James Riddlesperger, Ph.D.

James W. Riddlesperger, Jr. (B.A., M.A., North Texas State University; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia) is Professor of Political Science at Texas Christian University. A native of Denton, Texas, he has taught at TCU since 1982. His interest is in American politics, with emphasis in the presidency, Congress, and Texas politics. He is co-author of Texas Politics (14th edition, Cengage, 2022), Lone Star Leaders (2011, TCU), and The Austin-Boston Connection (2009, Texas A&M Press). He co-edited Reflections on Rayburn, (2018, TCU Press), Considering American Government: A Reader (2^nd edition, 2020, Kendall Hunt), The Wright Stuff (2013, TCU Press), Presidential Leadership and Civil Rights Policy (Greenwood, 1995), and Special Focus: Balance of Power between Congress and the President (New York: College Board, 2008).  He has published articles in the Journal of Politics, Social Science Quarterly, Social Science Journal, Judicature, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and Congress and the Presidency among others as well as numerous chapters in edited books. He has been named the winner of the Chancellor’s Award for Creative Teaching and Research and Honors Professor of the year at TCU. A frequent consultant to national, state, and local news media concerning politics and elections, he speaks to many civic and professional groups each year.  He served as Chief Reader of the College Board’s AP US Government and Politics Exam (2011-2015) and is past president of the Southwestern Political Science Association. He is married to Dr. Kristina Riddlesperger, is the father of two grown sons, and grandfather to four wonderful grandchildren.

• Articles & Essays
  • Newell, Charldean, Prindle, David, and Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. Texas Politics: Ideal and Reality, (Cengage, 11th edition, 2011; 12th edition, 2013; 13th edition, 2016; enhanced 13^th edition, 2020; 14^th edition, 2022).
  • Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. “Caleb Perry Patterson: Political Scientist and Civic Educator,” Social Science Quarterly 101 (#4, July 2020), pp. 1207-1221.
  • Riddlesperger, James W., Jr and King, James D. “The Trump Transition: Beginning a Distinctive Presidency,” Social Science Quarterly, 99 (#5, November 2018), pp 1821-1836.
  • King, James D. and Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. 2017. “The 2016-2017 Transition into the Donald J. Trump Administration,” in Amnon Cavari, Richard J. Powell, and Kenneth R. Mayer, Eds., The 2016 Presidential Election: The Causes and Consequences of a Political Earthquake (Voting, Elections, and the Political Process), (Lanham, MD: Lexington), pp. 161-184.
  • King, James D. and Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. “Richard Nixon and the Development of the Modern Federal Administration,” White House Studies 13 (#3, 2016), pp. 251-268.
• Books
  • Andrade, Lydia and Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. Considering American Government: A Reader, (Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt, 1^st edition 2017; 2^nd edition 2020).
  • Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. and Champagne, Anthony, eds., Reflections on Rayburn, (Fort Worth: TCU Press, 2018).
  • Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. and Champagne, Anthony. Lone Star Leaders: Power and Personality in the Texas Congressional Delegation, (Fort Worth: TCU Press, 2011).
  • Champagne, Anthony, Harris, Douglas, Riddlesperger, James, W., Jr., and Nelson, Garrison. The Austin-Boston Connection: Fifty Years of House Democratic Leadership, Texas A&M Press, 2009.

• King, James D. and Riddlesperger, James W., Jr., “The 2020–2021 Transition into the Joe Biden Administration,” Southwestern Political Science Association, New Orleans, LA (via Zoom), April 16, 2021.
• Riddlesperger, James W., Jr.  “Sam Rayburn,” LSU Shreveport Conference on Great Legislators and Great Legislation. Shreveport, LA, October 2018.
• Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. and King, James D. “The Trump Transition: Beginning a Distinctive Presidency,” American Political Science Association, San Francisco, CA, August 31, 2017.
• King, James D. and Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. ‘“Personnel Is Policy”: The 2016-2017 Transition into the New Administration” Southwestern Political Science Association Meeting, Austin, TX, April, 2017.
• King, James D. and Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. “The 2016-2017 Transition into the Donald J. Trump Presidency,” Conference on the U.S. Presidential Election of 2016, IDC, Herzliya, Israel, January 8-10, 2017.
• Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. and King, James D. “The Presidential Transitions of Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt,” Southwestern Social Science Association, Las Vegas, NV, March, 2016.
• Riddlesperger, James, W., Jr. and Joseph Stewart, Jr., “Southern Influence in Congressional Politics—the Austin Boston Connection,” Citadel Symposium on Southern Politics, Charleston, SC, March 3, 2016.
• King, James D. and Riddlesperger, James W., Jr. “Looking Forward to the New Administration,” American Political Science Association, Philadelphia, PA, September, 2016.

• Chancellor’s Award for Creative Teaching and Research, TCU, 2017
• Connections Hero, First winner, TCU, 2014
• Honors Professor of the Year, TCU, 2012
• AddRan College, Social Science Division, Award for Creative Teaching and Research, TCU, 2008
• Honorary Membership, Golden Key Honor Society, 2005
• Dean’s Teaching Award, TCU, 1996

• American Political Science Association
• Southern Political Science Association
• Southwestern Political Science Association

•  President, Southwestern Political Science Association, 2010-2011
• Chief Reader, US Government and Politics Advanced Placement Exam, 2011-2015
• Chair, Department of Political Science, TCU, 1989-1992, 2000-2006