There is a great deal of discussion about what Obama’s first hundred days as President will include. I have even seen an article on the web about his first hundred hours. Where did this idea of evaluating the first hundred days originate and why it is it important?
This seemingly arbitrary evaluation by the press and nation of a President’s first hundred days began with Franklin D. Roosevelt. The nation was in a real economic crisis during the Great Depression and people wanted action fast. In 1933 Richard Norton Smith reported on the wave of reform that was designed to improve the nation’s mood and psyche.
In reality the President needs a Congress that will support and pass these changes. Since Roosevelt the expectation of action, particularly campaign promises, has increased. How a new President handles the issues passed down from the former President and how that new President sets out to accomplish his own goals in the first hundred days, often is a first real indicator of his leadership skills and what his four years will be like.
What will Obama accomplish in his first hundred days? Check out one of my favorite web sites WhiteHouse.Gov for weekly messages from Obama and his entire agenda. (I really love the changes I found there this week!) Additionally, many groups are challenging him to accomplish their own agenda like on the energy crisis. Much like when Roosevelt became President, the nation today wants immediate action and has high hopes for Obama to accomplish the “change” he promised. Only time and history will tell.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Inauguration/January 20th
Inauguation Ticket from LOC.GOV
When all the celebrations are over, Obama will enter the Oval Office and start his new job. What will Obama’s first hundred days bring? Next week we will consider the significance of the first hundred days.
We all will witness a very historic inauguration on January 20th. While pondering our future, it is a good time to reflect on the history of Presidential inaugurations. This event occurs at the start of my spring semester, but it is of such great importance that it will at least be a discussion topic. Not only is there a peaceful change in party, which frankly does not happen everywhere, but we are also seeing the inauguration that broke the race barrier. What a great way to bring relevancy to our learners!
First, to understand the significance of the 44th President, we should first reflect on the lives of the men who preceded Obama. Who were the Presidents of the United States? The median age of our Presidents is fifty-four. Thirty-one served in a military post, this includes state militias and the National Guard. Six of our Presidents came from Ohio, and six others came from New York making those states tied for the most Presidents. Twenty-six, including Obama, list lawyer on their resume as a former occupation before becoming President. Grouped together these men have been identified as Christian, using a broad definition including diesm, and some did not publicly identify with any church. Eight have died in office. Also, take a moment to reflect on who were the Vice-Presidents as they too take office on inauguration day, and even though these men often take a back seat in history, they are potentially one fatal day away from being President.
From protest marches to inauguration balls, what happens on inauguration day? Most importantly what messages have new President’s delivered in their inauguration speeches?
Want to do more research? Check out some of these sites.
Presidential facts
President Biographical facts
President quiz
Smithsonian Inauguration information
Interesting Inauguration summary
Library of Congress Collection
Teacher Resources
George Washington’s Address
Top 100 Speeches
Audio of FDR’s speech
Inauguration Trivia
First, to understand the significance of the 44th President, we should first reflect on the lives of the men who preceded Obama. Who were the Presidents of the United States? The median age of our Presidents is fifty-four. Thirty-one served in a military post, this includes state militias and the National Guard. Six of our Presidents came from Ohio, and six others came from New York making those states tied for the most Presidents. Twenty-six, including Obama, list lawyer on their resume as a former occupation before becoming President. Grouped together these men have been identified as Christian, using a broad definition including diesm, and some did not publicly identify with any church. Eight have died in office. Also, take a moment to reflect on who were the Vice-Presidents as they too take office on inauguration day, and even though these men often take a back seat in history, they are potentially one fatal day away from being President.
From protest marches to inauguration balls, what happens on inauguration day? Most importantly what messages have new President’s delivered in their inauguration speeches?
Want to do more research? Check out some of these sites.
Presidential facts
President Biographical facts
President quiz
Smithsonian Inauguration information
Interesting Inauguration summary
Library of Congress Collection
Teacher Resources
George Washington’s Address
Top 100 Speeches
Audio of FDR’s speech
Inauguration Trivia
When all the celebrations are over, Obama will enter the Oval Office and start his new job. What will Obama’s first hundred days bring? Next week we will consider the significance of the first hundred days.
Monday, January 12, 2009
First Family
While the nation elects a President, he or she brings with them family to live in the White House. The significance of the First Lady should not be underestimated. Publicly, her role evolved from hostess and manager of the White House kitchen and décor, to ambassador of the President’s policies and leader for charitable causes. Quietly, the first lady might have influence over Presidential decisions and work to preserve a positive image for the President. If a President did not have a living wife, he might bring his mother, daughter, and even sister in-law to help with the “womanly” duties in managing the White House parties and other social occasions. Many of these women were well-educated leaders in their own right. Some truly stand out for their contributions to society and the world. President Bill Clinton even appointed his wife, Hillary, as head of a task force to improve healthcare. Time will tell what Michelle Obama’s interests and leadership roles will be.
The President’s children did not draw much attention in the public in the early days, but today Obama’s children and topics like where they are going to go to private school are apparently news. For more extensive research on the first families visit Doug Wead’s site or purchase his book All the President’s Children where he documents 17 years of research. Obama's daughters are pretty young to make notorious news but as you will find that was not uncommon for other Presidential children.
We look forward to the inauguration of a new President, but the nation gets more than just the man.
The President’s children did not draw much attention in the public in the early days, but today Obama’s children and topics like where they are going to go to private school are apparently news. For more extensive research on the first families visit Doug Wead’s site or purchase his book All the President’s Children where he documents 17 years of research. Obama's daughters are pretty young to make notorious news but as you will find that was not uncommon for other Presidential children.
We look forward to the inauguration of a new President, but the nation gets more than just the man.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Presidents and their Pets
Happy New Year!
In honor of the upcoming inauguration of our 44th President, this month I will focus on “all things Presidential.” In December, the new first family was in the news and internet quite a bit about what kind of pet would call the White House home. So on the lighter side this week, what kinds of pets did former Presidents have?
Interestingly, most of our Presidents have had pets ranging from Madison’s parrot to two bear cubs that Lewis and Clark brought Jefferson. Early Presidents had live-stock including their main mode of transportation and some favorite companions, horses. On the more unusual side, John Quincy Adams had an alligator and silk worms and Martin Van Buren had two tigers. A few Presidents didn’t have pets: Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, and Chester A. Arthur.
For a list of pets owned by Presidents
Presidential Pet Museum has some pictures of the pets
Funny site but also includes a list of Pets for the Presidents.
Slide show of some Presidents with the pets
What does this all mean about Presidents or our nation? I’m not sure. However, these pets have become part of the public relations plan for modern leaders. Down in the polls, how about a few pictures with a cute four-legged friend? Want to seem more down to earth and relate to the common man, play catch with a dog on the White House lawn…Think I’ve gone too far, maybe, but check out White House Kids.gov. You will find Barney Cam videos.
In honor of the upcoming inauguration of our 44th President, this month I will focus on “all things Presidential.” In December, the new first family was in the news and internet quite a bit about what kind of pet would call the White House home. So on the lighter side this week, what kinds of pets did former Presidents have?
Interestingly, most of our Presidents have had pets ranging from Madison’s parrot to two bear cubs that Lewis and Clark brought Jefferson. Early Presidents had live-stock including their main mode of transportation and some favorite companions, horses. On the more unusual side, John Quincy Adams had an alligator and silk worms and Martin Van Buren had two tigers. A few Presidents didn’t have pets: Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, and Chester A. Arthur.
For a list of pets owned by Presidents
Presidential Pet Museum has some pictures of the pets
Funny site but also includes a list of Pets for the Presidents.
Slide show of some Presidents with the pets
What does this all mean about Presidents or our nation? I’m not sure. However, these pets have become part of the public relations plan for modern leaders. Down in the polls, how about a few pictures with a cute four-legged friend? Want to seem more down to earth and relate to the common man, play catch with a dog on the White House lawn…Think I’ve gone too far, maybe, but check out White House Kids.gov. You will find Barney Cam videos.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
