Focus: The Presidency

This Focus portfolio traces the evolution of the Presidency from its beginnings to the present day. As head of the executive branch of government, the President of the United States has one of the most influential jobs in the world today. But much has changed since George Washington was sworn in as our nation's first president on April 30, 1789 While Article ll of the Constitution provides a basic job description for the chief executive-including powers, qualification, terms of office, and the election process, the explanation of how the president is able to carry out these duties is surprisingly vague. A wide variety of primary sources, such as campaign memorabilia, letters, diary entries, photographs, and government documents, will help students understand the official role of the president as well as offer them a glimpse into how this powerful position has shaped the private lives of those who have served as chief executive. Support Materials: * Illustrated Broadsheet Essay * Timeline * Critical Thinking Questions with Response Key * Recommended Reading List * Presidential Trivia 10 Primary Source Documents: * Excerpt from George Washington's letter to Catherine Macaulay Graham, January 9, 1790 * Letter sent by Benny Pierce to his mother, June 11, 1852 * First and last pages of the Articles of Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, 1868 * Republican Ballot from the Election of 1876 * Campaign Button Poster * Presidential Election Process flow chart poster * Entry from President Harry Truman's Personal Diary, July 28, 1974 * Memo to Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski, August 9, 1974 * A Day in the Life of President Gerald Ford, April 28, 1975 * Sections 2-4 of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution, October 16, 2002