A presidential election occurs every four years in this country. But how do you actually run for president? Who gets to do it? How do you launch a campaign? What’s the election process? We’ve got answers!
Transcript
NOTE: This transcript was generated using an automated transcription service, and may contain typographical errors.
Civics 101 Short
Running For President
Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:02] Hello, dear far flung listeners. Hannah McCarthy here.
Nick Capodice: [00:00:05] Nick Capodice here.
Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:07] Life has changed pretty drastically for most of us in the past couple of weeks. As we all try to figure out new ways of working, of learning, of parenting, of just plain talking to each other. Civics 101 is also going to adapt to the times.
Nick Capodice: [00:00:23] We're going to be asking you what you want and what you need in the coming weeks so we can answer your most pressing questions and arm you with information. Understanding how this country works has never been more important. We'll be answering you directly, releasing new content and keeping this community close and informed. To that end, we're asking any and all teachers out there to fill out the shortest survey ever to guide our production in the coming weeks. It'd be a huge favor to us. It's at the top of our Web site, Civics 101 podcast dot org.
Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:53] Also, as part of this effort we'll be featuring the occasional Civics short, from our lovely and talented producer Jacqui Fulton. Jacqui's kicking off the Shorts project with a quick and dirty on how to run for president.
Nick Capodice: [00:01:05] Alright let's go.
President John F Kennedy: [00:01:12] John Fitzgerald Kennedy, do solemnly swear-.
Judge: [00:01:14] That your reaction to the offer from president of the United States, I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:22] Have you ever dreamed about being president.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:24] Oh my god, who hasn't?
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:26] I'm Jacqui
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:27] I'm Jimmy.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:28] This is Civics 101. We're going to tell you how to become president of the United States in five easy steps.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:35] Step one, you've got to meet the qualifications to run. So, were you born in the U.S.?
Jacqui Fulton:[00:01:40] Yes.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:41] Have you lived in the U.S. for the past 14 years?
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:44] Yep.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:44] Are you 35 or older?
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:45] How dare you, sir?!
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:47] Congratulations then you can officially run for president.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:50] I already have my announcement speech ready. Hi! I'm running for president of the United States of America. I promise you a puppy in every house. Vote for me, Jacqui.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:03] I'm more of a cat kind of guy.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:04] Well, fine fine. I can throw a kitten in there for you.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:09] Step two campaigning. This is where you give a lot of speeches and you work on your message. Maybe you want to add cats to your platform?
Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:17] Yes.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:18] There will be a bunch of other people in the race too.
News Anchor: [00:02:20] Former Vice President Al Gore. Senator Barack Obama. Governor Bill Richardson. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton...
Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:26] And all of these candidates will need a lot of money.
News Anchor: [00:02:31] And June 18th at the Washington Convention Center he raised a whopping twenty one and a half million dollars.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:37] Commercials, bumper stickers, signs, rallies, they're not free.
Nick Capodice: [00:02:42] The more popular you are, the more money people give to you.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:45] And the more money people give to you, the more popular you are.
Tamara Keith: [00:02:48] And when someone writes them a check- sends them a dollar, sends them $50- they can mark them down, not just as a supporter, but as a voter.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:57] So, if you're the most popular and you have the most money, you're also the most likely to win the presidential race.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:04] These days it can cost up to a billion dollars to run. Hey Jimmy will you give me a dollar?
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:10] Sure,I'll give you a dollar.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:12] OK, how 900 million more dollars?
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:16] I'm going to get back to you on that one. I still need to look over your platform.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:20] That sounds fair.Sometimes campaigns run out of money.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:25] And then it's game over.
Kamala Harris: [00:03:28] My campaign for president simply does not have the financial resources to continue. I'm not a billionaire. I can't fund my own campaign.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:36] So how does it get down to just me and the other person facing off?
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:40] That's step three, presidential primaries.
News Anchor: [00:03:45] The primary elections in New Hampshire for delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions find candidates and campaign managers pulling no punches. This is the first real popularity test for the favorites.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:00] I think of the primaries as a small state election before the big national election. Not every state does a primary. Some do caucuses where people get together in a room and try to convince each other that their candidate is the best. But most states do primaries.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:04:16] And there are two big political parties in America, the Democrats and the Republicans.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:21] Each state holds its own primary election. So voters in each state can pick the one candidate they want to keep running for their party.
News Anchor: [00:04:30] New Hampshire hasspoken. And when the balance were totted up it was a clean sweep for General Eisenhower on the Republican side. And for Senator Estes Kefauver heading the Democratic slate.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:41] Step four, the party's hold nominating conventions.
Chairman: [00:04:44] May we have order please?
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:04:46] The conventions are like big splashy pep rallies that lasts for days.
Chairman: [00:04:50] There will be time for tooting of horns and other noisemakers later on.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:04:54] By this time the candidate for each party is usually decided.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:58] Thousands of people pack an arena and listen to speeches. On the very last day another vote is taken.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:05:06] Only special voters called delegates participate here.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:10] Delegates from each state stand together in a group.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:05:13] And one by one they announce their results.
Delegate: [00:05:15] The state of New Mexico, a land of enchantment, cast 5 Governor Reagan and 1 vote for Gov. Nelson Rockefeller.
Chairman: [00:05:25] The chair declares that the nominee of this convention for the presidency of the United States is Gerald R. Ford.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:36] Step 5, election Day. This happens in November.
News Anchor: [00:05:39] A record number of Americans, upwards of sixty seven million, go to the polls to elect a thirty fifth president of the United States.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:47] Surprise! I'm the new president elect!
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:05:55] It would be sad if you lost in your own daydream.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:58] True, but it was a close race. Jimmy, because you've been my biggest and only supporter, I nominate you as my Secretary of Feline Affairs.
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:06:09] Aw!
Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:09] Congratulations!
Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:06:11] Meow. Aw hey buddy.Meow.
Hannah McCarthy: [00:06:20] Think you got it Nick?
Nick Capodice: [00:06:22] I think so. First of all, qualify. Then campaign. Run in the primary. Win that nomination. And then the all important election day.
Hannah McCarthy: [00:06:32] Easy. Just kidding.It's very very difficult. Many thanks to Jacqui Fulton for this Civics Short. And to Jimmy Gutierrez for all of his help. Music in this Short by Blue Dot Sessions. You can listen to all of what Civics 101 has to offer at Civics 101 podcast dot org.
Nick Capodice: [00:06:48] Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It is a production of NHPR, New Hampshire Public Radio.