The American Presidency, 1790-Today

3 units

This course is a historical survey of the American presidency from George Washington to today. While important political developments and questions are never out of focus, the course also notices the personal sides of presidents--their backgrounds, relationships, families, scandals, tragedies, etc. Along the way, we consider such over-arching themes as whether the times make presidents or presidents create their eras, presidents and popular culture and the cult of presidents. How have beliefs about race, class, and gender influenced, and been influenced by, the American presidency? How have assassinations, wars, media (including social media), the development of vast nuclear arsenals under the sole command of U.S. presidents, and the rise of celebrity culture, transformed the American Presidency?