Current Institutional Affiliation
Professor, Carl Albert Center, University of Oklahoma

Award Information

Negotiating Agreement in Congress Research Grants 2016
Institutional Affiliation (at time of award):
Associate Director, Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center
Beyond the Roll Call: Multidimensional Negotiation During the Great Society

By any measure, the 89th Congress (1965-67) represented one of the most productive in American history. How was Congress able to successfully pass Great Society legislation at a time when party leaders lacked formal powers to pressure rank-and-files members from ideologically diverse coalitions? I will answer this question by combining text analysis with archival research on legislative activity related to the Great Society. The principal area of exploration will focus on the papers of then Democratic Majority Leader Carl Albert (D-OK) paying close attention to correspondence and Great Society legislation.

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