Curtis Gans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Curtis Gans
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Curtis Gans speaking at a 2004 Washington Foreign Press Center Briefing on "The Upsurge in Voter Registration and Expectations for Turnout in the 2004 Elections.
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| Born |
Curtis Bernard Gans
June 17, 1937 |
| Died | March 15, 2015 (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Co-founder, Director |
| Organization | Center for the Study of the American Electorate |
| Known for | Expertise: voter turnout and participation |
Curtis Bernard Gans (born June 17, 1937 – died March 15, 2015) was an American activist, writer, and a top expert on how Americans vote. He spent his life working to make sure people's voices were heard in politics.
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Who Was Curtis Gans?
Curtis Gans was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1937. He grew up to become a very important person in American politics. He was especially known for his work on elections. He was an activist, which means he worked to bring about change in society.
Standing Up Against War
In 1967, Curtis Gans teamed up with another activist named Allard K. Lowenstein. Together, they started a group called the Dump Johnson movement. This movement was against the Vietnam War. Many people at first thought their idea was impossible.
However, the movement grew very strong. It helped to convince President Lyndon B. Johnson that it would be hard for him to run for president again. It would cause a lot of arguments and might not succeed. Because of this, President Johnson decided not to run for president again. This was very unusual for a sitting president in America.
An Expert on Voting
For more than 30 years, Curtis Gans studied how people vote. He looked at things like how many people vote in elections. He also studied the different ways people vote.
He helped start an organization called the Center for the Study of the American Electorate. He was also its director. This center was located at American University in Washington, D.C.
What is Voter Turnout?
Curtis Gans was an expert on "voter turnout." This means he knew a lot about how many people actually vote in an election. He also understood why some people vote and others do not.
Sharing His Knowledge
Because he was such an expert, many major American newspapers and magazines asked for his opinion. He would explain voting patterns to them. Sometimes, the United States Department of State would ask him to talk to foreign reporters. This happened before American elections, so reporters from other countries could understand what was happening.
Curtis Gans also worked as a helper for other important groups. These included the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars. He also helped the National Committee for an Effective Congress. He even managed several political campaigns.
Curtis Gans passed away in 2015 at the age of 77.
