About this Blog

During the semester, I shall post course material and students will comment on it. Students are also free to comment on any aspect of the presidency, either current or historical. There are only two major limitations: no coarse language, and no derogatory comments about people at the Claremont Colleges.

The course syllabus is at
http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/pages/faculty/JPitney/gov102-14.html

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Real TV President

Some say these are some of the best presidential speeches, too bad they're not real.

Although these clips are fictional and often improbable, they reflect the expectations of the presidency. Presidents play a role. FDR was never photographed in his wheel chair, Eisenhower cultivated an aloof public persona, JFK hid his feeble health, etc. As head of state, the symbolic role of the POTUS sometimes overshadows his actions as chief executive.

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