The High Tide of American Conservatism: Davis, Coolidge, and the 1924 Election [Hardcover]

Garland S. Tucker III (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2010

Historians have generally failed to understand the significance of the election of 1924, the last time both major political parties each nominated a bona fide conservative candidate.

The High Tide of American Conservatism casts new light on both the election and the two candidates, John W. Davis and Calvin Coolidge. Both nominees articulately expounded a similar philosophy of limited government and maximum individual freedom; and both men were exemplary public servants. The enduring consequence of this election was the philosophical divergence of the two parties--Democrats leftward and Republicans rightward. As the proper role of government in a free society continues to be a topic of heated, partisan debate, every American--conservative or liberal--will benefit from an understanding of the 1924 election. Conservatives will recognize the link between Coolidge and Reagan and the modern Republican Party, and they will rejoice to discover a new conservative titan, John W. Davis.

Editorial Reviews

Review

''That historians have largely failed to understand the significance of that election points to what Tucker has accomplished as a non-historian. His revisionist account not only upgrades the election in historical terms, but it also casts a fresh light on Coolidge and Davis. The contest between Coolidge and Davis was unique. It was the last time Republicans and Democrats chose conservatives as presidential candidates to run against each other. Tucker is justified, I think, in calling the election 'the high tide of American conservatism.'''
--Fred Barnes, Executive Editor of The Weekly Standard and political contributor for FOX News Channel

''...As Garland S. Tucker III makes clear in this fascinating study...[this] election was the last time the presidential nominees of the two parties could both be described as conservatives...but since the Democratic party after 1924 was unreservedly the part of the left in the United States, this election may fairly be described, as Mr. Tucker does, as the 'high tide of American conservatism.'''
--Philip Terzian, The Weekly Standard

''As a pollster, who has for many years studied the shifting tides in political thought in the nation, I found Garland Tucker's book to be enormously helpful in shedding new light on the 1924 Davis/Coolidge presidential race and to its underlying meaning and significance.''
--George Gallup, historian and author

''Well-told tale of one of the most extraordinary and long forgotten Presidential elections in American history. The major party nominees in the 1924 contest were both genuine conservatives. Their conservatism was not skin-deep but rather well thought out and articulated with compelling eloquence. But after 1924 the Democrats irrevocably became the party of the Left while Republicans eventually became the party of conservatism. Those dismayed by American politics today will find solace and perhaps inspiration in reading of this election. Author Tucker has written a fascinating account of a contest we won't likely see replicated again.''
--Steve Forbes, Chairman & CEO of Forbes Media

''With The High Tide of American Conservatism, Garland Tucker has made a splendid contribution to this recovery work. Here is a well-researched, well-structured narrative of classic conservative principles in action at the highest levels of politics. Along the way we get thoughtful pen-portraits of two great American gentlemen, men of the highest honor and integrity, both of whom believed, in the words of Coolidge, that 'unless there abides in [the people] the spirit of industry and thrift, of sacrifice and self-denial, of courage and enterprise, and a belief in the reality of truth and justice, all the efforts of the Government will be in vain.''' --
John Derbyshire, National Review

''Many conservatives believe the summit of their beliefs began and ended with the sainted Reagan. Not true. As Garland S. Tucker III shows in The High Tide of American Conservatism,' in 1924 both presidential candidates, Calvin Coolidge and John Davis, campaigned for limited government, reduced taxes and low tariffs. The Republican Coolidge won in a landslide, in part because the Democrats were in the process of disowning a relatively conservative tradition dating back 40 years in favor of the new progressive politics of Franklin Roosevelt. Coolidge, arguably our least-known good president, served two terms that coincided with strong economic growth enabled in part by steep, across-the-board tax cuts. In the decades that followed, liberal historians tried, with success, to discredit and bury the economic conservatism of the 1920s. The concerns of this important period largely disappeared from the political conversation. But now they're back, thanks to the tea-party movement. Anyone seeking clarity about what's at stake in the run-up to 2012 needs to know what happened to our politics in 1924. It wasn't complicated, it was very exciting and it worked. And Garland S. Tucker III's book is a perfect guide.'' --
Daniel Henninger, Wall Street Journal

Well-told tale of one of the most extraordinary and long forgotten Presidential elections in American history. The major party nominees in the 1924 contest were both genuine conservatives. Their conservatism was not skin-deep but rather well thought out and articulated with compelling eloquence. But after 1924 the Democrats irrevocably became the party of the Left while Republicans eventually became the party of conservatism. Those dismayed by American politics today will find solace and perhaps inspiration in reading of this election. Author Tucker has written a fascinating account of a contest we won t likely see replicated again. --Steve Forbes, Chairman & CEO of Forbes Media

About the Author

Garland S. Tucker, III, is president/CEO of Triangle Capital Corporation, a publicly traded specialty finance company located in Raleigh, North Carolina. He graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Washington and Lee University and received an MBA degree from Harvard Business School. He is a former member of the New York Stock Exchange; serves on the boards of a number of companies, schools, and charitable organizations; and is a lifelong student of history.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Emerald Book Company; 1st Ed. edition (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934572500
• ISBN-13: 978-1934572504
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,093 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)