Presidential concessions
From Wolf Blitzer Reports' Jennifer Coggiola in Washington:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- It's the timing, the emotion -- or lack thereof, and the attitude. How a candidate bows-out can say a lot about their character and possibly about their future.
When it's time to go, it's time to go. But how to go is the question.
Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley says Richard Nixon serves as a good case study.
"With Nixon, you see the right way to do it and the wrong way to do it," says Brinkley.
 |
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
|
Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in.
Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions.
|
|
In 1960, Richard Nixon lost to John F. Kennedy by the slimmest margin. And although the Republican party urged him to contest it, he opted not to, and graciously dropped out.
Two years later, Nixon lost the California governor's race -- and the graciousness.
"You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore!" is Nixon's infamous quote from the defeat.
Another poor losing strategy, according to Brinkley, was the one implemented by Ted Kennedy, who's gracious 1980 concession speech was followed by a less-than-gracious rub on Jimmy Carter at the convention days later.
And after losing in New Hampshire in 1988, Bob Dole later accused his opponent George Bush of lying.
"You live your life as a biography and you have chapters and how you handle yourself in time of adversity and crises defines you," says Brinkley.
Political analyst Stu Rothenberg offers a concession lesson for this season's candidates:
"The best way is to say you fought a good fight, congratulate the winners, say you made a contribution and you're gonna continue to work to help the party. That way you've pleased everybody," says Rothenberg.
That, political pundits say, is exactly what the latest round of democratic concession speeches have accomplished.
To bow out gracefully or make like a sore loser. It's these choices candidates make that could write their last chapter in the history books.
