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Monday November 1, 2004
Historian: Presidential campaigns continuing to evolve
By Gene Deason -- Brownwood Bulletin
 Hearing political campaigners claim an opponent would tear down churches, dissolve marriage and force all women into prostitution sounds extreme, even for today's rough-and-tumble world of politics. But such a tactic was business as usual for those backing top presidential candidates in 1800.

Those were some of the outrageous claims made by those supporting President John Adams, America's second commander-in-chief, as they sought a second term for him against Thomas Jefferson, according to historian Dr. Paul F. Boller Jr., professor emeritus of history at Texas Christian University. The Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom at Howard Payne University hosted Boller for an election season appearance in classes and at a luncheon Thursday to help put today's presidential campaign tactics into perspective.
High school students from Blanket, Brady, Lingleville, Rochelle, Star and Stephenville attended the luncheon, and everyone presented received a complimentary autographed copy of Boller's most recent book, "Presidential Anecdotes" (Oxford University Press).
Jefferson, of course, prevailed in 1800, despite such vicious electioneering. But Jefferson's supporters didn't exactly take the high road themselves, however. Boller noted that they labeled President Adams as a fool, a hypocrite and a licentious tyrant.

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