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A very good piece, I thought, by David Herszenhorn in Saturday's New York Times, in which he writes about the role Sen. John McCain is playing in the new Congress.

McCain, as you might remember, was the Republican nominee for president way back in 2008. In the wake of his defeat, many people were wondering which McCain would show up in the 111th Congress. The maverick from 2000? The principled conservative? The loyal opponent? The cranky opponent?

The answer, according to Herszenhorn, is yes.

He writes that unlike Bob Dole, who "vanished into retirement," or Al Gore, who "retreated into academia," or John Kerry, who decided to "quietly convalesce," McCain "has quickly reclaimed a place on center stage in Washington, some days skewering President Obama and the Democratic Party, and on other days standing by their side."

Sometimes he's on Obama's side, as with the plan to withdraw from Iraq. Sometimes he's not, as with his outrage over earmarks.

No doubt McCain will be a fascinating figure to watch as the Obama administration tries to gain its footing.

But while we're observing McCain, it might be worth a look at the other defeated candidates since World War II who had their eyes on the White House. Here's what happened to them electorally in the years following their defeat. (NOTE: This lists those candidates who were in office at the time of their presidential campaign, but does not include incumbent presidents who were defeated.)

2004 (John Kerry, Democrat) -- Re-elected to the Senate from Massachusetts in 2008 with 66 percent of the vote against Jeff Beatty (R). Still serves.

2000 (Al Gore, Democrat) -- Was sitting vice president at the time. Did not seek subsequent office.

1996 (Bob Dole, Republican) -- Gave up his Kansas Senate seat (and that of GOP Senate majority leader) in June to devote all of his time to his presidential campaign. Did not seek subsequent office.

1988 (Michael Dukakis, Democrat) -- He did not seek re-election as governor of Massachusetts in 1990.

1984 (Walter Mondale, Democrat) -- A former Minnesota senator and vice president out of office when he lost to President Reagan in 1984, Mondale was drafted to run for the Senate in 2002 following the death of Democratic incumbent Paul Wellstone. He narrowly lost to Norm Coleman (R).

1972 (George McGovern, Democrat) -- Re-elected to his Senate seat in 1974, he was defeated in 1980 by Jim Abdnor (R). Sought presidential nomination again in 1984 but failed to make any headway.

1968 (Hubert Humphrey, Democrat) -- Was sitting vice president at the time. A former Minnesota senator, Humphrey returned to the Senate in 1970 and was re-elected in 1976. He died in office in January 1978.

1964 (Barry Goldwater, Republican) -- Chose not to run for re-election to his Arizona Senate seat at the same time, which the law allowed him to do. Goldwater returned to the Senate in 1968 and was re-elected in 1974 and 1980. He retired in 1986.

1960 (Richard Nixon, Republican) -- Was sitting vice president at the time. Defeated in a bid for the California governorship in 1962. Elected president in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972. Resigned in 1974 over his involvement in the Watergate scandal.

1952 (Adlai Stevenson, Democrat) -- His term as Illinois governor was up the same year. Was the unsuccessful Democratic presidential nominee four years later and sought the nomination once again in 1960.

1944/1948 (Thomas Dewey, Republican) -- Re-elected as governor of New York in 1946 and 1950. Retired in 1954.

categories: A Historical Look Back

7:30 - March 9, 2009

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