Reflective Essay: The President's Club

“The Logic of American Politics,” written by Samuel Kernell, Gary C. Jacobson, Thad Kousser, and Lynn Vavreck brings together the sequence of events that occur throughout our history in chapters six through nine. Chapter six, Congress, focuses on the development of Congress and how they came to hold so much power within the United States; with the creation of Congress came the Presidency. The Presidency, chapter 7, explain how the framework for President of the United States was given only enough power to control/respond to national emergencies, and under the President were bureaus that worked with him. Chapter 8, The Bureaucracy, was created by the frameworkers, but was never given a clear definition on how to organize this branch of government, just like the bureau's work alongside the President the Judiciary system works alongside Congress.

This informative book that the author, Joanne Freeman, focuses on a constructive journey of providing a comprehensive re-examination of the political culture that was exhibited in the historical orientation of American. The text has revealed an overwhelming unstable and a strange political world that is founded on the values of a code of honor and this has been achieved by exploring different materials that had focused on both the private and public figures. Relevant information explored are from key figures found in the history of America, including Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Aaron Burr, which Freeman has utilized in building a strong argument on the subject of the book (Freeman, 2002).

Most of them are considered to be impenetrable events that when compared to the current political scenario could elaborate on the significant growth that America has achieved so far. A significant example of such impenetrable events is the duel that Freeman has addressed, which existed between Hamilton and Burr. Indeed, the political realisms and anxieties linked to diverse leaders have been addressed in a more humanistic manner throughout the book. Evidently, this has also been extended on the struggles that such leaders went through in having a clear definition of their roles and lifestyle in presenting the American culture (Freeman,

However, to condemn those in positions of power for their actions is to misinterpret the volatile climate of the Cold War Era in which they operated. The polarized political thought and the turbulent domestic events that shadowed everyday life had a profound impact on American thought and culture and the lives of public figures who dominate the story. To truly understand the impact of these characters and the climate of the American Cold War theatre, the complexity of the dynamics within society must be understood from the point of view and the

The American Presidency is one of the most criticized political institutions in the world. The American President is held to standards higher than any person can reasonably be expected to uphold and even the slightest mistake on their part can be remembered forever as a historic failure. Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president of the United States and is often considered to be one of the “top ten” greatest presidents, yet even he is not immune to historical criticism. While he may have been a very successful president he had his fair share of failures. Two of his chief failures as president were his rather disastrous policies dealing with racial issues and his pushing through of the 1917 espionage act.

Andrew Jackson together with his close friends during the tumultuous times are the cornerstone and pillars of this wonderful book about someone who rose from rags to define the American presidency. Hated and beloved, reviled and venerated, Jackson was a total orphan who was able to make his way to the apex of power bending the entire nation to his desires of democracy. His election in 1828 sparked a new cycle in politics, where the people mattered more than the rich. During this time, democracy was deeply rooted and embraced by many as it was seemed to be Jackson’s priority to the American citizens. This gave the people the voice to their country and eradicated the fears of restless, changing the country facing multiple domestic issues and enormous amounts of threats from abroad. In a bid to tell the story of Jackson, Jon goes into the White House. Drawing upon family letters, he details the events, activities, and people who shaped Jackson’s world.

The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, is considered by many to be the hallmark of American literature. It covers the journey of the Joad family as they stick together through one of the harshest eras in American history, the Great Depression. The structure of the Joad’s narrative is interspersed by smaller, highly descriptive interchapters, which sets the novel apart from other classics in its ability to make the reader understand and relate to the Joads and everything they went through. The detailed, impactful vignettes foreshadow problems the Joads have to overcome and the overview descriptions in the vignettes contrast with the specificities of the Joad’s story. They contain Biblical allusions, colorful descriptions, and objects that can interact with the main characters later in the narrative. Through the use of imagery and diction, the vignettes make Steinbeck’s message more impactful and meaningful.

Throughout history, political leaders of the United States were, at one time, thought of as vital pioneers of our progressive society. As president, they vow to take the responsibility to represent America and its people with integrity. Unfortunately, over the years, our trust in our executive legislatures has radically deteriorated. This shift within public and governmental assurance has echoed all throughout history, but peaks at the height of an unexpected scandal. The 1970’s began on a path of disparity and hesitation due to the radical events and assassinations that shaped America’s mentality in the 1960’s. In a nation divided, Richard M. Nixon stepped in as 37th president in 1969 with a mission to resolve the trailing aftermath of the

The Evolution of the Imperial Presidency from FDR to Obama, and How it Has Changed the Fabric of American Society.

Sarah Vowell, author of Assassination Vacation, argues that Americans have misplaced ample knowledge regarding the surprisingly bloody history of their presidents. Vowell, an assassination fanatic, presents a shockingly deep analysis of three of the worst days in the nation’s history, days she claims, if we forget, will repeat themselves. Using an odd sense of humor and brilliantly crafted first hand reports, Vowell makes sure the reader walks away with a greater understanding for the astonishing men (and their assassins) that have shaped America.

In his study The New Imperial Presidency: Renewing Presidential Power after Watergate, Andrew Rudalevige examines the American presidency and how it has changed over time. First off what is an Imperial Presidency? An imperial presidency is a term that was coined around the 1960s by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. to describe the modern presidency of the United States. In the beginning of the book Rudalevige states, “Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. had affixed an enduring adjective to the Nixon Presidency: Imperial. This didn’t mean that the president literally had become emperor but suggested the occupant in office exercised more absolute power.”

In a time like this in American history, government officials were being bribed by the wealthy people to ignore the crimes they make such as smuggling alcohol during prohibition. Many readers might not notice it but politics was something to be aware about in the novel. A time like this was known for its prosperity and growth but also for its corruption. WW1 ended with the surrender of Germany Warren G. Harding took presidential office in 1920. One goal was to Americans back to “normalcy” which was business as usual for the American people. Many people thought things were to get right but in fact the opposite occurs with government corruption.

My desire was to challenge myself and pursue my belief in life-long learning. And yes, the last eight weeks have definitely been a challenge intellectually in IDS 101. After the first two weeks of school, I seriously questioned why I would go back to school at fifty-one years of age for personal satisfaction. The days were long and I wasn’t sure I still had the self-discipline and determination that would be needed to finish. Over the last eight weeks, this class gave me numerous opportunities to hone my skills in critical thinking, research, and writing. This class has given me the necessary skills to continue toward completing my degree.

The story was very intriguing, and had many quotes that made it feel like a fiction novel. You could almost feel everything the main characters felt, as it gave motivation and thought. For example, the friendship between Roosevelt and Taft was very strong at the beginning, but fell apart due to the competition they were in. There was lots of foreshadowing and irony, such as a quote from Woodrow Wilson on page 243, “It would be and irony of fate if my administration had to deal chiefly with foreign affairs, for all my preparation has been in domestic matters.” As we soon learn, he was president during the Great War, and dealt with many other foreign affairs along the way. There were also many motivational parts that brought the reader in as if they were part of the book, and with several different people included you could relate to their side of certain issues or be offended by their early 20th century “ethics”. My favorite parts were Debs and Roosevelt, because they were very personable and energetic people, and even though they were progressive radicals, they are very similar to a moderate today. Another good part about this book was because it is about a time in politics over 100 years ago, it seems as if there aren’t nearly as many important issues to discuss as there is today, making it easier to understand. Despite all of the great things about this book, there were also some bad things. First of all, there were some typos. This didn’t make it impossible to understand, but it had many more than an average book. There were also a lot of prodigious words, which would be okay if they were used in moderation and not unnecessary. Especially towards the end when everyone is dying, it would be nice if there were short descriptions next to medical terms so you wouldn’t have to look them up and be disgusted with pictures of abscesses. Along

The American Presidency is undoubtedly one of the most widely recognized popular icons throughout the world. Although to most foreigners or those who have never resided in the United States or know little of its history, the executive branch of government may seem to be as dull and unyielding as the rest of the American politics, for those few rare individuals who have taken the time to examine and closely scrutinize this office of the American political system and its recent history, quite the opposite will be said. Unlike Congressional or local elections where typically a number of individuals of the same ideological background must be elected in order for a particular issue to be