It has sometimes been remarked upon a president’s reelection that there is a “2nd term curse,” where presidential records and legacies take a hit due to lesser success than the 1st term. But are 2nd terms really less successful than 1st terms? What factors can we look at to examine the theory’s validity? What do other political observers have to say about the idea? Today’s episode covers these questions and more, including how Donald Trump (currently) compares to previous two-term presidents?

Today’s Random Fact of the Day: Donald Trump and Grover Cleveland are the two presidents to serve nonconsecutive terms, but did you know that there a bunch of other prominent offices in the US that have seen people serve nonconsecutive terms?

Download my FREE 5-day educational email course: https://detoxifyamericanpolitics.com/

My website: https://paulrader.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulRaderWrites

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulrader352/

Medium: https://paulrader-42650.medium.com/

Email: [email protected]

Matchmaker FM profile for booking me on your podcast: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/paul-rader-329e65

(0:00) Intro and today's topic: 2nd Term Curse?

(5:37) 1st vs. 2nd Terms: Presidential Approval Ratings

(10:30) 1st vs. 2nd Terms: Seats Gained/Lost in Congress by the President's Party

(16:28) 1st vs. 2nd Terms: Partisan Majority Control of Congress

(21:03) 1st vs. 2nd Terms: Scandals and Major Negative Events

(26:54) So...is There a 2nd Term Curse?

(31:37) Closing and Today's Random Fact of the Day