The American Presidency:  Kennedy - Clinton

WEEK # 1

Day # 1:  Introduction to the Class:
Tuesday, August 19

Today we'll talk about the design of the course, our objectives and goals and the textbook.  You should have already purchased Fred I. Greenstein's The Presidential Difference:  Leadership Style from FDR to Clinton.    Not only does Greenstein deftly summarize the key events of each presidency, but he has also developed one model for the evaluation of each president's accomplishment by examination of key criteria:

Public Communications
Organizational Capacity
Political Skill
Vision
Cognitive Style
Emotional Intelligence

Homework to be completed prior to class:   Interview two adults [individuals over the age of 40].  Ask them to identify the ten most significant presidents in United States history and to explain why the #1 president was chosen.  Come to class prepared to share your results.

During class, we'll create a list of the most important characteristics possessed by effective presidents.

Day # 2:  What roles must the President assume?
Wednesday, August 20

During class, you'll view a segment from an Academy Award-winning movie starring Jimmy Stewart entitled Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.  We'll view this movie as a starting point for how most Americans used to view the presidency and Congress.  Sit back and enjoy the wonderfully patriotic and idealistic language that Jimmy Stewart's character uses when talking about this nation and the statesmen who should be serving the people.  

Day # 3:  Mr. Smith continued
Friday, August 22

We'll finish Mr. Smith today and then talk about what our expectations are for our presidents and public servants.

Prior to class, read the handout, "The US Constitution.'  Answer these quick questions and be prepared to discuss them Friday morning:  a.  what are the qualifications to become president?  b.  what is the president's salary?  c.  list the responsibilities and duties of the president as defined by the Constitution.  d.  for what reasons can the president be removed from office?

Day # 4:  The Presidency in Action
Monday, August 25

Prior to class,
   1.  read A Historical Perspective on the Presidency .
    
   2.  Read The United States Constitution Defines the Presidency.

Day # 5: The Presidency in Action [Continued]
Friday, August 29

Pick up a copy of a handout entitled "Congress considers a presidential pay raise" [Side A] and the "War Powers Act" [Side B]. Prior to class, read both sides and answer the following  questions:

1.  In a paragraph of no less than five and no more than eight sentences, agree or disagree with the following statement:

"While an increase in the President's annual salary to $400,000 is a step in the right direction, it is not an adequate salary for the most influential and powerful person in our nation.  In an era when corporate executives [and random athletes] earn salaries in excess of five million dollars per year, the President's salary discourages  qualified individuals from entering the political realm and serving their nation."

Underline your thesis statement twice.

2.  "Congress, following the Vietnam War and further U. S. involvement in other countries' conflicts, felt it needed more control over the Executive Branch and the power of the President in actions other than a Declared War. The War Powers Act prohibits the President from waging war beyond 60 days ^*1 without Congressional approval. "

In a paragraph of no more than ten sentences,  answer this hypothetical question:   

Liberia has been beset by riots for the last 14 months. The former dictator, Charles Taylor, resigned last week  amidst charges of corruption, torture of political opponents and embezzlement of national funds and following months of heated fighting between his government forces and rebel fighters.  Democratically-administered elections have been promised and the Liberian government and the rebels fighting against Taylor's regime have promised to sign a peace pact today [Monday, August 18].  At best, the peace process is tentative and the peace may be difficult to maintain.  The U. S. President believes strongly that U. S. troops are needed as part of a peace-keeping force that will maintain a climate allowing for free elections without intimidation from right-wing forces. 

According to the War Powers Act, how should the President proceed?  As Secretary of State, Colin Powell [yes, you've been promoted from student to world leader], what advice would you offer the president?

- - - - - - - -

Days  # 6 and # 7:      B Period - Thursday, January 17 and Friday, January 18; G Period- Wednesday, January 16 and Thursday, January 17.  

You have two video assignments:

1.  By 1960 television was on the way to becoming the major way to reach people. Senator John F. Kennedy introduced a powerful new factor into American political campaigning when he challenged Vice President Richard M. Nixon to debate the issues in a series of joint television appearances. 

Knowing that he was the front-runner, Nixon's advisers cautioned him against accepting the challenge, but Nixon, confident of his debating skills did so. The political confrontations that followed were the most historic since the Lincoln-Douglas debate of 1858.

Approximately 70 million Americans, at the time the largest political audience in U.S. history, watched on the night of September 26 as the candidates for the Presidency faced each other on television for the first time.

Watch about 15 minutes of the Kennedy-Nixon Debates. 

2.  Watch Life in Camelot:  The Kennedy Years.  "From young Congressman to President; from eminent bachelor to courtship and marriage; from post-war to Cold War; from Hyannis Port to Dallas; these were the Kennedy Years.  Life in Camelot presents an intimate portrait, a human story, a first-hand glimpse of the life and times of John Fitzgerald Kennedy . . ."

You may leave when you have completed the video on the second day.

Day # 8:  Monday, January 21

Prior to class,

1.  Recall the information you learned about John F. Kennedy from the videos.  In a well-structured standard essay [with thesis underlined twice], respond to the statement:

                            "The Kennedy Presidency's aura and accomplishments are
                            are accurately captured by the phrase "the days of Camelot."

                            Agree or disagree with this statement by citing specific
                            circumstances and actions that prove your thesis.

Day # 9, Tuesday, January 22

During class, we'll read John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address following these directions:

1.  Use an * to mark each passage that relates to U.S. foreign policy.

2.  Use  ~~ to mark each passage that relates to U. S. domestic policy.

3.  Use !!! to mark those passages that might be considered as "rally cry" to the American people.

4.  Underline passages dealing with the civil rights issue in the US.

Day # 10,     G Period - Wednesday, January 23; B Period- Friday, January 25

We'll begin our discussion of the Cold War's impact on Kennedy's presidency.  Prior to class, use any source [Internet, library, etc.] to learn basic information about these issues:

   1.  the Sputnik incident
    2.  Gary Powers and the U-2 incident
    3.  the creation of NATO

Bring your notes to class so you can contribute to our discussion.

Day # 11,  G Period - Thursday, January 24; B Period - Monday, January 28

Read about the Bay of Pigs invasion and Cuban revolutionary/president Fidel Castro.

Based on your knowledge of the Cold War and your background reading on the Bay of Pigs, write a short paragraph [5-6 sentences] in which you answer this question:

Why was the successful Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro viewed as a threat to the United States?