The Evolution of Presidential Polling is a book about presidential power and autonomy. Since Roosevelt, virtually all presidents have employed private polls in some capacity. This book attempts to explain how presidential polling evolved from a rarely conducted secretive enterprise, to a commonplace event that is now considered an integral part of the presidency. Professor Eisinger contends that because presidents do not trust institutions such as Congress, the media and political parties - all of which also gauge public opinion - they opt to gain autonomy from these institutions by conducting private polls to be read and interpreted solely for themselves.

Explains how presidential polling evolved.
Reviews
"[A] pioneering book...illuminates the field with an inventive and rigorous research agenda." Brandon Rottinghaus, University of Idaho, Public Opinion Quarterly
"[A] pioneering book...illuminates the field with an inventive and rigorous research agenda." Brandon Rottinghaus, University of Idaho, Public Opinion Quarterly
"After Eisinger's book, it will be hard to write a history of the modern American presidency or of contemporary American politics without taking into account of how presidential policy making really gets done." Stanley B. Greenberg, CEO, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Reasearch and Pollster for President Clinton.
"Robert M. Eisinger's, The Evolution of Presidential Polling provides the single most comprehensive and clear exposition to date of the changing role of the presidential political pollster. He convincingly demonstrates that as presidents acquired a reliable and timely listening ear to the voice of the public, key power relationships between themselves and the Congress, the media, and the parties were permanently altered." Richard B. Wirthlin, Chairman, Wirthlin Worldwide
"Robert M. Eisinger's, The Evolution of Presidential Polling provides the single most comprehensive and clear exposition to date of the changing role of the presidential political pollster. He convincingly demonstrates that as presidents acquired a reliable and timely listening ear to the voice of the public, key power relationships between themselves and the Congress, the media, and the parties were permanently altered." Richard B. Wirthlin, Chairman, Wirthlin Worldwide
"Eisinger researches in impressive depth the use of pols from FDR through Clinton.... Recommended." Choice



Book Information
ISBN 9780521017008
Author Robert M. Eisinger
Format Paperback
Page Count 228
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 316g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 153mm * 16mm