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the presidency: related resources
About the Author | Activity Ideas | Related Resources
Find Below: PBS Web Sites, Other Recommended Links, Recommended Books
pbs online
By the People:
http://www.pbs.org/elections
The Democracy Project:
http://pbskids.org/democracy
WayBack - Presidents: The Secret History:
http://pbskids.org/wayback
American Experience: "The Presidents":
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/
Frontline: "The Choice 2004":
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/choice2004/
NewsHour Extra - Campaign 2004:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/vote2004/index.html
NewsHour - Presidents and Crises:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/jan-june02/historians_4-17.html
The American President:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/amerpres/
recommended web sites
The Living Room Candidate
http://livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us/
The American Museum of the Moving Image presents The Living Room
Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952-2004 an online exhibition of over 250 television commercials from every election year from 1952 to today. The site has a searchable database with commentary, historical background, election results, which can be searched by year or issue. Issues include Civil Rights, Corruption, Cost of Living, Taxes, War, and Welfare. "The Desktop Candidate" is section which features campaign materials made for the Web. The site requires Windows Media Player 9 or RealPlayer G2. There is an excellent site guide describing how to use and find the material housed here.
Subject: Social Studies; The Arts
More Recommended Social Studies Links
More Recommended Arts Links
Vote: The Machinery of Democracy
http://americanhistory.si.edu/vote/
How do votes actually get counted? This site from the Smithsonian Museum of American History describes how ballots and voting systems have evolved over the years from paper ballots, gears and lever voting machines, and computer touch screens. One theme covers the butterfly ballot problem with counting votes in Florida in 2000. The site is also available in Flash.
Subject: Science & Technology
More Recommended Science & Technology Links
The White House Project
http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org/
The White House Project, a national non-partisan organization, is "dedicated to advancing women's leadership across sectors, enhancing public perception's of women's ability to lead and fostering the entry of women into leadership positions, including the presidency." Did you know that of the 100 senators in 2004, there are only 14 who are women? That only 14% of the House of Representatives are women, or that women represent only 11% of all guests on the Sunday morning political talk shows? When women make up half the population, those are small numbers although more equitable than in previous decades.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
Presidential Elections in the United States: A Primer
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/22616.pdf
The Congressional Research Service created a report which describes the four stages of the presidential election process: the pre-nomination primaries and caucuses for selecting delegates to the national conventions; the national nominating conventions; the general election; and voting by members of the electoral college to choose the President and Vice President. The report provides great background for any high school student taking a government class. This 53 page document is in PDF format.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
Electionline.org
http://www.electionline.org/
The Election Reform Information Project is the nation's only non-partisan, non-advocacy website which serves as a clearinghouse for election reform information regarding topics including the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The interactive map lets you select a topic and region to find information about the voting age population, ethnicity of the voting age population, registered voters, and the voting system in place for many states. Free publications can be downloaded in PDF format.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
Commission on Presidential Debates
http://www.debates.org/
Beginning with the Lincoln and Douglas debates of 1858, and then skipping ahead to 1956 and 1960, then from the elections of 1976 to 2004, this site from the Commission on Presidential Debates hosts resources about the debates among United States presidential and vice presidential candidates. The voter education section provides a Guide to Hosting Your Own Debate. Transcripts of most debates are posted so you can analyze the text yourself and compare the candidates' comments. It is interesting to note that the CPD did not sign the 32 page memo of understanding between the Bush and Kerry campaign managers, stipulating what could and could not take place during the 2004 debates. You'll find those rules listed here: http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/election2004/debates2004mou.pdf
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
recommended books
What Presidents Are Made Of
By Hanoch Piven
Published July 2004
Grades: PreK-2; 3-5
Subjects: The Arts
Piven has created seventeen presidential caricatures with objects linked to each president. Each portrait highlights a presidential attribute. Carter's commitment to helping the disadvantaged is shown by perching him on a roof top with carpentry tools. His face includes a peanut nose, ladder mouth, and heart-shaped eyes cut from American flags. Nixon's head is a tape recorder and his mouth and ear.
More Recommended Arts Books
You're On Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt
By Judith St. George and Matt Faulkner
Published September 2004
Grades: 3-5; 6-8
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts; Social Studies
This inspiring biography of our 26th president focuses on his early life as a sickly boy with a powerful interest in nature. Faulkner's illustrations capture the young TR's enthusiasm and determination. An afterward describes his adult career.
More Recommended Reading & Language Arts Books
More Recommended Social Studies Books
Duck for President
By Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
Published March 2004
Grades: PreK-2; 3-5
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Duck is tired of cutting the grass and grinding espresso beans for Farmer Brown. He announces an election and wins Farmer Brown's job, but soon discovers being farmer isn't any easier. He runs for governor and then president before deciding he was better off on the farm. Lewin's illustrations provide a lot of fun. Sharp eyes will spot presidential poses and antics.
More Recommended Reading & Language Arts Books
Vote!
By Eileen Christelow
Published August 2003
Grades: 3-5
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
How would you choose a new mayor? Follow Elmer and Sparky, two political dogs, as they investigate the electoral process. This picture book addresses freedom of choice, the importance of voting, suffrage, voter registration, political parties, debates, polls, campaigning, donations, advertising, ballots, and vote recounts.
More Recommended Reading & Language Arts Books
Almanac of American Politics
By Michael Barone and Richard E. Cohen
Published September 2003
Grades: 6-8; 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
This monumental resource provides an entry for the president and vice president and every representative and senator for each state. Entries include a photograph, biographical and career information, and recent election performance.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
America's Lawyer-Presidents: From Law Office to Oval Office
By Norman Gross, editor
Published August 2004
Grades: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Twenty-five of our forty-three presidents have been lawyers. This illustrated collection of biographical essays looks at each legal career and how it shaped presidential policy. Sidebars provide related material. Further reading is listed for each president.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
Buying of the President 2004: Who's Really Bankrolling Bush and His Democratic Challengers -- and What They Expect in Return
By Charles Lewis
Published August 2004
Grades: 6-8; 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Running for the presidency costs a lot of money. This analysis of the two major parties and the president and his challengers reveals where the money comes from. The top 50 donors to each party and the top 10 career patrons for each candidate are identified. Dollar amounts are also given.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
Choosing the President 2004: A Citizen's Guide to the Electoral Process
By The League of Women Voters
Published November 2003
Grades: 6-8; 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
This concise guide examines the players and the process in the biggest election in the U.S. Chapters look at the voter, candidates, parties, media, money, primaries and caucuses, conventions, general election campaigns, and Election Day. An appendix evaluates the controversial 2000 election.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
Fraud of the Century: Rutherford B. Hayes, Samuel Tilden, and the Stolen Election of 1876
By Roy Morris Jr.
Published February 2003
Grades: 6-8; 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
The Presidential election of 1876 has been called the most sensational, ethically sordid, and legally questionable in American history. Though the Democrat Tilden won 260,000 more votes than Republican Hayes, a special Electoral Commission dominated by Republicans awarded the election to Hayes. During four months of backroom wheeling and dealing, President Grant mobilized troops to keep the peace. Legalized segregation was one shameful outcome.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
Deliberation Day
By Bruce Ackerman and James S. Fishkin
Published March 2004
Grades: 6-8; 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
The authors propose a new national holiday--Deliberation Day--to be held two weeks before Election Day. Registered voters would meet in small and large groups to discuss the central issues raised in the campaign. To accommodate all, the holiday would be two days long and all deliberators would be paid. The authors believe that Deliberation Day could revitalize democracy and free elections of undemocratic media influence.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
John Adams
By David McCullough
Published May 2001
Grades: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Jefferson called Adams "the colossus of independence." Others thought he was "out of his senses." The biography of the 2nd President of the United States includes portraits of his wife, Abigail, his son, John Quincy (6th President), George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Marshall, Aaron Burr, and many others. It reveals the complicated relationship between Jefferson and Adams, two very different men united in their devotion to the United States.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books
By Kay Winters and Nancy Carpenter
Published January 2003
Grades: PreK-2; 3-5
Subjects: Social Studies
Abe Lincoln used to plow with a book in his back pocket, and when he came to the end of a furrow, he would read. His horse would wait until he turned a page. This biography outlines the life of our sixteenth president from log cabin to White House, with his head in a book.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought)
By Kathleen Krull and Kathryn Hewitt
Published September 1998
Grades: 3-5; 6-8
Subjects: Social Studies
It's hard to escape news of the presidency these days, even in this book list. But you and your students are sure to be delighted by Krull and Hewitt's cleverly illustrated, witty and intelligent examination of past presidents; everything from policy to pets to pet peeves is included in this resource for kids age 9-12
More Recommended Social Studies Books