17 Atlantic covers from various presidential elections

These covers offer a window into the unique and enduring ideas of each election cycle.

An orange illustration of three issues of The Atlantic magazine side by side. L to R: October 1920 issue, November 1992 issue, and October 2012 issue
Example of the Atlantic Ocean

This is an edition of Time Travel Thursdays, A Journey The Atlantic Oceans archives to contextualize existing, surface-pleasure treasures and examine the American idea.

This year’s presidential election is the 60th election in the history of the United States. The Atlantic Ocean For 42 of these election cycles, stories have been published that examine the fitness of candidates to serve, the propensity of the voting public to vote, and the strength of our democratic institutions. Our magazine’s October and November covers of presidential election years offer glimpses into each election cycle’s unique or uniquely persistent national concerns.

A cover story in our archives envisioned a mock Inauguration Day on which, “for the first time in history, the Inaugural Stand has been erected on the west front of the Capitol,” but by noon in DC, “there is no new president.” On November 4, no candidate received a majority of the electoral vote. It was written by Lawrence H. Tribe and Thomas M. Rollins. The Atlantic Ocean In October 1980, in a story titled “Deadlock” (note that on the actual Inauguration Day 1981, Ronald Reagan was sworn in, having defeated incumbent Jimmy Carter in a landslide the previous November).

Marginal voters have been a regular subject of study. The Atlantic Ocean. In an October 1920 article outlining these discussions, Meredith Nicholson wrote, “Between campaigns Smith kept an open mind on all matters that affected the body politic,” a Democrat, friend of his. Smith, a Republican, was doing the same about who to vote for. The upcoming presidential election. But “party loyalty is one of the most powerful factors in the process of our democracy,” Nicholson noted. “If Smith, in his new mood of independence, votes for Mr. Cox, and I, not a little bitter that my party has failed to fulfill my hopes for him during these eight years, then Mr. Harding Vote, which of us, I wonder, will serve America best?

Politics is a constant presence, but not all of our downfalls over the years have been covered by elections alone. November 1976, for example, with culture critic Benjamin DeMott’s exasperation about the state of the American family. In November 1964 … a special appendix on the country of Canada was included. However, a month ago The Atlantic Ocean Endorsed for his second presidential term. These days, the months surrounding an election are a particular challenge for our print team: the magazine’s November issue appears on newsstands after the election, but goes to the printers before it happens.

In many election years, including the current one, we have learned from American history. Our November 1988 issue made a strong defense for teaching American history — history, not just civics lessons, or facts about American government. “The chances of democratic principles surviving such crises depend on the number of citizens who remember how free societies have responded to crises in the past, how free societies have acted to defend themselves, and Emerged from bad times. Why are some societies declining and others standing fast? writes historian Paul Gagnon in a cover story titled “Why Study History?”

So spend a moment with history today: below is a selection of 17. The Atlantic Ocean Covering election years spanning two centuries. If you want to read more, you can browse our entire collection of issues online here, dating back to November 1857.


November 2024

November 2024 Atlantic Ocean cover

November 2020

November 2024 Atlantic Ocean cover

November 2016

November 2016 Atlantic Cor

October 2012

October 2012 Atlantic cover

November 2004

November 2004 Atlantic cover

October 2004

October 2004 Atlantic cover

November 2000

November 2000 Atlantic cover

November 1992

November 1992 Atlantic Cor

November 1988

November 1988 Atlantic Cor

October 1980

November 1980 Atlantic Cor

November 1976

November 1976 Atlantic cover

November 1968

November 1968 Atlantic Corps

November 1964

November 1964 Atlantic Corps

October 1964

October 1964 Atlantic cover

November 1940

November 1940 Atlantic cover

October 1920

October 1920 Atlantic cover

October 1860

October 1860 Atlantic cover

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