Jack Downing, The West Wing, Yankee Struggle, Real America

Chapter 3 presents an interdisciplinary dimension in its consideration of literature, history and a hit television series predominantly aired during the George W. Bush years. Jeff Smith compares the influence of the Jack Downing letters, a satirical series that was incepted during Andrew Jackson’s first term, with the cultural impact of The West Wing. Smith posits that both the Downing letters and The West Wing touch on the salience of Jacksonian populism, whilst also providing different versions of New Englanders through their dissimilar protagonists.

Chapter 3 presents an interdisciplinary dimension in its consideration of literature, history and a hit television series predominantly aired during the George W. Bush years. Jeff Smith compares the influence of the Jack Downing letters, a satirical series that was incepted during Andrew Jackson’s first term, with the cultural impact of The West Wing. Smith posits that both the Downing letters and The West Wing touch on the salience of Jacksonian populism, whilst also providing different versions of New Englanders through their dissimilar protagonists.