O... H... I... O... THE Mother of Presidents

 

Ohio prides itself as being the ‘Mother of Presidents,’ boasting no fewer than eight chief executives. Seven were born in the ‘Buckeye State:’ Ulysses Grant, Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft and Warren G. Harding. The eighth, William Henry Harrison, may have technically been born in Virginia (who claims him as their native son), but he had served both as US Congressman and Senator from Ohio before ascending to the presidency (Guerrieri, 2018). No other state can claim as many presidents, not even ‘Old Virginia’ has dominion. What is it in the Ohio water that breeds this many leaders?

Perhaps a better question is of quality over quantity. Certainly not all of Ohio’s presidents have been successful. Garfield and Mckinley would both tragically be assassinated while in office, victims of their own failures in turbulent times. Warren Harding, plagued by ‘Teapot Dome’ and various extramarital affairs, would die under mysterious circumstances while in office (Monks, 2019). Ulysses Grant successfully led the Union to victory during the Civil War, but his Presidency would be overshadowed by scandal after scandal, leading him to admit in his farewell address, “Mistakes have been made, as all can see and I admit, but I leave comparisons to history, claiming only that I have acted in every instance from a conscientious desire to do what was right, constitutional, within the law, and for the very best interests of the whole people. Failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent.” (Daugherty, 2020)

Of all the Ohio Presidents, Benjamin Harrison, grandson of William Henry and proud graduate of Miami University. quietly led America to several successes. Consider his accomplishments: the expansion of the US Navy, the creation of the first Pan-American Union, and the passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act (Friedel & Sidey, H. 2006). His success should not be measured by legislation alone. Unfairly nicknamed ‘Kid Glove’ Harrison, Benjamin non-confrontationally worked to improve the lives of Indians, homesteaders, and veterans.

Proving the maxim ‘what is right isn’t always popular, and what is popular isn’t always right,’ Benjamin Harrison lost the popular vote by 100,000 to Grover Cleveland but still won in the Electoral College 233 to 168 (Friedel & Sidey, H. 2006). His ‘front porch’ campaigns, so named for his speeches delivered from his home in Indianapolis, would not be enough to propel him to a second term in 1892. While not the most dynamic or charismatic of our leaders, ‘Little Ben’ should be given credit for helping to heal our nation long after Reconstruction had been abandoned.

How has the role of the President changed since Benjamin Harrison's time?

Dead Presidents

“Hi, I’m Jimmy Carter, and I’m going to be your next President.”

These were the first words many Americans ever heard from Jimmy Carter. A one-term governor from the Deep South with no Washington experience, professional political observers dismissed his candidacy as the longest of long shots. But the born-again Christian and peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia knew something the experts didn’t. Americans were looking for fresh, untainted leadership to bridge the chasm of mistrust that had opened between the people and their government after the war in Vietnam and the Watergate scandal.

Presidents’ Day, officially Washington’s Birthday, in the United States, holiday (third Monday in February) popularly recognized as honouring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The day is sometimes understood as a celebration of the birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents. The origin of Presidents’ Day lies in the 1880s, when the birthday of Washington—commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first president of the United States—was first celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays. The change was designed to schedule certain holidays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year, but it has been opposed by those who believe that those holidays should be celebrated on the dates they actually commemorate. During debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington’s Birthday be renamed Presidents’ Day to honour the birthdays of both Washington (February 22) and Lincoln (February 12); although Lincoln’s birthday was celebrated in many states, it was never an official federal holiday. Following much discussion, Congress rejected the name change. After the bill went into effect in 1971, however, Presidents’ Day became the commonly accepted name, due in part to retailers’ use of that name to promote sales and the holiday’s proximity to Lincoln’s birthday. Presidents’ Day is usually marked by public ceremonies in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country.

Who do you think was the best US President? The Worst? Which President would you ask for help with your homework? Who would you want if you were in a Survival Situation? A date for Prom? What qualities do these individuals share that made them good leaders?

Lift Every Voice...

AND SING! 

Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph performed "Lift Every Voice and Sing," colloquially known as the Black National Anthem, ahead of the Superbowl game. The song, written more than 100 years ago, emerged as a rallying cry during the civil rights movement, according to the NAACP. The NFL began including the song in its games following the Black Lives Matter protests that occurred during the summer of 2020, but the move has faced backlash from some conservatives.

Congress woman Lauren Boebert became the latest prominent Republican to criticize the National Football League (NFL) over the song's inclusion, which will be performed alongside "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful." The GOP lawmaker accused the league of attempting to "divide" Americans by including the Black National Anthem in the performance lineup.

1) What is the 'Black National Anthem?'

2) Why was it sung alongside the 'National Anthem' at the SuperBowl?

3) What is so controversial about it?

4) Is the 'Star Spangled Banner' racist?

5) What do you think?

State of the Union

The Constitution mandates that the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The President’s State of the Union Message and address were known as the President’s Annual Message to Congress until well into the 20th century. Presidents Washington and Adams delivered their messages to Congress in person, but President Jefferson abandoned the practice as “monarchical” and time-consuming, sending written messages instead. This precedent was followed until President Wilson personally appeared before Congress in 1913. President Franklin Roosevelt adopted Wilson’s practice of personal delivery, and it has since become a contemporary tradition. With the advent of radio (1923) and television (1947) coverage of the address, it gained great importance by providing a nationwide platform for the President. 

Who is sitting behind the President and what is the protocol for the speech?

Hear the Response.

Say what? What words or themes did the President repeat most often?

Check the facts.  Was the President telling the truth? Yes or No? (Give 3 specific examples)

What's Up with the 'Docs?'

 

The discovery of classified documents at the homes of three top elected U.S. officials has left many lawmakers and former government workers shaking their heads and wondering how the country has ended up in this situation.

Authorities found dozens of classified materials at former President Trump’s home last year, including some marked “top secret,” that he did not promptly turn over to the National Archives.

Lawyers for President Biden found several classified documents at his Delaware residence in recent weeks, a discovery that prompted lawyers for former Vice President Mike Pence to search his Indiana home. They found a small number of papers with classified markings in the process.

Lawyers for both Biden and Pence alerted the National Archives and Justice Department about the discoveries.

The findings have lawmakers and aides who have dealt with classified documents puzzled over how there could be a breakdown in process in consecutive administrations, and it has triggered discussion over what reforms could prevent such mistakes from happening in the future. It has also left some officials worried that it will further erode trust in government institutions.

Historian Matthew Connelly says government records are marked as "classified" three times every second — and many of them will never be declassified. Listen to the podcast as we talk about what this means for the public and how this might change considering the ongoing controversy of classified documents discovered in Trump, Bidens, and now Pence's possession.

1) How many classified documents are there?

2) What's different about classified information?

3) Who has the power to classify?

4) Why would a newspaper article be classified?

5) Can a president declassify documents and how long does it take?

6) Is The U.S. Gov't designating too many documents as 'Classified'? ' Explain your opinion.