History 7446: American Presidency
This course will explore the history of the American presidency from George Washington until the present day.
Requirements
- Research Paper: 50%
- Participation: 30%
- Study Questions/Supplementary Reading: 20%
Books: (all available through amazon.com)
- John Milton Cooper, Jr., Woodrow Wilson: A Biography
- David Herbert Donald, Lincoln
- Joseph Ellis, His Excellency: George Washington
- David Kennedy, Freedom from Fear
- David McCullough, Truman
- Forrest McDonald, The American Presidency
- Brooks Simpson, The Reconstruction Presidents
- Rick Perlstein, The Invisible Bridge
- Sean Wilentz, The Rise of American Democracy
- Joshua Zeitz, Building the Great Society
- Selena Zito, The Great Revolt
My Contact Information:
- email: kcjohnson9@gmail.com
- cell: 207-329-8456
- office hours: Thurs., 12.30-1.30, Boylan 1127a
Schedule
August 28: Introduction
- Forrest MacDonald, The American Presidency
September 4: The Constitutional Era
- Joseph Ellis, His Excellency [study questions:]
supplementary readings:
- Lynn Parsons, The Birth of Modern Politics
September 11, 18–transition days
September 25: The Transitional Era
Sean Wilentz, The Rise of American Democracy [study questions: ]
supplementary readings:
- Walter Borneman, Polk
- Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wraught
October 2: Lincoln COURSE PAPER TOPICS DUE
David Herbert Donald, Lincoln [study questions:]
supplementary readings:
- Mark Neely, The Fate of Liberty []
October 9: The Post-Civil War Era
Brooks Simpson, The Reconstruction Presidents [study questions:]
supplementary readings:
- Henry Graff, Grover Cleveland []
October 16: Wilson
John Milton Cooper, Woodrow Wilson [study questions: ]
supplementary readings:
- Thomas Knock, To End All Wars []
October 23: No class
October 30: FDR
David Kennedy, Freedom from Fear [study questions]
supplementary readings:
- Frank Freidel, Franklin D. Roosevelt: Rendezvous with Destiny []
November 6: The Postwar Presidency
James McCullough, Truman [study questions: ]
supplementary readings:
- Jean Smith, Eisenhower in War and Peace []
November 13: 1960s
Joshua Zeitz, Building a Great Society [study questions: ]
supplementary readings:
- Robert Caro, The Passage to Power []
November 20: Nixon
Stanley Kutler, The Wars of Watergate []
supplementary readings:
- Rick Perlstein, Nixonland
November 27: The Transition to Reaganism
Rick Perlstein, The Invisible Bridge []
supplementary readings:
- Taylor Branch, The Clinton Tapes []
December 4: Modern Presidency
- Selena Zito, The Great Revolt
- supplementary readings:
- Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, Double Down
December 9: Review
