Presidential Chronicles

Woodrow Wilson #4: Putting Plans into Practice (1912-1913); Topics covered include: President-elect, Cabinet selections, inaugural, family at the White House, speaks in person to Congress, tariff reduction, establish Federal Reserve System, segregation of the Postal Service and Treasury Departments, golf, White House weddings (Jessie and Nell), and Panama Canal tolls Key people include: Edward Hou...

Woodrow Wilson #3: Rapid Political Rise (1910-1912); Topics covered include: Bitter over defeats at Princeton, runs for Governor New Jersey (and wins), conflict with political bosses, meets Edward House, Election of 1912, Wilson's New Freedom vs. Theodore Roosevelt's New Nationalism, and election as President of the United States Key people include: Andrew West, Jack Hibben, George Harvey,...

Woodrow Wilson #2: Highs and Lows at Princeton (1890-1910); Topics covered include: Professor College of New Jersey (change name to Princeton University), academic prowess (including teaching, publishing, and oratory), birth of daughter Nell, named President of Princeton, innovations, meets Mary Peck + correspondence, and the battle over Wilson's quadrangle plan and the location of graduate sc...

Woodrow Wilson #1: Professor Wilson (1856-1890); Topics covered include: Parents, birth (Staunton, VA), religious upbringing, attends Davidson College, attends the College of New Jersey, studies British parliamentary system, oratory/shines in debate, attends the University of Virginia law school, passes the Bar, opens law practice in Atlanta, meets and marries Ellen Axson, attends graduate school...

William Taft #10: Dreams Do Come True (1920-1930); Topics covered include: 1920 Election, Warren Harding offers Taft a position on the Supreme Court, appointed Chief Justice, reforms for the Federal judiciary, specific cases of note, Taft becomes ill, resigns from the Court, his death, and perspective Key people: Warren Harding, Edward White, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Harry Daugherty, John Marshall,...

William Taft #9: Professor, Rapprochement, and Peace (1913-1920); Topics covered include: Leaves the presidency, law professor at Yale, World War I, President Woodrow Wilson keeps the U.S. out of the war, election of 1916, rapprochement for Taft and Theodore Roosevelt, League to Enforce Peace, Treaty of Versailles, and the League of Nations including Taft's advocacy and its failure to pass in...

William Taft #8: Rock Bottom (1910-1912); Topics covered include: President of the United States, difficulties mount, seeks free trade with Canada, seeks arbitration agreements with Britain and France, conflicts grow with Theodore Roosevelt including related to the Antitrust Suit against U.S. Steel, death of Archibald Butt on the Titanic, 1912 Election, Republican National Convention, Roosevelt br...

William Taft #7: He's Not TR (1909-1910); Topics covered include: President of the United States, Special Session of Congress, Payne-Aldrich Tariff, conflict with progressives (tariff and conservation), rift with Theodore Roosevelt begins to grow, stress and weight gain, Roosevelt returns to the U.S., Roosevelt speaking tour including his "New Nationalism, change in Chief Justice, and Rep...

William Taft #6: President Taft, Whether He Wants it or Not (1908-1909); Topics covered include: 1908 Election, Theodore Roosevelt endorsement for Taft, challenges with Taft as a campaigner, electoral victory, Cabinet selections, Inauguration, addition of Military Aide Archibald Butt, Nellie Taft as First Lady including her stroke, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Key people: Theodore Roos...

William Taft #5: Roosevelt's Jack-of-all-Trades (1904-1908); Topics covered include: Secretary of War, crisis at the Panama Canal, congressional tour to the Philippines, Elihu Root returns as Secretary of State ("The Three Musketeers"), turns down Supreme Court appointment again, crisis in Cuba, world tour including the opening of the First National Assembly in the Philippines, and d...

William Taft #4: Duty Calls - Dream Denied (1901-1904); Topics covered include: Inauguration as Governor-General of the Philippines, move into the Malacanan Palace, work on behalf of the Filipino people, President William McKinley assassinated, Theodore Roosevelt becomes President, Taft suffers from an abdominal abscess, returns home to rest and testify to Congress, trip to the Vatican, return to...

William Taft #3: The Philippines? (1900-1901); Topics covered include: Federal a Judge, Spanish-American War, resigns from the Bench to lead Philippine Commission, becomes Governor-General of the Philippines, positive engagement with the Filipino people ("policy of attraction"), gains their trust, election of 1900, and the end of the Filipino insurrection Key people: William McKinley, El...

William Taft #2: Judge Taft (1889-1899); Topics covered include: Judge of the Ohio Superior Court, move to Washington, Solicitor General, friends with Theodore Roosevelt, birth of children, death of father, and appointed Federal Judge (6th Circuit) Key people: Benjamin Harrison, Nellie Taft, Robert Taft, Helen Taft, Charlie Taft, Alphonso Taft, and Frank Phelan For more information on the "Pr...

William Taft #1: Lofty Expectations (1857-1889); Topics covered include: Youth, education (including Yale and Cincinnati Law School), Assistant Prosecutor of Hamilton County, Collector of Internal Revenue for the First District, Marries Helen (Nellie) Herron, and becomes Judge of the Ohio Superior Court Key people: Alphonso Taft, Louisa Taft, Ulysses Grant, James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Nellie (...

Theodore Roosevelt #10: Wilson, War, and Death (1913-1919); Topics covered include: Writes memoirs, journey to the Amazon (River of Doubt), World War I begins, furious with the Woodrow Wilson administration for inaction, sinking of the Lusitania, election of 1916, declines nomination by Progressive Party, Wilson wins reelection, Germany announces unrestricted warfare, Wilson brings the U.S. into t...

Theodore Roosevelt #9: The Taft Rift (1908-1912); Topics covered include: Declines to run for reelection, hand picks William Taft as successor, leaves the presidency, departs for extended Safari in Africa and vacation in Europe, returns to the U.S. and gets complaints about Taft from progressives, introduces his New Nationalism (including judicial recall), rift with Taft grows, decides to run in 1...

Theodore Roosevelt #8: Enjoying the Presidency (1901-1909); Topics covered include: Family life in the White House, pets, relationship with Edith Roosevelt, renovation of the White House (including addition of the West Wing), personal characteristics (including smile and laugh), rigorous exercise, hunting, introduction of the Teddy Bear, relationship with Alice Roosevelt, and Alice's White Hou...

Theodore Roosevelt #7: Doctrine, Square Deal, and the Big Stick (1904-1909); Topics covered include: Election of 1904, elected Prsident in own right, corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, progressive policies (trusts, labor, regulations, etc.), Square Deal for all, and the Great White Fleet For more information on the "Presidential Chronicles" series, please visit www.presidentialchronicles....

Theodore Roosevelt #6: Expansive Executive (1901-1906); Topics covered include: President of the United States, pursued expanded responsibilities for the President, anti-trust lawsuits, coal strike of 1902, Square Deal, revoluion in Panama, serves as arbiter to end the Russo-Japanese War, wins the Nobel Peace Prize, sends troops into Santo Domingo and Cuba, pursues progressive agenda with prominen...

Theodore Roosevelt #5: A Heartbeat Away (1899-1901); Topics covered include: Governor of New York, Death of Vice President Garret Hobart, disclaims any interest in the vice presidency, nominated anyway at the Republican National Convention, election of 1900, chafes in role as Vice President, President William McKinley is assassinated, and sworn in as the 26th President of the United States Key peo...

Theodore Roosevelt #4: Crowded Hour (1898); Topics covered include: War with Spain, resigns from the Navy, volunteers for the Army, organizes regiment (Rough Riders), chaos in Tampa, landing in Cuba, Battles of Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill, results and impact, and election as Governor of New York Key people: Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., Leonard Wood, and George Dewey For more information on the &quot...

Theodore Roosevelt #3: Go Navy! (1897-1898); Topics covered include: State Assemblyman, Civil Service Commissioner, Police Commissioner (New York City), appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy, explosion of the USS Maine, prepares for war, and Declaration of War with Spain Key people: William McKinley, John Long, and Alfred Mahan For more information on the "Presidential Chronicles" se...

Theodore Roosevelt #2: Love and Heartbreak (1878-1884); Topics covered include: Youthful relationship with Edith Carow; meets, courts, and marries Alice Lee; Graduates from Harvard College, hunting trip with his brother, enrolls in law school/withdraws, extended honeymoon in Europe, elected State Assemblyman, aggressive reformer, Alice becomes pregnant, mother ill, baby is born; Roosevelt's wi...

Theodore Roosevelt #1: Father's Influence (1858-1877); Topics covered include: Parents, details on father, youth, illnesses (asthma), education, interests, family trips to Europe (2), focus on exercise, love of nature, attends Harvard College, guidance from his father, death of father, mourns loss, and impact Key people: Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. and Mittie Roosevelt For more information on the...

William McKinley #10: Reelection and Assassination (1900-1901); Topics covered include: Presidency of William McKinley, election of 1900, selection of VP candidate (Theodore Roosevelt), victory over William Jennings Bryan, second inauguration, national tour, Ida McKinley's illness, economic speech at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, visit to Niagara Falls, reception at the Temple of Mus...