Doing Archival Research in Political Science By Scott A. Frisch, ...

Reason Two: It Will Inform Teaching

Research in the papers of former members of Congress, a presidential library, or some other collection has informed us as teachers and scholars. Each trip provides insight into the institution and the individuals who comprise it that goes well beyond our more narrow research focus. Students often learn best from the tangible, and photocopies of documents provide illustrations of many concepts relating to the topics that we teach. For example, while digging (literally) through the as-yet-unprocessed papers of Representative Bob Livingston (R-LA), Frisch and Kelly discovered several documents, including ones from Ralph Reed and Ari Fleischer proposing communications strategies for Livingston, who was at the time the likely successor to House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The one-page memo from Fleischer to Livingston provides students with an excellent example of the ideas behind message control that pervade contemporary politics. It is one thing to discuss the emphasis on message control and communications strategy; it is quite another when students see concrete evidence from individuals who are powerful actors in the contemporary political process.

The following paragraph from Fleisher’s memo to Livingston is a gem that conveys a great deal in a few words:

The way to get a message out is to constantly repeat the mantra. In this case

• Education, locally controlled
• Tax cuts
• A stronger Social Security system
• Economic growth
• Honesty and ethics in government

Literally, this is an eight-second sound bite. I recommend you repeat it ad naseum [sic]; only when you’re sick of saying it will anyone have heard it.³