American Experience

Discussion Questions

These questions help students explore the major ideas and themes in the film. Read a Program Summary for descriptions of specific program segments.

Before Watching

1. Have students briefly investigate American life at the turn of the century. Ask them to gather artifacts, pictures, or books that illustrate the times. List important characteristics and facts students have presented on chart paper and display the materials to create a portrait of American life. As they watch the video, have students note additional items, including inventions, fashions, arts, music, political issues, social life, etc.

2. With students, brainstorm a list of qualities they think an ideal U.S. president should have, including political as well as personal abilities and characteristics. Have them discuss why they think these characteristics are important. As they watch the program, have students take notes about the qualities and characteristics they admire or dislike in TR.

After Watching

1. Now that students have developed a portrait of American life at the turn of the century, have them consider whether or not TR was the embodiment of his time. In what ways was he the right president for his time? How was he a product of his time or ahead of his time? Would his policies and philosophies make TR a good president for our time? Why or why not?

2. Using the students' list of ideal presidential qualities, have them evaluate TR as president. Which qualities did TR have? Which did he lack? In what situations were certain characteristics beneficial? In what instances might these characteristics be detrimental? Are there qualities students now want to add or remove from the list? Overall, how would they rate TR's presidency?

3. Compare TR's experience with the media with that of the current president. Encourage students to speculate on how modern media, such as television and the Internet, might have helped or hindered TR if he were president today. For example, how might TR have fared under the close scrutiny now given to all presidents and presidential candidates? How did TR make "modern" use of the media to foster a particular image of himself? Ask students to come up with ad copy, a slogan, or a theme song TR might have chosen.

4. Ask students to work in small groups to create two eulogies for TR: one composed at the time of his death and one composed now. Have the groups incorporate the answers to the following questions: What were TR's lasting contributions to the office of the presidency and the United States in general? How was TR viewed by his contemporaries? How is he viewed now? Would TR have been a successful president today? Why or why not?