Julian Zelizer: The Myth of Republican Discipline
Democrats continually wonder why their party seems to have so much trouble holding their coalition together. The fact is, any major political coalition is unwieldy and hard to keep intact. It’s a myth that Republicans have had an easier time remaining united.
When in power, Republicans have always struggled to maintain control. During the 1950s, President Dwight Eisenhower engaged in fierce battles with Midwestern Republicans who were opposed to excessive foreign intervention and who did not think Eisenhower was doing enough to fight communism at home.
In the 1970s, Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford faced problems of their own. Ronald Reagan, the California governor at the time, and other fellow conservatives railed against the policy of détente, claiming that the G.O.P. was too willing to negotiate with the Soviets over arms control....
The reality is that unity frequently turns on presidential leadership. Successful presidents either have to form grand compromises, like Roosevelt did, or they have to be willing to govern with a strong hand over members of their own party, like George W. Bush. If they are not willing or able to employ one of those tactics, they run the risk of watching their coalition implode.
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When in power, Republicans have always struggled to maintain control. During the 1950s, President Dwight Eisenhower engaged in fierce battles with Midwestern Republicans who were opposed to excessive foreign intervention and who did not think Eisenhower was doing enough to fight communism at home.
In the 1970s, Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford faced problems of their own. Ronald Reagan, the California governor at the time, and other fellow conservatives railed against the policy of détente, claiming that the G.O.P. was too willing to negotiate with the Soviets over arms control....
The reality is that unity frequently turns on presidential leadership. Successful presidents either have to form grand compromises, like Roosevelt did, or they have to be willing to govern with a strong hand over members of their own party, like George W. Bush. If they are not willing or able to employ one of those tactics, they run the risk of watching their coalition implode.