Jimmy Carter

The 1976 presidential election pitted Gerald Ford against former Georgia governor Jimmy Carter. Carter appealed to voters as a Washington outsider untouched by scandal. He promised Americans, “I will never lie to you.”

Neither candidate generated much excitement. As Election Day neared, people talked of a “clothespin vote,” a phrase that implies “hold your nose and vote for one or the other.” Only 53 percent of eligible voters went to the polls—the lowest turnout since 1948. Carter won, but by a narrow margin.

Once in the White House, Carter maintained his outsider status. Rather than hiring experienced Washington insiders, he surrounded himself with staff from Georgia.Nor did he establish close relations with Congress. As a result, his efforts to enact such reforms as a national health insurance system went nowhere.

So what does President Carter think about our current political climate? 

In a far-ranging interview with Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page, the 39th president expresses hope for the planned White House summit with Pyongyang and discussed the political repercussions of allegations by porn star Stormy Daniels.

Watergate

Watergate was the 'mother of all scandals.'  So much so that today we often refer to new scandals both political and private as '______ gate:'  'Russia-gate.' 'Hillary-gate.'  'Deflate-gate.'  et al.

But what was the actual Watergate scandal and how does it compare to current scandals?

What was the eventual result of the Watrgate Scandal?  

Make a prediction reagarding the outcome of President Trump's 'Stormy-gate.'

Why do you think the President keeps a framed letter from President Nixon on his wall in the Oval Office?

Nixon's Rise and Fall

Some historians argue that Richard Nixon’s early experiences in politics had a significanteffect on the way he acted as president.

He faced a difficult road in his pursuit of the presidency, as well as numerous challengesonce elected president. As a result, somehistorians believe Nixon took any action toremain president, even if that action was unethical and against the law.

Whether seen as a skillful politician or a manipulative one, Nixon experienced both accomplishments and controversies aspresident.

Read the Chapter 53 intro and answer these questions.

What is a Presidential Approval Rating?

How did the 'Checkers Speech' affect Nixon's approval rating?

What is Donald Trump's approval rating?  How does it compare to Nixons?  

What scandals does President Trump face?  Predict how they will affect his approval.

What was the Watergate Scandal?  How did it change the way we view the President of the United States?

Grapes of Wrath

In John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, Tom Joad and his family are forced from their farm in the Depression-era Oklahoma Dust Bowl and set out for California along with thousands of others in search of jobs, land, and hope for a brighter future. Considered John Steinbeck's masterpiece, The Grapes of Wrath is a story of human unity and love as well as the need for cooperative rather than individualistic ideals during hard times.

What did it mean to be 'labeled' an 'Okie?'

Read this excerpt from the Grapes of Wrath & answer the questions.

Are there any similarities between the problems faced by the Okies and the problems of today?

  Follow the lyrics as you listen to the song.  What would the Ghost of Tom Joad say about 2018?

Social Security

History is filled with examples of people who achieved fame not because of a major accomplishment, but simply because they were the first to do something. Such is the case of Ida May Fuller, a resident of rural Vermont who became the first beneficiary of a recurring Social Security payment on Jan. 31, 1940.

Read more...

Is Social Security still a good idea today?

Mural Project

Click for '360around'

In the 1930s, as part of the Federal Art Project—a government program created to provide jobs for the unemployed—murals were painted in public buildings across the country.

When architects reworked the original Union Terminal design in Cincinnati, they created space inside the terminal for a vast collection of public art. The biggest set of these spaces was set aside for a series of murals that would depict the cultural heritage of the United States and Cincinnati, with a particular emphasis on local industry. These murals would make an immediate and lasting impressive on a visitor passing through the terminal and it was important to terminal officials that these murals were of the highest quality and spoke to the importance of Cincinnati.

Research and design a mural depicting the 'legacy' of FDR's New Deal.

Union Terminal was completed in the 1930s but wasn't officially a 'New Deal' project.
How did the 'New Deal' touch the 'Queen City?'

Realism vs. Idealism

Over the past two centuries, two schools of thought, known as realism and idealism, have shaped U.S. foreign policy. Realism is based on the belief that relations with other countries should be guided by national self-interest. From this perspective, foreign policy should pursue practical objectives that benefit the American people. Such objectives might include national security, increased trade with other nations, and access to overseas resources.

Idealism in foreign policy is based on the belief that values and ideals should influence how countries relate to one another. From this point of view, foreign policy should be used to promote America's founding ideals—particularly democracy, liberty, and rights—to ensure a better world not just for Americans, but for all people.

Was American foreign policy during the 1800s motivated more by realism or idealism?  

What about today?

Where would Donald Trump's foreign policy go on the spectrum?  Barack Obama?  Why?  

What conclusions can we draw?