The Most Important U.S. Election?

Many historians believe the United States has been governed traditionally by politicians who find their voice and their mandate somewhere in the broad center of opinion, rather than on the frontline of a winner-take-all political extreme.

But some political observers say this year's election may provide the clearest contrast between two political philosophies in the modern history of the Republic. The Bush administration has framed its campaign as a referendum on Bush's program to keep America secure. John Kerry says only a Democratic administration can mend fences with America's allies, which he says is the only effective way to oppose terrorism.

Tune in to hear whether this year's issues make Election 2004 the most important one in American history.

Guests:

David Kennedy, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History at Stanford University and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian

Midge Decter, social critic and winner of 2003 National Humanities Award

David Halberstam, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian.