February 12, 1996

This issue of The Weekly Standard examined the state of American politics and culture in early 1996. The cover story by Alan Ehrenhalt explored how ambition had declined in presidential politics, while Wendy Shalit critiqued leftist approaches to children's literature and values in her piece on Babar and Bennett. David Tell's "Affirmative Action in Black and Tan" challenged Democratic race-consciousness policies, arguing the party should face political consequences for its positions on the issue.