When Rural Populists Took on Reagan

Democrats’ economic message once put a check on arch-conservative power. Matt L. Barron writes: "For five months during the summer and fall of 1983, I staffed the Congressional Populist Caucus (CPC) as part of my political science degree at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. This internship was the highlight of my college experience. Having a chance to rub shoulders and work with CPC members was, for me, akin to being a ball boy in the dugout at baseball’s All-Star game."