Nelson Polsby, a UC Berkeley political scientist whose witty and astute observations on Congress, the electoral process and presidential politics influenced several generations of scholars, policymakers, journalists and other political animals, died at his Berkeley home Tuesday of complications of heart disease. He was 72.
Polsby became an expert on Congress almost by accident. At the outset of his academic career in 1960, he was asked to teach a course on Congress at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.