The American Presidency Requirements: Grading:

Transcription

1 The American Presidency Professor Paul Herron Brandeis University, Spring 2015 Office: Olin Sang 122 Office hours: Tuesday 12-1:00, Friday 11-1:00 and by appt. The presidency has made every man who occupied it, no matter how small, bigger than he was; and no matter how big, not big enough for its demands. Lyndon Baines Johnson This course examines the politics and history of the American Presidency. Forty-three men have occupied the Oval Office at times of upheaval and calm. They left behind multiple legacies through their battles with Congress, appointees to the Supreme Court, military actions, international agreements, and public policies. Presidents must act as leader or the government, leader of the nation, and leader of their political party. These roles often generate contradictory impulses. The Constitution left many powers ill defined in Article II, which later empowered individuals to shape outcomes through force of personality and opportunism. It is important to understand how the authority of the president has changed over time. We will be considering the foundations of the office and its development to offer a new perspective on the challenges faced by contemporary presidents. Requirements: Class Attendance (5%) and Participation (10% of final grade) You must arrive to class on time and turn off all cell phones. You may use computers or tablets to display readings, but not for notes. I expect everyone to come prepared for an active discussion. Quality participation includes engaging with the readings, expressing your opinions on relevant issues (while respecting other students opinions and experiences), and asking questions when you need additional clarification. I am very interested in what you have to say, so speak up! Weekly Election updates (15% of final grade) Everyone will be responsible for providing an update on the current election. Each class will begin with those assigned for that day. We will discuss the expectations in class. Three Quizzes (15% of final grade) Three short quizzes on readings and lectures. Midterm Exam (25% of final grade) The midterm exam will require you to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and readings we cover in class. It will consist of short answer and essay questions Final Exam (30% of final grade) The final exam will require you to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and readings we cover in the class. It will consist of short answer and essay questions. Grading: Participation is important. Active, informed contributions will improve your grade. Remember that participation is about quality, not quantity. Attendance is 5% of your grade and participation 10%. If you are nervous about speaking up in class, please talk to me during office hours so we can figure something out. I do not want to penalize shy students who attend regularly and 1

2 complete the readings. Three or more unexcused absences will lower your participation grade by one letter grade. Students who miss five or more classes without valid reasons will receive an F for class participation and attendance. Grading scale: 0-59% (F); 60-66% (D), 67-69% (D+), 70-72% (C-), 73-76% (C), 77-79% (C+), 80-82% (B-), 83-86% (B), 87-89% (B+), 90-93% (A-), % (A) Grades are not negotiable. If you think I made a genuine error in my calculations, please let me know immediately. Disabilities: If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see me immediately. Academic Integrity: Do not plagiarize under any circumstances. If you are unsure of whether to cite something, err on the side of caution. You can find university resources here: Please do not put me in the position where I have to report a case of academic dishonesty. Meetings: My goal is to be an accessible and approachable teacher. I hope you will all take advantage of my office hours at some point during the semester. If you have a scheduling conflict, please let me know, and we can meet at another time. I m happy to talk about the class, but I also want you to feel free to come by if you want advice about graduate school, law school, or just want to discuss politics, history, writing, or anything at all. My door is always open. Books to Purchase: 1. Marc Landy and Sidney Milkis, Presidential Greatness (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2000). 2. Sidney Milkis and Michael Nelson, The American Presidency, Origins and Development, th Anv Ed. (CQ Press, 2015). Other readings and assignments will be available on Latte. **Important dates: February 4 (Thursday) First Quiz February 25 (Thursday) In-class midterm. March 22 (Tuesday) Second Quiz April 19 (Tuesday) Third Quiz Final Exam TBD 2

3 WEEK 1 January 14 Course overview and introduction. WEEK 2 January 19 (Presidential Greatness) Michael Nelson, "Evaluating the Presidency," in The Presidency and the Political System (Washington: CQ Press, 2006). (Latte) Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., "Rating the Presidents: Washington to Clinton," Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 112, No. 2 (Summer, 1997), pp (Latte) Nate Silver, "Contemplating Obama's Place in History, Statistically. New York Times, January 23, (Latte) US News and World Report, "The Worst Presidents." (Latte) January 21 (Foundations) Sidney Milkis and Michael Nelson, The American Presidency, Origins and Development, (CQ Press, 2011), pp. 1-26, skim The U.S. Constitution, especially Article II, The Declaration of Independence, The Federalist Papers: 10 and 51. (Latte) The Federalist Papers: 69, and 70. (Latte) WEEK 3 January 26 (Washington) Marc Landy and Sidney Milkis, Presidential Greatness (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2001), pp Washington s Farewell Address (September 19, 1796). (Latte) January 28 (Jefferson) Presidential Greatness, pp Jefferson s First Inaugural Address (March 4, 1801) and his Letter to Samuel Kercheval (July 12, 1816). (Latte) WEEK 4 February 2 (Jackson) Presidential Greatness, pp The American Presidency, pp Jackson s speech on the Bank Veto (July 10, 1832). (Latte) February 4 (Polk) *First Quiz Walter Bourneman, Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America (New York: Random House, 2008), (Latte) Polk s Inaugural Address (March 4, 1845). (Latte) 3

4 WEEK 5 February 9 (Lincoln) David Donald, A. Lincoln, Politician, in Wildavsky, ed., The Presidency (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co., 1969). (Latte) Lincoln s Lyceum Address (January 27, 1838), House Divided Speech (June 16, 1858), and Cooper Union Address (February 27, 1860). (Latte) February 11 (Lincoln) Presidential Greatness, pp Lincoln s First Inaugural Address (March 4, 1861), The Gettysburg Address (November 19, 1863), and his Second Inaugural (March 4, 1865). (Latte) WEEK 6 February 16 and 18: No class WEEK 7 February 23 (Late 19 th Century) Daniel Klinghard, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, and the Emergence of the President as Party Leader, Presidential Studies Quarterly, vol. 35, no. 4 (2005): (Latte) The American Presidency, pp McKinley s Last Speech, Buffalo NY (September 5, 1901). (Latte) February 25 *In class Midterm WEEK 8 (Spring Break, no class) March 1 (Progressive Era: Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson) The American Presidency, pp Theodore Roosevelt s Duties of American Citizenship speech (January 26, 1883). (Latte) Woodrow Wilson s Fourteen Points speech (January 8, 1918). (Latte) March 3 (FDR) Presidential Greatness, pp FDR s First Inaugural Address (March 4, 1933), his Four Freedoms speech (January 6, 1941), and his Address to Congress Requesting a Declaration of War (December 8, 1941). (audio on Latte) WEEK 9 March 8 (Truman and Eisenhower) The American Presidency, pp Fred I. Greenstein, The Presidential Difference, Leadership Style from FDR to Barack Obama (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2009), (Latte) The Truman Doctrine speech (March 12, 1947) (audio on Latte) Eisenhower s Farewell Address (January 17, 1961). (audio on Latte) 4

5 March 10 (JFK and LBJ) The American Presidency, pp Kennedy s Acceptance of the Democratic Party Nomination (July 15, 1960), Inaugural Address (January 20, 1961), The Goal of Sending a Man to the Moon (May 25, 1961), American University Commencement (June 10, 1963), and his Address on Civil Rights (June 11, 1963). (video on Latte) Johnson s Address to Joint Session of Congress (November 27, 1963), Remarks upon Signing the Civil Rights Bill (July 2, 1964), Speech Before Congress on Voting Rights (March 15, 1965), Speech on Vietnam (September 29, 1967), Remarks on Decision not to seek Reelection (March 31, 1968). (video on Latte) WEEK 10 March 15 (Nixon, Ford, and Carter) Fred I. Greenstein, The Presidential Difference, Leadership Style from FDR to Barack Obama (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2009), (Latte) Nixon s Checkers Speech (September 23, 1952), Address to the Nation on Presidential Tape Recordings (April 29, 1974), and Address to the Nation on Decision to Resign the Office of President (August 8, 1974). (video on Latte) Ford s Remarks on Pardoning Nixon (September 8, 1974). (video on Latte) Carter Crisis of Confidence Speech (July 15, 1979). (video on Latte) March 17 (Reagan and George H.W. Bush) The American Presidency, pp Reagan s A Time for Choosing speech (October 27, 1964), Remarks at the Republican National Convention (August 19, 1976), and Address from the Brandenburg Gate (June 12, 1987). (video on Latte) Bush s Address to the Nation on the Budget (October 2, 1990). (video on Latte) WEEK 11 March 22 (Clinton and George W. Bush) *Second Quiz The American Presidency, pp Clinton s First Inaugural Address (January 20, 1993). (video on Latte) Bush s speech after Bush v. Gore (December 13, 2000), Address to the Joint Session of Congress (September 20, 2001); State of the Union Address (January 23, 2007). (video on Latte) March 24(Parties) Sidney M. Milkis, The Presidency and Political Parties. (Latte) 5

6 WEEK 12 March 29 (Congress) Andrew Rudalevige, "The Executive Branch and the Legislative Process." (Latte) Presidential Power vs. Congressional Inertia, New York Times, January 29, 2014 (read all articles contained in this forum). (Latte) March 31 (The Courts) David A. Yalof, The Presidency and the Judiciary. (Latte) R. Shep Melnick, "The Courts, Jurisprudence, and the Executive Branch," in Institutions of American Democracy: The Executive Branch, Joel Aberbach and Mark Peterson, eds. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005) (Latte) WEEK 13 April 5 (Power and Persuasion) Richard E. Neustadt, Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents: The Politics of Leadership from Roosevelt to Reagan (New York: Free Press, 1990), preface to 1960 and 1990 editions and chs. 1, 2, and 3. (Latte) April 7 (Going Public) Samuel Kernell, Going Public: New Strategies of Presidential Leadership (Washington: CQ Press, 2006), chs. 1 and 2. (Latte) WEEK 14 April 12 (Presidential Character) James Barber, The Presidential Character: Predicting Performance in the White House (New York: Prentice Hall, 1992) ch.1 and 15. April 14 (The President in Political Time) Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make: Leadership from John Adams to Bill Clinton, Revised Edition (Cambridge: Belknap Press, 1997). chs. 1-3, pp (Latte) WEEK 15 April 19 (Obama in Political Time) *Third Quiz The Politics Presidents Make, ch. 8 and afterword, pp (Latte) Stephen Skowronek, Presidential Leadership in Political Time, Reprise and Reappraisal (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2011), ch. 6, pp (Latte) April 21 (No class, Brandeis Friday) WEEK 16 April 26 The 2016 Election Selection of articles on the current state of the presidential contest. Discussion of the implications of the process going forward in light of all of our work this semester. April 28 Final Thoughts/exam review 6