Albert Gore, Sr. | Author
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. At one point in the book, Albert Gore, Sr. says that "defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out." What does he mean by this? Do you agree?
2. The face of American politics was forever changed by the Great Depression. How did it change Gore's political conscience?
3. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Gore was highly cognizant of the problems associated with racism. In what ways did he confront these?
4. Discuss the objectives of the "Dixiecrats" during the 1928 elections.
5. What state did Gore refer to as "America's South Africa"? What did he mean by this?
6. Discuss Gore's opposition to President Johnson's Vietnam policy.
7. "You are more popular in defeat than you might have been in victory." Explain this statement. Does it hold just as true today, in light of his son's defeat, as it did in Gore Sr.'s time? Why or why not?
8. The South has always been distinct, both economically and politically. In what ways did Gore strive to connect the South to the rest of America?
9. "Perhaps [America's youth] are more volatile than their parents, perhaps more impatient, and surely more demanding. But what is wrong with impatience and injustice and the demand for its correction? This is the very core of democtratic politics." Do you agree with this statement? Is this statement timeless? Does every younger generation strive for change similarly, or are youth becoming increasingly less satisfied?
10. Discuss the similarities between Albert Gore Sr. and Al Gore. Are there differences in their political views? Has Gore, Jr. perpetuated his father's legacy?