HI 283: the Twentieth Century American Presidency Boston University, Fall 2014 Mondays and Wednesdays 5.30-7Pm., CAS 201
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HI 283: The Twentieth Century American Presidency Boston University, Fall 2014 Mondays and Wednesdays 5.30-7pm., CAS 201 Professor Michael Holm History Department, 226 Bay State Road, # 506 Email: [email protected]; Phone: 617 353-8305 Office Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 10.00-11.30 COURSE DESCRIPTION: HI283 explores the late nineteenth and twentieth century American presidencies from a historical perspective. The course examines the shifting responsibilities of and institutional changes in the executive branch with a particular focus on foreign policy, wars, the relationship between the White House and Congress, the increasingly important role of the media, and selected presidential elections. While we will examine the endeavors of individual presidents, the course will also focus on the political, social, economic, and military changes that have shaped the modern presidency. REQUIRED READINGS: Alan Brinkley, John F. Kennedy Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., The Imperial Presidency (2004 edition) Richard D. Polenberg, The Era of Franklin Roosevelt, 1933-1945 Barry Goldwater, The Conscience of a Conservative. Anonymous (Joe Klein), Primary Colors Additional assigned readings will be available on the course’s Blackboard site. All books are available the Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Students can find additional course materials and assignments on the course Blackboard site. Readings available on Blackboard are designated on the syllabus with ** 1 FORMAT: The course will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5.30-7PM in CAS201. You will be expected to complete the readings for the week by the class session. Each session will combine lectures with a class discussion of the assigned readings. As noted on the syllabus, occasional class sessions will be dedicated entirely to discussion. GRADE BREAKDOWN: Midterm: (20%): In-class exam on October 15. Details on format and requirements to follow. Research Paper/Analytical Paper (25%): This is a primary source based paper. Students will be required to use either one of the digital databases listed on the syllabus or the online digital data base from any of the Presidential libraries to produce an original 13-15 page (excl. front page and bibliography) research paper about a specific aspect of the American presidency. A proposal and annotated bibliography (10% of the paper grade) is due in professor Holm’s office no later than October 31. A first draft of the paper is due in class on November 19. The final paper is due on December 8. Additional information to follow. Discussion Participation and Attendance (25%) Students should attend each week’s class and are required to participate actively in the class discussion. Final Exam during Exam Week (30%) The midterm and final examination must be taken on the dates specified on the syllabus. Make- up examinations will be given after the scheduled examination time only for a valid medical reason. Any student missing the final examination for a valid medical reason must notify the professor and obtain his permission to miss the examination prior to the examination in order to receive an “Incomplete” grade. NOTE ON WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: For a detailed description of the proper format for historical essays, students should consult the BU History Department Writing Guide at: http://www.bu.edu/history/undergraduate-program/resources/writing-guide/ NOTE ON PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism is a serious offense. The Boston University Code of Academic Conduct defines plagiarism as “any attempts by a student to represent the work of another as his or her own.” Plagiarism is subject to serious sanctions, including reprimand, suspension, and expulsion. For a detailed description of Boston University’s rules, consult the code of conduct at: http://www.bu.edu/academics/cas/policies/academic-conduct/ Schedule of Lectures and Weekly Assignments September 3 Introduction to the American Presidency: Recommended Readings: U.S. Constitution, Article II, section 1-4** Schlesinger, Jr. The Imperial Presidency, pp. 1-12 2 September 8 The Presidency and Imperial Progressivism: McKinley & Roosevelt Schlesinger, Jr., The Imperial Presidency, pp. 82-93 George F. Kennan, “The War with Spain”** September 10 The Presidency and the Great War, 1914-1917 H.W. Brands, Woodrow Wilson (excerpt)** Woodrow Wilson, “War Message to Congress”** Woodrow Wilson’s “14 Points”** September 15 Discussion: The Progressive Era and the White House Willliam McKinley, “War Message to Congress,” 1898** Theodore Roosevelt, “Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine”** Theodore Roosevelt, “New Nationalism”** Woodrow Wilson, “Pueblo Speech” and “The Lodge Reservations”** September 17 Republicans and the 1920s: Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover Schulzinger, “An Era of Conservative Internationalism”** Dean and Greenberg on Harding and Coolidge** September 22 Franklin Roosevelt and the Great Depression Polenberg, The Era of FDR, pp. 1-16; 39-57 September 24 FDR and the Second World War Polenberg, The Era of FDR, pp. 184-227 Schlesinger, Jr. The Imperial Presidency, pp. 100-127 September 29 Discussion: FDR and the Challenge from Left and Right Polenberg, The Era of FDR, pp. 114-132, 173-175 Challenges from Left and Right** Herbert Hoover, The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover, (excerpt)** Digital Database: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library Resource: The Fireside Chats October 1 Harry Truman and the use of the Atomic Bomb Harry S. Truman, on Hiroshima** Truman and the Media on the Atomic Bomb** October 6,8 In the Shadow of FDR, 1945-1948 Harry S. Truman, Memoirs (excerpt)** Busch, Truman Triumphs (excerpt)** Tony Smith, America’s Mission (excerpt)** October 13 No Class: Columbus Day October 14: Documentary in Class: Monday schedule 3 October 15 Midterm Exam October 20 The Presidency, Congress, and the National Security State, 1949-1954 Schlesinger, Jr. The Imperial Presidency, pp. 127-176 October 22 Discussion: The Truman and Eisenhower Eras The Truman Doctrine** McCarthyism (excerpts)** Eisenhower speeches** Presidential memoirs (excerpts)** October 27 The Election of 1960 Brinkley, John F. Kennedy, pp. 1-65 Theodore White, The Making of a President (excerpt)** Digital Database: The 1960 Campaign: http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/Campaign-of-1960.aspx Digital Database: The Living Room Candidate http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1960 October 29 The Cuban Missile Crisis JFK Televised Address on the Cuban missile crisis, 1962.** Brinkley, John F. Kennedy, pp. 65-73, 113-131 October 31 Paper proposal and annotated bibliography due by 5pm. November 3 Discussion: The Kennedy Era Brinkley, John F. Kennedy, pp. 74-88, 150-158 JFK, Inaugural Address, 1961 (watch/read)** JFK, American University Speech, 1963 (watch/read)** November 5 Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great society Brinkley, John F. Kennedy, pp. 89-112 Schulman, “Shall We Overcome? LBJ and the Civil Rights Revolution** November 10 Vietnam and the White House, 1954-1968 Schlesinger, Jr., The Imperial Presidency, pp. 177-193 Brinkley, John F. Kennedy, pp. 132-149 November 12 Discussion: The Sixties Goldwater, The Conscience of a Conservative, pp. 1-33, 53-80 Lyndon B. Johnson speeches** Watch Ronald Reagan, “A Time for Choosing”** November 17 The Rise and Fall of Richard Nixon The Election of Richard Nixon** Nixon’s Vietnam** Digital Database: http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1968 4 November 19 The Rise and Fall of Richard Nixon continued Schlesinger, Jr. The Imperial Presidency, pp. 193-207, 223-235, 240-277 First paper draft due in class. In-class assignment. November 24 Ronald Reagan and Conservatism in America Goldwater, Conscience of a Conservative, pp. 81-119 Jacobs and Zelizer, Conservatives in Power (excerpt)** Watch: PBS American Experience: Reagan http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/reagan/player/ November 26 No Class: Thanksgiving Break December 1 The Presidency and the Media in the Modern Era Anonymous, Primary Colors (all) Watch: PBS American Experience: Clinton (until Presidency) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/clinton/ December 3 The Clinton Era Klein, Bill Clinton** (excerpt) Watch: PBS American Experience: Clinton (The Clinton presidency) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/clinton/ December 8 The Imperial Presidency Returns: The War on Terror and in Iraq Schlesinger, Jr., The Imperial Presidency, pp. ix-xxiv. George W. Bush Speeches** Dick Cheney, In My Time (excerpt)** Analytical Paper due in class December 10 Discussion: Contemporary Challenges to the Modern Presidency Robert C. Byrd, “Letter to a New President”** Articles on the state of political discourse** Digital Database: http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2004 Digital Database: http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2008 Digital Database: http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2012 Final Exam: Date TBD. 5 .