Presidential Nomination and the Birth of Executive Federalism

Abstract

In 1968, the Democratic Party changed its method of nominating presidential candidates from the convention floor system to the primary system. In 1972, the Republican Party followed suit. In the interim, under the banner of “New Federalism,” President Nixon introduced the block grant system and federal revenue sharing programs by which the executive could more directly execute transfers to the states without congressional interference. This paper argues that this expansion of “presidential pork-barrel” constitutes a spoils system by which presidential candidates could more directly lobby state politicians for support in the new primary nominating system.