Instructor: Bob Botsch was a political science professor at USCA from 1978 until 2015. He taught classes on presidential politics about 15 times, and a special presidential elections course each fall during every election from 1980 through 2012. Description: Presidential elections can serve as mileposts in our lives. Baby Boomers might remember elections as early as 1952, and as they came of age in the elections that took place in the later decades. I will discuss each of these elections from two perspectives. 1. Personal, as I became aware of politics and government and its impact on my own life. 2. As a political scientist who applied theories to understand election outcomes and changes over time. My goal is to encourage the audience to think about their own lives and their relationship to presidential elections.