Glencoe Social Studies Current eventS update SprInG 2008 Great programs available from Glencoe: π3 Journey Across Time π3 Civics Today: Citizenship, Economics, and You π3 Journey Across Time: Early Ages π3 The American Vision π3 Exploring Our World: People, Places, and Cultures π3 The American Vision: Modern Times π3 World Geography and Cultures π3 Exploring Our World: Eastern Hemisphere π3 Glencoe World History π3 Exploring Our World: π3 Glencoe World History: Modern Times Western Hemisphere, Europe, and Russia π3 Economics: Principles and Practices π3 The American Journey π3 Economics: Today and Tomorrow π3 Street Law π3 The American Journey: Early Years π3 United States Government: Democracy in Action π3 The American Journey: Modern Times π3 Understanding Psychology π3 Sociology and You Time Learning Ventures is proud to partner with Glencoe/McGraw-Hill to create this Social Studies Current Events Update. To subscribe to Time Magazine and get free access to more than 80 years of historic and engaging archival Time content, call 1-800-843-Time or visit www.time.com/customerservice GLENCOE SOCIAL STUDIE S Current events update NATION campaign 2008 Does Experience Matter in a President?.............................2 Changing the Script................................................................4 He’s Got Game............................................................................6 Ready To Rumble........................................................................8 - WORKSHEET: analyzing the Issues............................................10 national service A Time To Serve........................................................................11 environment The Fire This Time........................................................................14 Inside a Wildfire........................................................................16 WORLD afghanistan The Girl Gap..............................................................................18 global business When Eat Meets West..............................................................20 archaeology Who Owns History?.............................................................22 global warming Fight for the Top of the World......................................24 Redrawing the Map..........................................................26 - WORKSHEET: Interpreting Maps and Graphics..........................28 middle east A Taste of Liberty In Troubled Gaza...................................29 S O C I E T Y , S PORT S A N D B U S INE ss society Is Facebook Overrated?..............................................................30 sports Young Athletes, Big Injuries....................................................32 Sparking a Protest..........................................................33 business Bracing for a Recession....................................................34 - WORKSHEET: Current events in review..................................36 Answers..............................................................................37 Copyright © 2008 Time Inc. All rights Any other reproduction, for use or sale, is through trademark registration in the For information on Time Magazine, reserved. Permission is granted to repro- prohibited without prior written permis- United States and in the foreign coun- please call: 1-800-843-Time. duce the material contained herein on sion of the publisher. tries where Time Magazine circulates. the condition that such material be repro- Articles in this edition of Time Reports Send all inquiries regarding Glencoe duced only for classroom use; be provided originally appeared in Time. Some selec- products to: to students, teachers and families without tions have been edited or condensed for Glencoe/McGraw-Hill charge; and be used solely in conjunction inclusion in this collection. Time and 8787 Orion Place with Glencoe products or Time Magazine. the Red Border Design are protected Columbus, OH 43240 ISBN-10: 0-07-891161-3 1 campaign 2 0 0 8 does experience Matter in a president? Hillary Clinton and John McCain are arguing that Barack Obama is too green for the job. But history shows that among Presidents, experience doesn’t guarantee success By DAVID VON DREHLE two candidates. The fact that this hasn’t stopped Obama’s momentum doesn’t mean he’s heard the last of it—not story is often told at times like this—times with John McCain, who has spent 26 years on Capitol when American voters are choosing among can- Hill and is the likely Republican nominee. “I’m not the didates richly seasoned with political experience youngest candidate. But I am the most experienced,” a and those who are less experienced but perhaps says McCain. “I know how the world works.” more exciting alternatives. Once upon a time, the torch Obama’s credentials would be an issue in any elec- was passed to a new generation of Americans, and a tion year. He would be sworn in at age 47, making him charismatic young President, gifted as a speechmaker one of the youngest Presidents in history, and would but little tested as an executive, was finding his way arrive in the Oval Office with less executive experience through his first 100 days. On Day 85, he stumbled, and than most of his predecessors. Depending on what your the result for John F. Kennedy was the disastrous Bay of leanings are, you could compare his work history— Pigs. For scholars of the presidency, Kennedy’s failure lawyer, state legislator, Washington short-timer, orator— to scuttle or fix the ill-conceived invasion of Cuba is a to Abraham Lincoln’s, or to a thousand forgotten figures classic case of the insufficiency of charisma alone. in politicalgraveyard.com. The question of experience Barack Obama basks in comparisons to J.F.K., but takes on added bite this year, though, because the next this is one he’d rather avoid. Obama’s rela- A NEW EXPERIENCE THE EXPERIENCE PARADOX NO OTHER EXPERIENCE THE CANDIDATES’ Presidential The founders set a high bar for Abraham Lincoln, among the least EXPERIENCE A lack of political experience can EXPERIENCE tively light political experience when lling the diverse experienced Presidents ever, served Chester A. be misleading. Dwight D. All three are bucking a recent Résumés. Arthur, trend of former governors résumé—eight years jobs needed to create a new between two of the most veteran a Eisenhower had never won an How 43 men nation. George Washington was politicians in U.S. history. Lincoln achieved patronage hire elected oce but was the becoming President. John as an Illinois legisla- a national hero but the least politically greatness; the old pros failed miserably and party loyalist, found ultimate Commander in Chief. Woodrow Wilson was McCain would be the got the job— experienced among them himself picked for Vice president of Princeton University and a renowned longest-serving Senator to tor and three years in President at a splintered intellectual. Both Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin become President. Hillary ready or not Republican Convention. Roosevelt each served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy Clinton points to her time in the U.S. Senate—con- Then James Gareld was the White House as First Lady. Throughout U.S. history, there assassinated. Surprisingly, Barack Obama is in his rst tinues to be the focus has been little correlation Arthur dedicated himself to Senate term between political experience civil-service reform and was and success as President. This a successful President of his rivals’ attacks. chart shows the political résumés of every American Hillary Clinton adver- President. Each square tises her seven years represents a year in an elective or high federal oce before the Eight years as First Lady person became President: Years in the Senate and two in oce Vice President 15 terms as First Lady, Four years as U.S. diplomat or Cabinet post President saying “I am ready U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives* 10 to lead on Day One.” Governor State legislature** And the message has Local office 5 gotten through: by Army general George WashingtonJohn AdamsThomasJames Jeerson MadisonJames MonroeJohn QuincyAndrew Adams MartinJackson VanWilliam BurenJohn Henry Tyler HarrisonJames K.Zachary Polk Millard Taylor FillmoreFranklinJames Pierce BuchananAbrahamAndrew LincolnUlysses Johnson S.Rutherford GrantJames B. HayesGareld Chester A.Grover Arthur ClevelandBenjaminGrover Harrison ClevelandWilliam McKinleyTheodoreWilliam Roosevelt H.Woodrow Taft Warren Wilson G.Calvin Harding CoolidgeHerbertFranklin HooverHarry D. Roosevelt S TrumanDwight D.John Eisenhower F. KennedyLyndon RichardB. Johnson GeraldNixon FordJimmy CarterRonald ReaganGeorge H.W.Bill Clinton BushGeorge W. BushJohn McCainHillary ClintonBarack Obama clear margins, voters *Includes the Continental Congresses **Includes colonial-era state assemblies and rate her as the more statewide elected oces below governor experienced of the 2 time, march 10, 2008 campaign 2 0 0 8 President will inherit a troubled and menacing satchel training, background, spiritual outlook and a host of of problems. From the Iraq tightrope to the stumbling other factors,” says presidential historian Richard Norton economy, from the China challenge to the health-care Smith. “Character is your magic word, it seems to mess, from loose nukes to oil dependence to (some me—not just what they’ve done but how they’ve done things never change) Cuba policy—the next President it and what they’ve learned from doing it.” will be tossed a couple dozen flaming torches at the end Was it Franklin Roosevelt’s experience