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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1964
Professor Says Romans Had Big Elections Similar to Ours
The smoke-filled room and other intrigues of modern political campaigns parallel ancient Roman elections, William McDermott demonstrated last night.
Speaking at a meeting of the Kansas Society of the Archaeological Institute of America, Prof. McDermott drew parallels and painted contrasts between American and ancient Roman elections.
Prof. McDermott, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, is at KU to lecture in the Humanities Series at 8 p.m. in Fraser Theater.
"ROMAN ELECTIONS were peculiar," Prof. McDermott said. "Most of the evidence we have is scrapy. Cicero's writings provide the most complete details of Roman elections."
Prof. McDermott said that Cicero is viewed as "an extreme conservative" today, but that his own generation thought of him as a moderate.
"Cicero's writings represent the moderate conservative element of the ruling Roman class," Prof. McDermott said, "and it is important to remember this in drawing parallels between the two periods in history."
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT is based on the Roman oligarchy, he said.
"Our founding fathers were republicans (not to be confused with the political party of the name) who
studied Roman rather than Greek governments," he said. Prof. McDermott noted that it was the early Greek government which was known as a "pure" democracy.
Outlining the structure of Roman government, Prof. McDermott explained that political parties as we know them were non-existent.
"The Roman government was an aristocracy, and was built through cliques of individuals, rather than political parties," he said.
"THE LEADERS of the cliques influenced votes by playing on self-interest rather than ideology," Prof. McDermott said. "In our society this is not true in theory, although in practice of course we all know that it is."
Roman politics were structured so that the rulers formed a "closed corporation," Prof. McDermott said, since it was virtually impossible for a member of the lower class to be elected.
"Did you ever stop to think that political parties as they are now organized are elased corporations?" Prof. McDermott asked. "To get elected today you must manipulate with various and sundry political figures."
There were set qualifications for Roman candidates. A candidate had to serve in a low office before holding a powerful position. He had to be at least 31. Rank in society often
determined the outcome of his election. If he was not a member of a senatorial family, he usually couldn't win an office.
WEALTH WAS an actual qualification for Roman candidates since most offices did not include salaries. A Roman official was required to maintain a retinue and staff, which required money.
"In America, you don't have to be rich to run for the Presidency," Prof. McDermott said. "All you need is a friend with one half million dollars."
dollars.
There were no political bosses or local committees in Rome, Prof. McDermott said.
Campaign methods then and now are quite similar, Prof. McDermott illustrated this point by paraphrasing an essay by Quintus Cicero. Quintus was writing advice to his brother on running for the office of Consul:
"YOU HAVE to have support of friends. To get this you have to make promises to them.
"Don't make any speeches on public policy.
"Be vague—avoid the issues.
"Make your promises to individuals, but never to the general public.
"Even though you feel you cannot keep your promises, make them anyway.
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