Preface

Presidential Administration Profiles for Students (PAP) is the third volume in the U.S. Government for Students series, preceded by Federal Agency Profiles for Students released in December 1998 and Special Interest Group Profiles for Students released in August 1999. The purpose of the series is to provide an overall view of the workings of the United States government geared specifically to meet the curriculum needs of high school students, undergraduate college students, and their teachers. Each profile in a U.S. Government for Students volume will cover not only the basic facts found in such sources as the United States Government Manual, but will include the historical and political context, or the how and why. Furthermore, the series focuses on the relevancy and immediacy of government, explaining how an agency, a special interest group, or a presidential administration can impact the life of an average citizen and, in some cases, how a citizen can become actively involved in the federal government. While the series was designed to reflect curriculum standards, the general reader and researcher will also be able to find answers to their questions about the U.S. government.

PAP includes profiles of the 42 presidential administrations. Each profile includes a biographical sketch, which accounts for approximately ten percent of the entry, followed by a longer essay that focuses on the workings of the president's administration. Authors have attempted to glean how each administration has impacted the role of the Executive Branch in the U.S. government and its lasting impact on the country.

Advisory Board

Our advisory board, consisting of high school teachers, media specialists, and subject experts, assisted us in analyzing each presidential administration for its overall impact. Several PAP authors also graciously shared their expertise in an advisory capacity. We further relied on course curriculum supplied by our advisors that represented various school districts across the United States.

How Each Profile is Organized

Profiles are arranged in chronological order by administration. For additional access, readers should also refer to the second table of contents, which is organized alphabetically by president name, and the general index.

Biographical data includes full name, given name, popular name, birth date, birthplace, death date, death place, burial place, religion, education, spouse, children, political party, occupations, and age at inauguration.

The text of the biography attempts to provide the background for each president's decision to pursue a political career and tries to uncover what compelled them to seek the presidency. It is arranged in the following rubrics:

  • Early Life: This rubric covers the president's life as a child and his family of origin. It presents early influences that may have directed the person toward a political career and the presidency.
  • Education: Discusses the subject's educational achievements and any early interests that may have shown an inclination toward politics.
  • Family Life: The focus of this rubric is the nuclear family of the president, including marriage, children, and life before, during, and when appropriate, following the "White House years." While a few presidents never had children, only James Buchanan remained a bachelor. A particular focus of this rubric is how the president's spouse fulfilled the role as first lady.
  • Career: Covering each president's early career through the presidency, the career rubric examines the course that each president took to the White House in his professional life. It may include failed presidential campaigns.
  • Post-presidential Years: These are the years following the presidency. Many former presidents remained very active and influential in public life, while others took up other pursuits. If an individual died in office, the circumstances of their death is discussed here.

The Administration portion of the entry focuses on the presidential years. The following rubrics are included:

  • Becoming President: Covers from the first successful presidential campaign through all subsequent campaigns and describes the political backdrop, the campaign issues, the campaigns, and the outcomes of the elections. If an individual assumed the presidency from a previous president, those details are discussed. For instance, Lyndon Johnson's entry includes details of Johnson taking on the presidency after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
  • Advisers: Discusses the relationship of the president with his advisers. Will highlight those relationships that impacted the president's policy and actions.
  • Congress: Examines the interaction of the president with members of Congress and Congress as a whole.
  • Judiciary: Covers appointments to the Supreme Court by the president, landmark cases, and the influence the president had on the court through his appointments.
  • Changes in the U.S. Government: Important changes that occurred during the administration, which may include the creation of cabinet posts or commissions, administrative changes, or a change that impacts the composition of the government, such as new states joining the Union, and amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
  • Domestic Issues: An overview provides a broad brush look at the times, describing the economic and social conditions that existed at time of the administration. Areas for which the administration is known, such as civil rights or economics, are also introduced in the overview. Following the overview are the domestic events that were the highlights of the administration, including key legislation, firsts, use of emergency powers, and their impact.
  • Foreign Issues: This rubric begins with an overview, which provides a look at the United States's place in the global community at the time of the administration. Coverage includes foreign trade, wars, treaties, and acquisition of land.
  • Legacy: The legacy rubric explores what the president left to his successor and also the lasting impact of the administration. When there was sufficient information and space, authors provided the reactions to the administration by the public and by their contemporaries. For the most part this is intended to reinforce for the student the impact the administration had on government and life in the United States today.
  • Sources: An alphabetical list of sources, including books and current periodicals quoted in the profile, with full bibliographic information.
  • Further Readings: Lists other critical sources that may prove helpful for the student and researcher.

In addition, a PAP profile may contain one or more of the following supplementary sidebars:

  • Administration: For quick reference, all entries contain an administration sidebar that furnishes the dates of the administration. It also includes the names of the vice president(s) and cabinet officers and their dates of service. Because cabinet officers are carried over from one administration to the next, with presidents oftentimes taking some time to make their own appointments, dates cited in sources consulted varied.
  • Fast Facts: At-a-glance facts. Facts may reflect historical changes in the presidency being profiled or might illustrate the issues that have been discussed throughout the essay. Each fact is fully cited.
  • Biography: An individual who was pivotal to a president's administration is profiled in a biography sidebar that includes birth and death dates, identifier, a brief sketch, and a thumbnail photo.
  • What they said: Quotations by the president or about the administration.

Additional Features

In an attempt to create a comprehensive, one-stop reference tool for the study of the U.S. federal government, PAP also includes:

  • Illustrations that depict historic events, notable individuals, and current issues along with maps.
  • A chronology of over 750 key events in U.S. history that allows students to place each president in an historical context.
  • A glossary containing over 400 political terms used throughout the profiles.
  • A subject index for easy access to administrations, people, places, and events.
  • Diagram appendices

We Welcome Your Suggestions

The editor of Presidential Administration Profiles for Students welcomes your comments and suggestions. Please direct all correspondence to: Editor, Presidential Administration Profiles for Students

The Gale Group 72500 Drake Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3535