Philosophy
On Presidents' Day, let's think about what Presidents of the United States have said. Perhaps the most powerful part of the position is an informal power, the bully pulpit. When presidents speak, we listen. What are the most important presidential utterances? The easy ones are:
Washington's farewell address, by stepping down when he could have consolidated power and made himself a king, instead he established the nation as a democracy that puts laws above rulers.
Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Enough said.
Eisenhower's farewell address in which he warns us of the rising power of the military-industrial complex
Kennedy's inaugural speech -- ask not...
Others?
- Dc Congressional Representation
Today is the 51st anniversary of the ratification of the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution which granted the residents of Washington, D.C. the ability to vote electors for the Presidency to the electoral college. Folks who live in the District...
- How Old Is History?
On Presidents' Day, PBS showed a new documentary about the Clinton presidency. I heard an interview with the director on Fresh Air where he argued that the time was right for this work because it was far enough in the past that it had just become...
- Grammar Curmudeons
Had a student ask yesterday about grammatical pet peeves. His was "irregardless." My big three are: 1) "Quote" used for "quotation." Quote is a verb. You quote someone. What you write down is not a quote, but a quotation. ...
- Presidential Age Limit
On the heels of the Iowa caucus, let's ask about the requirements to be President of the United States. It is written into the second article of the Constitution that to be eligible for the position, one must be thirty five years old. ...
- Ike's Farewell Address
This week marks the 50th anniversary of Eisenhower's farewell address, the speech in which he warned of the rise of the military-industrial complex. The theme of the entire address is, to borrow a phrase from another former President with a connection...
Philosophy
Most Important Presidential Words
On Presidents' Day, let's think about what Presidents of the United States have said. Perhaps the most powerful part of the position is an informal power, the bully pulpit. When presidents speak, we listen. What are the most important presidential utterances? The easy ones are:
Washington's farewell address, by stepping down when he could have consolidated power and made himself a king, instead he established the nation as a democracy that puts laws above rulers.
Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Enough said.
Eisenhower's farewell address in which he warns us of the rising power of the military-industrial complex
Kennedy's inaugural speech -- ask not...
Others?
- Dc Congressional Representation
Today is the 51st anniversary of the ratification of the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution which granted the residents of Washington, D.C. the ability to vote electors for the Presidency to the electoral college. Folks who live in the District...
- How Old Is History?
On Presidents' Day, PBS showed a new documentary about the Clinton presidency. I heard an interview with the director on Fresh Air where he argued that the time was right for this work because it was far enough in the past that it had just become...
- Grammar Curmudeons
Had a student ask yesterday about grammatical pet peeves. His was "irregardless." My big three are: 1) "Quote" used for "quotation." Quote is a verb. You quote someone. What you write down is not a quote, but a quotation. ...
- Presidential Age Limit
On the heels of the Iowa caucus, let's ask about the requirements to be President of the United States. It is written into the second article of the Constitution that to be eligible for the position, one must be thirty five years old. ...
- Ike's Farewell Address
This week marks the 50th anniversary of Eisenhower's farewell address, the speech in which he warned of the rise of the military-industrial complex. The theme of the entire address is, to borrow a phrase from another former President with a connection...