Christian P. Potholm's Maine Political archives

Chris P. Potholm was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Bowdoin College in the class of 1962. He taught at Dartmouth and Vassar before settling back to Bowdoin in 1970 where he became the DeAlva Stanwood Alexander professor of government and legal studies. He taught courses on African politics, Maine politics, and warfare during his 51-year tenure at Bowdoin while also working within the Maine political scene for five decades. He was campaign manager for William Cohen’s ’62 campaigns for US House of Representatives and the Senate in the 1970s, served as consultant to Angus King in 1994, as well as worked in major campaigns and referendums including Save Maine Yankee I and II in 1980 and 1982, the 1983 Moose Hunt referendum, the 1996-1997 Forest Compact debates, and the Gay Rights referendum of 1995.

Potholm has authored numerous books and articles about war and politics which include Just Do It! Political Participation in the 1990s, American Politics: Dynamics of Choice and Directions of Change, Understanding War: An Annotated Bibliography, This Splendid Game: Maine Campaigns and Elections, 1940-2002, Maine: An Annotated Bibliography, and How Maine Decides. In addition to his scholarship, Potholm founded and operated a research firm, Command Research, along with a consulting group, The Potholm Group, which tracked important political races in Maine, including both candidates and referenda.

Potholm retired from teaching at Bowdoin College in 2022. He continued to research and write about Maine politics.