0
CONGRESS_EXPECTED, CONGRESS_REVERSE (H2c)
Opinions expressed in Congress should carry more weight when they are not in
the expected direction. To capture this effect, these two variables were coded as
follows
CONGRESS_EXPECTED is the sum of:
+1 if CONGRESS_OWN=+1
-1 if CONGRESS_OPP=-1
CONGRESS_REVERSE is the sum of:
-1 if CONGRESS_OWN=-1
+1 if CONGRESS_OPP=+1
OPINION_INDEX
Sum of OPINION, CONGRESS_EXPECTED, CONGRESS_REVERSE (i.e., a –
3 to +3 scale).
WAR_TERMINATION, DE-ESCALATION, ARMS_CONTROL, RELATIONS, MEDIATE
Each event was assigned into one of these five categories. Events are coded 1 for
their assigned category, 0 for the other two.
WAR_TERMINATION events were the termination of major wars, which meant
Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and Kosovo.
DE-ESCALATION included events that reduced the level of American
involvement in an ongoing conflict, or constituted steps towards a negotiated end
to the conflict, such as the initiation of peace talks. Most events in this category
related to Vietnam, such as bombing pauses, troop withdrawal announcements,
and progress in peace talks.
ARMS_CONTROL events were summits where major arms control treaties or
agreements took place, initiation of new talks, completion of treaties when a
dramatic event in and of themselves (not taking place at a summit), or
announcement of major proposals for arms control or other actions to make
nuclear war less likely (de-targeting, “hotline”, etc).
RELATIONS events signified improvements in relations with adversaries–
meaning principally China and the USSR. Included summits with no specific
arms control agreements, or policy changes by the U.S. that mark improved
relations (e.g., recognition of China).
MEDIATION events were cases of the U.S. engaging at the White House level to
serve as intermediary in conflicts not involving the U.S. (principally, the Middle
East)
Convention