Writer:	Eric Gilliland, David Chambers, Eric Gilliland
Director:	Neal Israel
Star:	Fred Savage (Kevin Arnold),  Jason Hervey (Wayne Arnold),  Alley Mills (Norma Arnold),  Dan Lauria (Jack Arnold),  Josh Saviano (Paul Pfeiffer),  Olivia d'Abo (Karen Arnold),  Danica McKellar (Winnie Cooper),  Daniel Stern (Narrator/Adult Kevin Arnold)
Recurring Role:	Crystal McKellar (Becky Slater),  Brandon Crane (Doug Porter),  Michael Tricario (Randy Mitchell),  Linda Hoy (Mrs. Ritvo)
Guest Star:	Jay Lambert (Tommy Kisling),  Blake Sennett (Shop Kid),  Willie C. Carpenter (Mr. Altman),  Marguerite Moreau (Julie),  Josh Peden (Student)

Featured Music:
"Respect" by Aretha Franklin
"The Wipeout" by The Surfaris (edit)

Narrator: Which only proved what I'd known all along. Simply stated... politics stinks. I never regretted running for president of the student council... or the three weeks of detention that followed. In fact... in many ways, I was a better man for it. Even though I lost to a duck. In any event... it was time to leave politics to the politicians. Let the ship of state sail on. At least they wouldn't have Kevin Arnold to kick around anymore. (edit) Narrator: And so began the great grudge match of nineteen-seventy. Over the next few days, no trick was too cheap. No insult too outrageous. Pretty soon, though, things stated to get... personal. And as sabotage led to reprisal... I came to understand the true meaning of politics in America. It wasn't about winning an election. It was about destroying your opponent. (edit) Narrator: It was then that I learned my first lesson on the campaign trail. Ideas and concepts are nothing, compared to... freshly baked Rice Crispy treats. By the end of the week, one thing was clear. In the great darkhorse campaign of nineteen-seventy... my darkhorse was running dead last. Not that we didn't try anything to get them to notice us... it's just that while we were trying... they were noticing something else. (edit) Narrator: Everybody know politics is a dirty business. Yet our greatest national heroes have always been politicians. Maybe there's a reason for that. Maybe it takes a certain kind of person to get down in the mud... and come out with the bricks of statecraft. After all, in America, they say any kid can grow up to be president. What they don't say... is how. In nineteen-seventy, politics was alive and well at RFK junior high. Becky Slater's campaign for student council president had all the earmarks of a political juggernaut. Man-power... funds... not to mention people who could draw straight. (edit)

When Kevins sees his new presidential campaign group, he wonders if Millard Fillmore "started off that way". Millard Fillmore was the 13th U.S. president (1850-1853) who became president only because he was vice-president when the 12th president died. In a sense similar to Kevin's situation as he's nominated not by his own volition. (edit)

This episode does not have any allusions. Add some now!