Presidential Winners and Losers

Presidential scholar John Vile brings together a rich collection of speeches, statements, and related information that focus on a subject largely neglected by presidential studies: How successful and unsuccessful candidates for the highest office in the land deal with the outcome of the election. Every four years Americans select one person to occupy the White House for four years. One or more others must deal with their defeat, in public statements and private thoughts. In modern times, victory and concession speeches are an expected part of the election pageant, routinely delivered instantly to the nation's voters on television. It was not always so. Formal concession statements in telegrams and speeches did not emerge until the late 19th century. Even victory speeches developed slowly to their modern form. Vile has collected more than 500 speeches and other documents, from George Washington to George W. Bush, that relate to the outcome of elections. Many are actual candidate statements or speeches, while others are private letters, diary entries, interviews, and newspaper and journal articles. Vile shows how, collectively, they create a window to the thoughts of presidential can