time in Office. Who Could Have Had a Third Term?

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  Before the 22nd Amendment, only custom barred a president from seeking a third term in office. For the sake of argument, who could have joined FDR in exceeding 8 years in office?

  

• 
  Feb 22, 2023
  

  William Leuchtenburg and Bernard Weisberger Achieve a New Honor: Centenarians

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  The two historians have been lauded for their contributions to understanding the New Deal, Reconstruction, the auto industry, baseball, and a host of other topics. But the author now salutes them for their longevity. 

  

• 
  Feb 9, 2023
  

  The Rarity of the Two-Term VP

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  It's been much more rare for a vice president to serve two full terms than for their boss POTUS. Joe Biden is just the ninth person to do it. Will he help Kamala Harris become the tenth? 

  

• 
  Jan 27, 2023
  

  Two Years In, Biden Faces Decision about 2024

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  If Biden makes the decision now not to run in 2024, he could commit himself wholeheartedly to the work of statesmanship and advocacy that will help a Democratic successor win and govern. 

  

• 
  Jan 6, 2023
  

  Three Ex-Presidents have Tried to Return to Office with Third-Party Runs. None Have Succeeded

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  Donald Trump's recent hints at running a third-party MAGA campaign if the Republicans nominate someone else aren't unprecedented, but if history is any guide, such a run would only help the Democrats. 

  

• 
  Dec 18, 2022
  

  Sinema's Switch Reminds Us: Independent Senators Have Been a Colorful Bunch

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  Kyrsten Sinema's surprise announcement of her departure from the Democratic Party puts her in the ranks of eleven modern independent senators who, whatever their individual politics, were often unconcerned with being team players. 

  

• 
  Nov 18, 2022
  

  Projecting the Next Presidential Winner from the Midterm Results is a Fool's Bet

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  Politicians and pundits have begun to make presidential election predictions based on the national and state-level results of the midterms. Most of those predictions will be worthless; few presidential winners have seemed like a sure thing two years before. 

  

• 
  Oct 3, 2022
  

  The Reputation of Presidents Takes a Hit in Their Second Term

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  The 2024 presidential campaign is fast approaching, with speculation rampant about whether Biden should seek a second term. Although his political fortunes have improved recently, the record of second-term presidents might give him pause. 

  

• 
  Mar 4, 2022
  

  Why Two Congresswomen, Generations Apart, Stood Alone Against the Tide of War

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  Jeannette Rankin and Barbara Lee both put their principles ahead of popularity in opposing resolutions for war in Congress. 

  

• 
  Feb 18, 2022
  

  Strained Relationships between Presidents and Vice Presidents are Nothing New

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  Mike Pence is just the latest vice president to have a fraught relationship with the president. Whether POTUS and the VP get along has historically been a coin toss. 

  

• 
  Feb 2, 2022
  

  Senate Votes Against War Resolutions Have Been Rare; Here are some Noteworthy Ones

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  As the United States prepares to move troops to Eastern Europe amid escalating tensions with Russia over Ukraine, it's worth reflecting on how a rush to war can sweep up political leaders. Here are some 20th Century members of Congress who stood against the tide. 

  

• 
  Dec 5, 2021
  

  Seven Ex-Presidents Have Tried To Reclaim the Office. Will There Be an Eighth?

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  In the next year’s time, it will likely become clear whether Donald Trump becomes the 8^th ex-president to try to return to the Oval Office, and whether he follows the trend of failure in such efforts.

  

• 
  Nov 14, 2021
  

  Will New York State Return to Dominating Presidential Elections?

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  New Yorkers have dominated the parties' presidential tickets for much of American history, but do demographic shifts mean that the significance of New York is waning? 

  

• 
  Oct 8, 2021
  

  The Kennedys and the Levins: Two Significant Pairs of Brothers in Congress

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  Everyone knows the Kennedys, but Carl and Sander Levin of Michigan were another important pair of Congressional brothers. 

  

• 
  Sep 26, 2021
  

  Famous Parent-Child Pairs in the Senate-Part II: The Democrats

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  The Longs, the Byrds, the Bayhs and the Gores are four sets of fathers and sons to serve as Democrats in the US Senate. 

  

• 
  Sep 10, 2021
  

  Famous Parent-Child Pairs in the US Senate: Part 1-The Republicans

  by Ronald L. Feinman

  The LaFollettes, Tafts, Chafees and Murkowskis are the four pairs of parents and children to serve as Republicans in the US Senate. 

  

• 
  Aug 22, 2021
  

  First-Year Foreign Policy Disasters are a Frequent Feature of the Presidency

  by Ronald L. Feinman