PSCI 219American Presidents

Catalog

We expect a lot from our presidents. Americans look to the person in the Oval Office to have a bold vision for our country's future and effectively deal with a whole host of issues such as the economy, education, the environment, foreign affairs, and more. As one political scientist has put it, "Everybody now expects the [person] inside the White House to do something about everything." Why do we have such high expectations and are they realistic? This course investigates how the presidency has evolved, especially during the past century. We will examine its constitutional origins and the historical factors that have helped expand its power and influence. We will explore what concepts like "charisma" and "character" mean and the part they have played in choosing presidents. Through case studies, we will look at examples of "effective" and "ineffective" chief executives and see if history teaching us lessons that can be applied today.