Sean J. Savage
Department of Political Science
Saint Mary’s College
Notre Dame, IN 46556-5001
Phone: (574) 284-4471 Fax: (574) 284-4866 E-mail: ssavage@saintmarys.edu
EDUCATION
Ph.D., BOSTON COLLEGE: 1986-1990
Ph.D. awarded on January 2, 1990
Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Fellow
Major Fields: American Politics and Public Law
Sub-fields: American Political Thought, State/Local Politics, Public Policy
Minor Fields: American History, Soviet Union, International Relations
M.A., SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY (Maxwell School): 1985-1986
M.A. awarded on December 23, 1986
Specialized in Public Administration, Urban Politics, and Public Policy
Participated in the Maxwell Seminar and internship in Washington, DC
B.A., ASSUMPTION COLLEGE: 1982-1985
Valedictorian of the Class of 1985
Completed college within three years
Majors: Politics, History Minor: English
HONORS
AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION, Inaugural Recipient
of the Emerging Scholar Award, granted by the APSA’s Political
Organizations and Parties Section, chaired by Professor Gerald Pomper
of Rutgers University, Washington, D.C., 1993
Boston College, Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Fellow, assistant to the O’Neill Chair,
Professor Herbert Kaufman of the Brookings Institution, 1986-87
Assumption College, Citations for Excellence in Politics and in History,
Summa Cum Laude, Valedictorian, 1985
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Associate Professor, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN: 1996-
Assistant Professor, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN: 1990-96
College Lecturer, Regis College, Weston, MA: 1989-90
College Lecturer, Curry College, Milton, MA: 1987
Teaching Assistant at Syracuse University and Boston College for
Political Philosophy, American Government, Public Bureaucracy,
Public Opinion, and Public Policy courses: 1985-1989
SUMMARY OF TEACHING DUTIES AT SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE
I usually teach a 4-3 course schedule. I have prepared and taught these courses:
POSC 152: Politics of American Democracy
POSC 217: American Public Policy (Spring 1999)
POSC 307: Introduction to American Law
POSC 320: Congress and the Legislative Process (Fall 1992)
POSC 322: The Presidency
POSC 323: U.S. Constitution
POSC 324: American Civil Liberties
POSC 355: Public Administration
POSC 390: American Political Development
POSC 390: Politics and Film (Summer 2006)
POSC 502: AP American Government (Summer 1992)
My statement on my teaching philosophy is detailed separately.
SERVICE TO SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
I have provided a large number and variety of departmental, committee, college-
wide, community, and media services. These are detailed separately.
RESEARCH AND WRITING
Books
Roosevelt: The Party Leader, 1932-1945, University Press of Kentucky, 1991
Truman and the Democratic Party, Lexington: University Press of Kentucky,
1997
JFK, LBJ, and the Democratic Party, Albany: State University of New York
(SUNY) Press, 2004
Journal Articles
“JFK and the DNC,” White House Studies, v.2, n. 2 (Summer, 2002): 139-153.
“To Purge or Not to Purge: Hamlet Harry and the Dixiecrats,” Presidential
Studies Quarterly, v. 27, n. 4 (Fall, 1997): 773-791.
“Hacks and Long Hairs: The Question of a DNC Research Division,” American
Review of Politics, v. 15 (Spring, 1994): 57-72.
“Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Democratic National Committee,” The Social
Science Journal, v. 28, n. 4 (Fall, 1991): 451-465.
“The Development of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Party Building Strategy: 1921-
1932,” accepted for publication by Presidential Studies Quarterly but
voluntarily withdrawn by me. I have its letter of acceptance.
Articles in Edited Books
“Con: Presidential Character Is a Useful Indicator of Performance in Office,”
in Debating the Issues: The American Presidency , ed. by Robert P.
Watson (Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, 2005): 203-212.
Two articles, “The Presidency in the United States,” and “The Democratic Party,” in Survey of Social Science: Government and Politics, ed. by McCrea Adams, (Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, 1995): 520-526, 1590-1595.
“FDR’s Party Leadership: Origins and Legacy,” in FDR and the Modern Presidency, ed. by Mark Rozell and William Pederson (New York: Praeger, 1997): 119-132.
“Democratic Party Convention of 1968,” “Election of 1960,” and “Election of 1964,” in The Sixties in America, ed. by Rowena Wildin (Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, 1999): 285-289, 587-589, and 589-591.
Encyclopedia Articles
"Democratic Party," "Deregulation," and "Harry S Truman," in Encyclopedia of the American Presidency, ed. by Michael A. Genovese (New York: Facts on File,
2004): 140-143, 444-447.
"Benjamin N. Cardozo," "Democratic Party," "Political Realignment," and "Franklin D. Roosevelt", in Encyclopedia of the Great Depression, ed. by Robert S. McElvaine (New York: Macmillan, 2004): 146-147, 228-232, 764-765, 838-849.
“Political Parties and Civil Rights,” in The Encyclopedia of Civil Rights in America, ed. by David Bradley and Shelley Fishkin (New York: M.E. Sharpe, 1998),
689-691.
Seven articles, Political Parties and Elections in the United States: An Encyclopedia, ed. by L. Sandy Maisel (New York: Garland Press, 1991).
Conference Papers
"Democratic Presidential Party Leadership: From FDR to LBJ," American Political Science Association conference, September 2-5, 2004, Chicago
“JFK and the DNC: The Influence of Political Culture, Ambition, and Electoral
Environment on Party Leadership,” American Political Science Association conference, August 28-31, 1997, Washington, DC.
“Harry Truman’s Political Values and Fair Deal Politics,” Midwest Political Science Association conference, April 10-12, 1997, Chicago
“Truman: The Party Leader,” Duquesne University History Forum,
October 24-25, 1996, Pittsburgh, PA
“The Intra Party Politics of the Fair Deal,” American Political Science Association conference, August 29-September 1, 1996, San Francisco
“FDR’s Party Leadership: Origins and Legacy,” FDR After 50 Years conference,
LSU Conference, September 13-16, 1995, Shreveport, LA
“To Purge or Not to Purge: Hamlet Harry and the Dixiecrats,” American Political
Science Association conference, September 1-4, 1994, New York City
“The Origins and Impact of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Liberalism on the Democratic Party,” Midwest and Southwestern Political Science conferences, 1994
“The Party Leadership Styles of Roosevelt and Truman,” Midwest and Southwestern Political Science associations’ conferences, 1993
“Conflicts over a Research Division for the Democratic National Committee during the Truman Administration,” Midwest and Southwestern Political Science
associations’ conferences, 1992
“Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Democratic National Committee,” Midwest and
Southwestern Political Science associations’ conferences, 1991
Roles as a Panel Chair at Political Science Conferences
"Causes, Consequences, and Trends in Presidents' Policy Statements," Midwest Political Science Association conference, April 7-10, 2005, Chicago
"Historical Development and Continuity in the Presidency, " Midwest Political
Science Association conference, April 7-10, 2005, Chicago
"Presidential Leadership and the Policy Agenda," American Political Science
Association conference, September 2-5, 2004, Chicago
"Electoral Institutions, Party Formation, and Representation," Midwest Political
Science Association conference, April 15-18, 2004, Chicago
"Presidential Judicial Appointments and Legacies," American Political Science
Association conference, August 28-31, 2003, Philadelphia
“Historical and Unusual Party Issues,” Southwestern Political Science Association
conference, April 16-19, 2003, San Antonio
“The Executive Branch and Political Control,” Southwestern Political Science
Association conference, April 16-19, 2003, San Antonio
“Parties in Historical Perspective,” Midwest Political Science Association
conference, April 3-6, 2003, Chicago
"Policy Issues and Party Change," Midwest Political Science Association conference, April 25-28, 2002, Chicago
“The 2000 Presidential Election, “ American Political Science Association conference, August 9-September 2, 2001, San Francisco
“Groups, Interests, and American Party Coalitions,” Midwest Political Science Association conference, April 19-21, 2001, Chicago
“Remaking Interest Groups and Parties in the Progressive Era,” American Political Science Association conference, August 30-September 3, 2000, Washington
“Critical Elections, Party Realignment, and Issue Evolution,” Midwest Political
Science Association conference, April 27-30, 2000, Chicago
“Presidential Nomination Processes,” Midwest Political Science Association
conference, April 27-30, 2000, Chicago
“Reconsidering Institutions in American Political Development,” American
Political Science Association conference, September 2-5, 1999, Atlanta
“Party Spending: Lessons from the States,” American Political Science Association conference, September 2-5, 1999, Atlanta
“The Presidency and Political Parties,” Midwest Political Science Association
conference, April 15-17, 1999, Chicago
“Campaign Finance, PACs, and Legislative Elections,” Midwest Political
Science Association conference, April 15-17, 1999, Chicago
“The Dynamics of Party Change,” American Political Science Association
conference, September 3-6, 1998, Boston
“Presidential Nominations,” Midwest Political Science Association conference,
April 23-25, 1998, Chicago
“Culture, Values, and American Politics II,” Midwest Political Science
Association conference, April 10-12, 1997, Chicago
“Political Candidates and the Running for Office,” Southwestern Political
Science Association conference, March 26-29, 1997, New Orleans
“Political Parties and Groups,” Midwest Political Science Association
conference, April 18-20, 1996, Chicago
“U.S. Political Parties,” Midwest Political Science Association conference,
April 6-8, 1995, Chicago
“Party Organization and Divided Government,” Midwest Political Science
Association conference, April 14-16, 1994, Chicago
Roles as a Discussant at Political Science Conferences
"Historical Development and Continuity in the Presidency," Midwest Political Science Association conference, April 7-10, 2005, Chicago
"Reforming the Presidential Election Process," Midwest Political Science Association conference, April 15-18, 2004, Chicago
“Historical and Unusual Party Issues,” Southwestern Political Science
Association conference, April 16-19, 2003, San Antonio
“The 2000 Presidential Election,” American Political Science Association conference, August 29-September 2, 2001, San Francisco
“Culture, Values, and American Politics II,” Midwest Political Science
Association conference, April 10-12, 1997, Chicago
“Party Leadership and the Modern Congress,” Southwestern Political
Science Association conference, March 26-29, 1997, New Orleans
“Presidents and Policy Making,” Western Political Science Association
conference, March 13-16, 1996, San Francisco
Roles as a Roundtable Participant at Political Science Conferences
“Whither the Party Convention?,” American Political Science Association
conference, August 28-31, 1997, Washington, DC
Book Reviews
Review of Kari Frederickson’s The Dixiecrat Revolt and the End of the Solid South,1932-1968 (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2001) in Presidential Studies Quarterly , v. 31, n. 3 (September 2001): 548-550.
Review of Harold I. Gullan’s The Upset That Wasn’t: Harry S. Truman and the Crucial Election of 1948 (Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 1998) and Gary A. Donaldson’s Truman Defeats Dewey (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1998) in The Journal of Politics, v. 62, n. 4 ( November 2000): 1206-1208.
Review of Mary Brennan’s Turning Right in the Sixties: The Conservative Capture of The GOP (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1995) in The
Review of Politics, v. 58, n. 4 (Fall, 1996), 859-861.
Review of Robert Spitzer’s President and Congress (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1993) in The Review of Politics, v. 55, n. 4 (Fall, 1993), 736-738.
Review of Mark Rozell’s The Press and the Carter Presidency (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991) in Congress & the Presidency, v. 18, n. 1 (Spring, 1991), 98-99.
Review of American Political Rhetoric, ed. by Peter Augustine Lawler and Robert
Martin Schaefer, 2nd ed. (Savage, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 1990) in
Southeastern Political Review, v. 19, n. 2 (Fall, 1991), 332-333.
Services as a Manuscript Reviewer
Journal of Policy History, Presidential Studies Quarterly, American Review of
Politics , Journal of Politics
West Publishing Company, SUNY Press, University Press of Kentucky, and
Wadsworth Publishing Company, Columbia University Press
Grants and Fellowships Since 1990
Margaret Chase Smith Library Research Grant 2004
Saint Mary's College Faculty Research Grant 2004
Earhart Foundation Grants (i.e., 2 grants) 2003
Saint Mary's College Faculty Research Grant 2003
Saint Mary’s College Faculty Research Grant 1998
American Political Science Association Grant 1997
Rockefeller Archive Center Grant 1997
Earhart Foundation Grant 1997
SISTAR Grant 1997
Lyndon B. Johnson Library Grant 1997
John F. Kennedy Library Grant 1997
Saint Mary’s College Faculty Research Grant 1997
Saint Mary’s College Faculty Research Grant 1996
Harry S. Truman Library Grant 1994
Saint Mary’s College Faculty Research Grant 1993
Saint Mary’s College Faculty Research Grant 1991
References
Professor Thomas E. Patterson, John F. Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 495-9926
Professor John K. White, Department of Politics, The Catholic University of
America, Washington, DC 20064 (202) 319-6136
Professor Sidney M. Milkis, Miller Center, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, VA 22906 (434) 924-6052
Professor Marc K. Landy, Department of Political Science, Boston College,
Chestnut Hill, MA 02167 (617) 552-4172