Schedule
– APLS 493 U – Summer 2010
Always
under construction – check back regularly for updates
Last
updated 6/16/2010
![MCj03013060000[1]](Schedule_files/image002.gif)
Blog link – you will need to go to
this link to post your blog assignments.
Note: Class schedule
is now completely updated!
Some points of
clarification to help as you get started: Please note that all readings
and assignments listed for a particular day must be completed by midnight on
that day. If you register late you
are still responsible for any work you missed! Of course, I will give you a
chance to catch up. But in summer school, every week is the equivalent of a
month of classes!
We will begin using the
text a couple of days after the semester begins. The bookstore should have used
copies available. You can also check online sources, but sometimes these do
take a week or two to arrive, and you need the book at the beginning of
the summer session. When I assign readings from the book, I will abbreviate the
names of the editors of your text, using W/E instead of spelling them out each
time. You will also have some other readings to complete, including some
newspaper articles and web based assignments.
On most days, you will
have three assignments to complete, after you finish the assigned
reading:
1. a written reading
assignment (a written assignment based on the chapter in the text and any other
assigned readings, such as newspaper articles, which may be an essay that you
send to me or some questions to answer) – email your response to this to me at carolb@usca.edu
2. a web or newspaper
based assignment to complete to reinforce what you have been reading - email
that to me at carolb@usca.edu
3. a blog comment to make and post (post
this on our class blog – see link above and on left – you will have to click on
“comment” under the appropriate discussion).
You will need to keep up
with the work each day – you will have some reading to do and some written work
each day - but remember, you will not have a term paper to write, or any
exams, even though this is an upper level course. Your grade will be determined
by whether you do these daily assignments and do them well.
Tutoring help is
available on campus through the Academic Success Center. Summer school goes
quickly so if you need assistance, you should request it during the first week
of class! Here is the link: http://web.usca.edu/asc/tutoring/request-a-tutor.dot
Thurs. May 27- Fri. May 28 Introduction to course: Images and
Impressions of the American First Lady
Since we are just
getting started, these first assignments will all be due Friday night at
midnight. Usually we will run from Monday to Thursday, since the face to face
classes are on that schedule. You can do your assignments that are due Monday over
the weekend if you like and get ahead. Actually, you can get ahead on a lot of
the assignments, but it will be most useful if you post blog comments for each
topic closer to the due date. It may seem like you have a lot of reading on the
first couple of units, but most of these articles are fairly short, and
certainly they are an easy read – and I hope, an interesting one. Next week we
will be using the textbook so be sure to purchase it!
Readings
and assignments for Fri. May 28:
1.
Before you start reading,
please click on to the blog and post a comment in response to the first
question. Generally, it will be a good idea to do the reading for
the day first, but this time I would like you to make a comment on the blog first. I am looking for
your first impressions as we begin the course! ( As noted in the syllabus, this
blog assignment will be worth 2 points)
Readings for today –
there will be no readings from your text until next week, but you have some
newspaper articles to read instead. We are taking a brief look at the current
and former First Ladies who have most recently served. If you do not have an
account with the NY Times, you may
have to create one – but it’s free! (read these after you post on the
blog – see below):
“A
More Relaxed Laura Bush Shows Complexity Under Calm,” by Todd S. Purdam (New York Times, January 20, 2005);
“First
Lady Raising Her Profile Without Changing Her Image,” by Sheryl Gay
Stolberg (New York Times, October 15,
2007);
“Hints
of Agenda and Tone for New First Lady,” by Rachel L. Swarns (New York Times, January 19, 2009);
“Mom in
Chief Touches on Policy: Tongues Wag,” by Rachel N. Swarns (New York Times, February 7, 2009);
“Michelle
Obama’s Favorable Rating Eclipses Her Husband’s” by Jeffrey M. Jones
(Gallup poll, April 2, 2009);
“First
Lady in Control of Building Her Image,” by Rachel L. Swarns (New York Times, April 24, 2009);
“First
Lady Steps Into Policy Spotlight in Debate on Health Care,” by Rachel L.
Swarns (New York Times, July 18,
2009).
2.
Reading assignment: Like many of your
reading assignments, please answer this in essay form.
A. After reading the
newspaper articles written by Purdam and Stolberg, and the four articles
written by Swarns, describe the public and media images of both Laura Bush and
Michelle Obama. How were they alike and how did they differ? Cite points from each
of these articles to support your statements. B. After reading the Gallup
article written by Jones, and looking at the survey there, why do you think
Mrs. Obama had (and still has, a year later!) a more favorable rating than Mr.
Obama? What segments of the public like and dislike her? Have there been any
changes in the public’s perception since the beginning of the new
administration? Email your response to me at carolb@usca.edu
(This assignment will be worth 8 points, 5 points for Part A and 3 points for
Part B)
3.
Web enriched assignment: Go to the
following link and listen to NPR’s 6:16 minutes broadcast of “The
First Lady: A Feminist Review.” If you have any trouble with the link, go
to www.npr.org, click on “Weekend Edition” under
programs, and select the Sunday, May 10 broadcast. You can type in the name
Michelle Obama or the title of this program segment to find it. After you
listen, I want you to respond in several paragraphs to the following questions.
What kinds of expectations and stereotypes were addressed in this program
segment? In what respects is Michelle Obama a traditional First Lady? In what
respects does she seem to be diverging from traditional expectations for a
First Lady? Does her status as the first African-American First Lady lead to
any different expectations for her by the media or the public? Email your
response to me at carolb@usca.edu
(This assignment will be
worth 3 points)
Mon.
May 31 Readings
for today (from now on, please complete the readings before doing
any of the other work):
The
Second Lady
Second Ladies are mostly
ignored by the public, news media, and scholars. Here are some articles to read about them,
with our primary focus on the current Second Lady. Some of them later became
First Ladies themselves. We’ll start with the biography of Jill Biden on the
White House web page. Please read this first.
Other readings for today:
“Early
Lives of 10 V.P. Wives,” by Stacy Conradt (CNN.com/living, September 10,
2008);
“This
Second Lady is Keeping Her Day Job,” by Melinda Henneberger (New York Times, February 6, 2001);
“Weaned on
Politics, Cheney Daughters Find a Place at the Table,” by Todd S. Purdum (New York Times, May 31, 2005);
“Jill
Biden Heads Toward Life in the Spotlight,” by Katherine Q. Seelye (New York Times, August 24, 2008);
“All the Vice
President’s Women,” (Vogue,
November 2008, edited for online version);
“Dr.
Biden Is In – the Classroom, That Is,” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg (New York Times, January 27, 2009);
“Jill
Biden Says Community Colleges are a Key US Export,” by Matthew Saltmarsh (New York Times, July 7, 2009);
Essay
by Dr. Jill Biden (White House web page, written for the Chronicle of Higher Education, April,
2010).
Assignments:
1.
Reading assignment: You have read
several articles about the two most recent Second Ladies. A. How are Lynn
Cheney and Jill Biden different from most other Second Ladies? Why do you think
that is so? How are they similar? Why? You have also read an article from CNN
about early vice presidential wives. What did you learn from reading this? Cite
at least three specific points. Be sure to write this in essay form and
to cite points from each article. B. Finally, you read an article by Jill Biden
about her views on higher education, specifically on the role played by
community colleges, as well as an earlier NY
Times article on that topic. What do you think about her proposals? Comment
in a couple of paragraphs. Email your response to me at carolb@usca.edu by midnight on Monday, May
31. (8 points, 5 for Part A and 3 for Part B)
2. Web enriched
assignment: Find an article about another recent Second Lady. If your
last name starts with A to H, select Joan Mondale. If your last name starts
with I to O, select Tipper Gore. If your last name starts with P to Z, select
Marilyn Quayle. You may be able to type in a search term and find articles on
the NY Times web site or simply type
their names into a search engine, although you will get all kinds of stuff from
that! You may have to read several articles to find out information you need for
this assignment. Indicate when this woman served as Second Lady (dates), the
name and political party of her husband, and who was president. What did she do
during her time as Second Lady? What did she accomplish and how did she, the
public, and the media, perceive her role? Include the names, dates, and urls of
the articles you used. Email me at carolb@usca.edu
with your response. (3 points, the usual assigned for web-enriched
assignments). Do not use an article from Wikipedia or a similar source to
complete this assignment.
Use an objective and
reputable source.
3. Blog assignment:
Answer the question posed on the blog after doing the other assignments. (2
points – go to the blog to post your comment)
Tues. June 1 First Ladies in Other Nations
Today we will take a
brief look at the American First Lady’s counterparts in other parts of the
world. Of course, there have been a few First Men, but not too many so far.
Think about why so few women are and have been world leaders. You have several
readings about Carla Bruni, the former model who married French president
Sarkozy several years ago following a well-publicized romance and divorce from
his first wife.
Readings for today:
“L’Amour
Has Little to do With L’Etat,” by Elaine Sciolino (New York Times, October 21, 2007);
“French
First Lady More Than Tames British Press,” by Alan Cowell (New York Times, March 28, 2008);
“The Carla Effect,”
by Maureen Dowd (New York Times, June
22, 2008);
“Demure
Diplomacy,”by Elaine Sciolino (New
York Times, February 13, 2009);
“Rumor of
Infidelities Sets Off Modern French Farce,” (New York Times, April 8, 2010).
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment:
After reading the articles above, comment on what similarities and differences
you see between the expectations for a First Lady in France and in the US. Why
do you think these similarities and differences exist? Respond to me with a one
page thoughtful essay, at carolb@usca.edu
by midnight on Tuesday, June 1. (5 points, as usual for the reading assignment)
2. Web enriched
assignment: Go to Google or IE or Bing or whatever search engine you prefer,
and type in a search term which will allow you to find articles about First
Ladies in other nations (not France or the US, since we have already been
reading about that!). You can type in a term like “First Ladies of
3. Blog assignment: Read
the five articles about the French First Lady before responding
on the blog. (2 points, as usual for the blog assignment)
Wed. June 2 Inventing the First Lady: Martha
Washington
Readings for today:
Today we begin using our text! W/E, preface and Introduction (pp. xvii-16); pp.
19-33.
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment:
Answer the following questions and email your response to me at carolb@usca.edu by midnight on Wednesday,
June 3.
I am going to give you
some brief questions today based on the readings from your text. The
first brief questions are based on the introduction and preface. (3 points)
a.
Who was the first presidential spouse
to live in the White House?
b.
Who were the two bachelor presidents?
c.
Which four First Ladies were married
and widowed before marrying the man who became president?
The
second set of brief questions is based on the first chapter, on Martha
Washington. (5 points)
d.
What kind of woman was Martha Washington? What about her background made her
the person she was?
e.
How did she see her role as First Lady? What unique contributions did she make?
f.
How did she feel about her husband assuming the presidency and serving two
terms? Were her fears realistic?
g.
How did she spend the final years of her life?
2. Web enriched assignment:
Go to the following link and listen to NPR’s 17:50 minutes broadcast of “Martha
Washington Gets a Makeover.” If you have any trouble with the link, go to www.npr.org, click on “Talk of the Nation” under
programs, and select the February 16, 2009 broadcast. You can type in the name
Martha Washington or the title of this program segment to find it. After you
listen, I want you to respond in several paragraphs to the following questions.
How did the real Martha Washington differ from the Martha we have known and
loved for two hundred years? What were two unique or interesting things you
learned about Martha Washington from this segment? Why did Martha Washington
destroy her letters late in life, according to historian Patricia Brady? Email
your response to me at carolb@usca.edu (3 points)
3.
Blog assignment: Answer the question posed on the blog after doing the other
assignments. (2 points)
(After
today, I am not going to note point totals unless they differ from those noted
on the syllabus)
Thurs. June 3 The First Lady as First Hostess: Dolley
Madison and Other Early Presidential Wives
Assignments:
1.
Reading assignment: Describe the model
created by Dolley Madison as “the President’s Lady” and why she remained so influential
in Washington even in her later years. Why does the author describe this as a
“political model” that influenced her successors? What were some of the specific
things she did and how would you describe this within the context of early
republicanism (be sure you understand the meaning of this term! We are not
referring to a political party!)? Email your one page typed equivalent response
to me by midnight on Thursday, June 4 at carolb@usca.edu
(If you would like to
learn more about Dolley Madison, you may want to take a look at the Dolley Madison Project
website)
2.
Newspaper assignment: Find a newspaper
story about a modern First Lady (someone who served after Jackie Kennedy and
before Michelle Obama!) and the role she played as hostess. Compare what
she did to Dolley Madison. Be sure to list the name of the story, the url and
the date in your response. Email this to me at carolb@usca.edu
3. Blog assignment:
Answer the question posed on the blog. After you finish this, you are done
until Monday night! Have a good weekend! (But please note that some weeks we
will have an assignment due on Friday – not this week, though!)
Mon. June 7 Transforming
the First Lady in the Age of Feminism: Betty Ford, the Accidental First Lady
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment:
The authors of your text argue at the beginning of this chapter that Betty Ford
“made the personal political” and in doing so, “transformed the role of first
lady.” Explain this statement and how she did so, in a well-thought out, one
page essay, where you make at least four separate and distinct points, spelled
out in a separate paragraph for each. In your final paragraph, explain why you
think someone who served as First Lady for such a short time, only two and a
half years, was able to have such an impact. Email this to me at carolb@usca.edu by midnight on Mon. June 7.
2. Web-enriched
assignment: Betty Ford was often enmeshed in controversy both during and after
her time in the White House. Select something on which she was an advocate, and
do a web search on that topic. Use at least two sources, which can be web based
articles or newspaper articles (do NOT use Wikipedia for this or anything else
today or any time in this class!). Be sure to give the urls, dates, titles, and
any other relevant identifying information. Describe the issue or problem and
why it was controversial, and give some background about that issue. Explain
how it was resolved (or not!) and its status today. Explain why this issue was
so important to Betty Ford. You should have a couple of substantive paragraphs
for this. Email your assignment to me at carolb@usca.edu
3. Blog assignment:
Answer the question posed on the blog by midnight tonight.
Tues. June 8 Proper Wives in the Private Realm:
The Forgotten First Ladies
Assignments:
1.
Reading assignment: After reading the article in your text and the short
article by Kinney, answer the following in essay format.
First,
explain what we mean by the term “cult of domesticity” and the term “true
women,” as used in this chapter (look up the terms if you don’t know, and tell
me where you found the information). Then, for each of these four
"forgotten" First Ladies, explain in a separate paragraph how she
"helped to establish a 'traditional' approach to the office, that of the
publicly passive and seemingly nonpolitical first lady." Was she really
nonpolitical? In your discussion, also explain how you can apply this statement
to each of the four: "...even the most obscure and seemingly inactive
first lady performed - privately and behind the scenes - several roles during
her husband's presidency." Cite specifics from the readings,
including the separate reading on Jane Pierce. Finally, conclude by answering
this question: Why do you think these four First Ladies have been mostly
forgotten? Email me at carolb@usca.edu by
midnight.
2. Web-enriched
assignment: You have read a chapter about four First Ladies from the pre-Civil
War or ante-bellum period, along with a short magazine article about one of
them, Jane Pierce. Most Americans know very little about the presidential
spouses of these four women. Pick just one of the four presidents (your
choice!) and do a little research on him. When did he serve? Why is he mostly
forgotten, too? He must have had something to recommend him for his party to
nominate him and for him to get elected! What did he accomplish while he was in
office (surely there must be something!)? What were the key events and issues
of the time when this presidential couple served? Respond in a couple of
paragraphs, and cite your sources (at least two separate sources – and as
usual, not Wikipedia or online dictionaries and encyclopedias). Email your
response to me at carolb@usca.edu by
midnight.
3.
Blog assignment: Answer the question posed on the blog by midnight tonight.
Wed. June 9 The First Lady as Protective
Wife: Edith Wilson
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment:
After reading the chapter in your text, answer the following questions. Email
your response to me at carolb@usca.edu
A. The chapter begins with the quote, "Turn a corner and meet
your fate." Explain.
B. Edith was President Wilson’s
second wife. He was first married to Ellen Wilson, who died during his first
term in office. How long were she (Ellen) and President Wilson married? What
caused her death (look up an explanation of the illness that killed her)? How
did President Wilson react to Ellen's death?
C.
How did Wilson's daughters feel about the marriage? What about his advisors?
Why?
D. Edith Wilson seems to
have been a devoted wife, perhaps to an extent almost unheard of today. Do you
think she went too far in looking after her husband in those early years of
marriage? Do you think most spouses would follow this model, and is it a
positive or negative?
E.
How did World War I affect the Wilsons, both personally and professionally?
F.
What impact, if any, did Edith's actions have on the post-war peace process?
G. Briefly evaluate Edith's role in
the final years of the Wilson presidency and during his retirement. Was she
simply a good wife, a martyr, a saint, or a Machiavellian figure?
2. Web-enriched assignment:
We hear very little about Woodrow Wilson's first
wife, Ellen, as noted in your chapter, which mentions her only briefly. Click
on the links to these two short biographical sketches. Although she served as
First Lady for only a short time, what approach to the role did Ellen Axson
Wilson take? What issues did she advocate and what did she accomplish? Finally,
how did her perceptions of the role of First Lady seem to differ from that of
Wilson's second wife, Edith? Email me at carolb@usca.edu
with your response by midnight tonight. If the USCA system is down for a couple
of hours for those upgrades, just get it done sometime during the night before
7 am on Thurs. Same for the reading assignment and the blog comment.
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2503
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wilson/portrait/wp_ellen.html
3.
Blog assignment: Answer the question posed on the blog by midnight tonight.
Please
read below:
Please
also note that this week we will have an assignment that is due on Friday night – we have a lot of material to cover in a short time. (NOTE TO
CLASS – WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE THESE FRI ASSIGNMENTS DUE FRI NIGHT SO YOU CAN
FINISH THEM AND HAVE THE ENTIRE WEEKEND OFF, OR WOULD YOU PREFER TO HAVE THE
EXTRA TIME AND HAVE THEM DUE SUN EVENING? REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT
DUE MON – BUT GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK AND I WILL THINK ABOUT IT)
Thurs. June 10 The First Lady as Private Advisor:
Bess Truman, the Reluctant First Lady
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment: Answer
the following questions after reading the chapter in your text. Email your
response to me at carolb@usca.edu by
midnight tonight (I think you have figured out where and when to send your
assignments by now, so I will leave this statement out from now on!)
A. How do
you think Bess Truman's childhood and her experiences as she grew into
adulthood affected her perspective on her role as First Lady?
B.
What early experiences as a political wife provide clues about Bess Truman's
political acumen?
C. Why was Bess Truman so reluctant to
have Harry become a US senator? What concerns did she have? How did she handle
them?
D. Bess worked in a paid position in her husband's senatorial
office? Do you think that was appropriate? What would be the reaction today?
E. There has been some discussion of whether Bess Truman
influenced her husband with regard to the decision to drop the atomic bombs on
Japan. Do you think she should have influenced him at all, even in private?
Should she have served as a sounding board? Or simply refused to discuss the
whole topic?
F. Describe the events surrounding Bess Truman's
invitation to and participation in a DAR event in 1945. Do you think she made
the correct decision? Why or why not?
G.
What role did Bess Truman play throughout Harry's political career and
especially during the 1948 campaign?
2. Web-enriched
assignment: We have seen that Bess Truman did not like to engage in public speaking,
but that is certainly not the case for the current First Lady! So let’s look at
the modern First Lady’s role as public speaker. First, let’s listen to a brief
excerpt from one of Michelle Obama’s early speeches, on the White House’s
YouTube page. Go to the following link to listen to this short (2 minutes, 55
seconds) speech about public service, and in a paragraph, give me your
reactions to her speech – how effective it was, how good a public speaker she
is, appropriateness of topic and content:
http://www.youtube.com/whitehouse#p/search/26/7ZaBHgj6jYE
Then go to
the link for the White House press briefings and read the text of two of
Michelle Obama's speeches. At least one of these should be a speech she made
during 2009 after she became First Lady, and one should be a 2010 speech.
Indicate the title and date of each speech, and summarize the topic and key
points. Alternatively, you may use one of the videos of one of her speeches at
this link or at the link for Michelle Obama's page, and you may substitute
that. In that event, indicate how good a public speaker you think she is.
Obviously, with a written speech, all you can do is evaluate the content and
quality of the speech, which you should do with the written texts. Email your
response to me at carolb@usca.edu by
midnight, of course!
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-and-remarks
3. Blog assignment: Answer the question posed by the blog by
midnight tonight.
Fri. June 11 The First Lady as Political
Activist: Eleanor Roosevelt
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment:
Eleanor Roosevelt was certainly one of the best-known, beloved, and also
controversial First Ladies. We will look at her in more detail today. Answer
the following questions based on the reading.
A. How would you explain
Eleanor Roosevelt’s social activism, considering her privileged childhood and
background?
B. As a young wife, how
did Eleanor Roosevelt feel about women’s suffrage, and why did she speak out on
the subject?
C. What early public
relations blunder did Eleanor Roosevelt make during the first World War and
what did she learn from it?
D. Who was Lucy Page
Mercer? Why is she an important part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s story as First
Lady? (you may be interested to know also that she had an Aiken connection, as
her daughter married a famous golfer and lived in the area here – click on the
following link: http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2005/11/09/obi_20805.shtml
)
E. To what extent did
FDR’s polio impact the role that Eleanor Roosevelt played before and during her
time as First Lady? (you probably know that his disability was well-known by
the media and politicians, but pretty much hidden from the general public!)
F. Eleanor was certainly
an activist First Lady. Which among her activities or causes do you see as the
most important or significant, and why?
2. Web-enriched
assignment: Eleanor Roosevelt certainly did not always agree with her husband.
One issue on which they disagreed was Executive Order 9066, signed by the
president in 1942. This was the famous, or infamous, order of internment for
Japanese and Japanese-Americans. In fact, Mrs. Roosevelt visited the camps a
number of times herself in the years that followed. Find some information (not
from Wikipedia or similar sources – but you know that by now!) about that
Executive Order. Explain in your own words in a paragraph just what it
comprised, how many people were affected at the time and the long-term impact
on them, why it was considered legal, and whether any further actions
concerning it were taken by Congress, the courts, or the White House. Finish by
letting me know your conclusions as to which Roosevelt was in the right
concerning this.
3. Blog assignment: Answer the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight.
Now you are done until Monday night! Have a good weekend!
Mon. June 14 The First Lady as Policy Expert
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment:
In a one page typed equivalent essay, explain the following statement, citing
examples from each of the First Ladies discussed in this chapter. “…the
First Lady has the power to shape lawmakers’ perceptions of her husband’s
administration.” Comment also on which First Ladies were most successful at
this and why. What determined their success?
2. Web-enriched
assignment: Your text discusses a bit of the history of the development of the
office and staff for the First Lady, sometimes a difficult sell to Congress,
since First Ladies have no “official” position, no salary, and no pension,
despite holding what is essentially a full-time job (just imagine public
reaction today if she refused to carry out these unofficial duties!). Note that
until the 1970s, funding the Office of the First Lady was a haphazard process.
And as your authors point out, each administration has decided on its own just
what relationship there will be between those who work for the President
directly and those who work directly for his wife. You won’t find much on the
First Lady’s office and staff on the White House web page, but I’d like you to
read a little more about the history and development of a staff for the First
Lady, and how this changed and developed over time. Read down the page until
you get to the heading on pensions for First Ladies and stop there. After you
do that, look back at the discussion in your text. The authors state that “Most
staff are divided…into social, press, and policy sections.” Explain what this
means, and what evidence you found that supports or refutes this in the article
you read online (you’ll have to read the whole thing down to your
stopping point to get the entire picture – but I hope you enjoy this article!).
Email your response to me at carolb@usca.edu
http://www.firstladies.org/TheWhiteHouse.aspx#Staff
3. Blog assignment: Answer
the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight
Tues. June 15 The First Lady and Foreign Policy
Assignments:
1.
Reading assignment: Answer the following questions.
A. We have some
complicated stuff here in this chapter! So, let’s try to break it down and get
a better understanding of it. If you do a really good job on this
assignment, I’ll give you 8 points instead of the usual 5. In your own words,
describe each of the frameworks for analysis that Hastedt suggests we can use
to study the foreign policy involvement of First Ladies. Which of these does he
think is most appropriate, and why? I have listed each framework for you, and
you should explain it and its components in such a way that a lay reader (like
me, for example, as I’m not a foreign policy expert!) could understand it. Each
set of frameworks has several theoretical approaches, and most have several
components that are briefly discussed here. The broad frameworks are:
First Lady Frameworks
Foreign Policy Frameworks
Feminist Frameworks
Policy Process
Frameworks
B. Briefly describe the
foreign policy activities of Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Clinton in the area of human
rights.
C. In studying public
policy, we usually break it down into steps, in order to understand how we make
policy. Hastedt suggests that policy-making consists of five steps, of which
the first step is agenda setting (some scholars, like Thomas Dye, whose text I
use in my public policy course, would add another step at the beginning, that
of problem identification, or figuring out that there is some problem that
needs to be addressed, and would see agenda setting as the second step, where
we decide what issues we are actually going to have government address. But
since it is folded in to the first step here, we’ll use this typology here).
Hastedt says here that “Rosalyn Carter’s and Hillary Rodham Clinton’s
policy-making activities are best understood as taking place during the
agenda-setting stage of the policy process…[where]…problems are recognized and
defined into existence.” Explain why he makes this statement, and be very
specific. Give examples.
D. How successful was
each First Lady in getting her issue onto the foreign policy agenda? Why?
E. And finally, in a sentence
or two, explain which framework the author used here (go back to part A) and
explain.
2. Web-enriched
assignment: A number of First Ladies took an interest in foreign policy. Go to
the following web link and read the article there. In a couple of paragraphs,
indicate what role each of the First Ladies described here played in the
foreign policy arena, and what patterns you see here or commonalities between
them.
http://www.firstladies.org/FirstLadiesAsAmbassadors.aspx#InternationalInterests
3. Blog assignment: Answer
the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight
Wed. June 16 Models for Evolution of the Role
of First Lady
Assignments:
1.
Reading assignment:
A. The authors of this
chapter have developed an integrative/independent model for First Ladies that
incorporates in part models developed by two other scholars, Watson and Lang.
Watson presents us with a model for First Ladies that characterizes them in
terms of the kind of partnership they have with their presidential spouse. Lang
presents us with yet another model, this one based on status. Where do Watson
and Lange place each of the First Ladies discussed in this chapter, and why?
These First Ladies are Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower,
Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter,
Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Discuss each
separately.
B. The
integrative/independent model also incorporates “concerns for policy along with
considerations affecting the evolution of the Office of the First Lady…” in
order to better understand what First Ladies do. For each of the First Ladies
included here in this chapter, discuss briefly the impact of her concerns for
policy.
C. Next, indicate what
impact all of this had on the development and changes in the Office of the
First Lady.
Note: for all of the
above, be sure to look at the table on p. 226 in your text! You will find a
useful summary there.
2. Web-enriched
assignment: Let’s look a little more
closely at the Clinton health care proposal, which was at least as
controversial as the Obama plan that passed earlier this year. Although health
care reform was certainly part of Bill Clinton’s platform, First Lady Hillary
Clinton had much of the responsibility for developing and attempting to gain
passage of this ill-fated effort. Look at the chronology of events in this PBS
Online Newshour Forum. Then read this NY Times article, written shortly
after the inauguration, about how Hillary Clinton was given or took on this
responsibility, and consider whether the limitations of and expectations of her
as First Lady unduly handicapped her in accomplishing this goal. “Settling
In; First Lady; Hillary Clinton Gets Policy Job and New Office,” by Robert
Pear (New York Times, January 22,
1993). In a one page essay, evaluate the chronology of events, and what could
have been done differently by the First Lady and the President. Or could it?
3. Blog assignment: Answer
the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight
Thurs. June 17 The Modern First Lady: Addressing
Ambiguity
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment:
After reading this chapter, explain how each of the following helps us
understand public ambivalence about the role of the First Lady. Draw on what
you read in the chapter, in separate paragraphs for each major point. Provide
specifics to illustrate your points and define key terms:
A. public-private
distinction (include a discussion of the legal status of women prior to modern
times here)
B. cultural change and
attitude change about women
C. gender roles as
applied to the First Lady
2. Web-enriched
assignment: The article in the text briefly mentions Mary Todd Lincoln, in many
ways a tragic figure, who was called “Mrs. President” by her husband’s enemies
because she tried to influence him. We
don’t have a separate chapter on her, so let’s take a closer look at her and
the role she played, since she was married to a man almost universally
described as one of the great presidents, a legendary figure now. Begin with
the brief biography on the following web
link for the First Ladies library. Then find one other substantive
article about her, a newspaper article or a web article (not Wikipedia) and
read that. Be sure to tell me what article you read. Write a paragraph or two
where you describe what you think are the most important or interesting things
about her. Then indicate why you think she was so heavily criticized, and
whether you think the description of her as “Mrs. President” is apt.
3. Blog assignment: Answer
the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight
Fri.
June 18 The
Rise and Fall of the Presidential Couple
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment:
Some of what you read in this chapter will be a review and will reinforce what
you read earlier. But this chapter’s primary focus is on the ups and downs of
presidential couples, and what the public expects from them and from their relationship.
Explain how these presidential couples “…stood at an awkward crossroads where
three central institutions clashed: the presidency…marriage…and the media…” by
reviewing the story of the presidential couples here. You may summarize in a
couple of sentences for each, but please be sure to zero in on the key points
for each.
2. Web-enriched
assignment: The image and public impression of the First Lady goes a long way
toward determining the success or failure of the presidential couple. Popular
culture certainly reflects and reinforces what goes on in the real world. Let’s
take a brief look at two popular television shows that centered, at least in
part, on presidential couples. The
West Wing was a very popular show that ran for seven years beginning in
1999 – Stockard Channing had a recurring role as the First Lady, a practicing
physician, who also carried out traditional duties. During the course of the
show, she ran into hot water for her off the books treatment of the president’s
physical ailments (MS) and for covering up his serious illness. Another popular
show that just finished its lengthy run is 24,
whose hero (or anti-hero), Jack Bauer, ran through several different First
Couples over eight seasons, beginning in 2001. These included the ill-fated
David Palmer, who ended up divorced from his wife, and the evil Charles Logan,
who at one point had his wife institutionalized, and who returned in the final
season of the show to create his mischief once again. So, here’s what I would
like you to do, since no doubt The West Wing is before your time, and probably
you have not watched all eight seasons of 24, even if you are a fan. Go to
YouTube or Hulu or elsewhere and look at four video clips of the First Lady on
these television shows, two from each show. I’m giving you links to several but
if you wish, you can hunt around and find your own. After you watch them, tell
me which ones you watched and how you think what you saw here both reflects and
reinforces our image of the First Lady and the impact it has on the popular
view of the First Couple. If the links don’t work, do a search on YouTube or
Hulu elsewhere on the web.
Amy and Mrs. Bartlett – Save
Me (note: Amy became her chief of staff. You may recognize the actress if
you watch Weeds);
President
Bartlett Gives His Wife Pearls ; -
there are a couple of other episodes on YouTube with Mrs. Bartlett
The First Lady on 24 –
season 6 (and you thought the Obamas were the first African-American
presidential couple! Here you see the Palmers);
Jean Smart Schmoozes About
Martha Logan (You may recognize her if you watched Samantha Who)
3. Blog assignment: Answer
the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight. Now you are done until
Monday night! Have a good weekend!
Mon. June 21 Breaking the Mold: Hillary Clinton
and the Future of the First Lady
by
Gwen Ifill (New York Times, September
22, 1993).
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment: Answer the following
questions, based on the material in your text and the newspaper article:
A. In a
sentence for each, describe 4 of the "interesting changes" that First
Ladies brought about, as described by your author. Why do you think they were
"interesting?" Or were they?
B. What events or
experiences in Hillary Rodham's youth molded her in terms of her interests and
political orientation? Explain in a couple of sentences.
C. Unlike Jenny Sanford,
SC's former first lady, Hillary Clinton "stood by her man" during the
scandal surrounding his initial run for president. How did this help to shape
the public's view of her and shape her future role in his administration?
D. Explain in a
paragraph why your author states "It is doubtful that any first lady
experienced more highs and lows during her first ladyship or was more
polarizing-both beloved and despised- than Hillary Clinton."
E. In what ways or to
what extent do you think her experience in the White House affected Hillary's
decision to run for the Senate and shaped her campaign? Explain in a paragraph
2. Web-enriched
assignment: Although we don’t have a separate chapter on her, Jackie Kennedy,
mentioned briefly in this chapter, brought glamour and a sense of excitement to
the White House during what became known nostalgically as the “Camelot” era,
JFK’s presidency of approximately 1000 days. The beautiful young wife of this
wealthy son of a prominent family set about redecorating the White House,
America’s home, although that was certainly not her only contribution to the
institution. After the staid reign of Mamie Eisenhower in the 1950s, the young
Kennedys seemed to many people to represent the hope of the future. So let’s
look a bit more at Jackie Kennedy, who in her post-White House years, attempted
to escape the constant public pressure with a less than entirely happy second
marriage to wealthy Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis. Jackie, incidentally, died
in her early 60s from cancer, leaving her daughter Caroline, a lawyer, wife, and mother, who lives in NYC,
to carry on the Kennedy legacy (son John Jr also died tragically, piloting a
small plane while on the way to a family wedding, along with his wife and one
of his wife’s sisters). In a sense, Jackie Kennedy also can be said to have
broken the mold! So, let’s look briefly at Jackie Kennedy. You are probably
most familiar with the pictures of her connected with the Kennedy assassination
in November of 1963, but there was far more to her both before and after that
tragedy. After you watch these videos, which I hope you enjoy, please describe
her contributions as First Lady. What do you think was most unique or most
significant about her activities as First Lady and her contributions? Does she
remind you of any other First Ladies you have read about? How did her
activities differ from those of the more recent First Ladies you have read
about? Answer in a couple of paragraphs. Email me at carolb@usca.edu by midnight tonight.
If you speak Spanish,
I’d sure like to know what she was saying in the Spanish clip! There is also a
slightly longer one on YouTube, a campaign ad she filmed in Spanish.
“Jacqueline
Kennedy Entertains” video from the JFK Library (12:23 minutes – you will
need to download the video by clicking on the link on this page, listed in
small print under Multimedia, below the slide show. You can also read the text,
but the video has lots of good pictures to give you a real feel for her!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft1wgQ0VYrc&feature=fvst Jackie's
White House tour (4:46 minutes) – you hear her speaking on this one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHxoZ-Vk_Jc&feature=related Part
2- Jacqueline Kennedy in the White House (3:56 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRi39Ia3njQ&NR=1 Jacqueline
Kennedy speaking Spanish – 1962 (17 seconds)
3. Blog assignment: Answer
the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight
Tues. June 22 A Mere Mortal: Betty Ford’s Public
Role as Breast Cancer Victim
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment:
You have read about Betty Ford previously, but this chapter differs in its
focus on her role as an advocate and leader in the area of breast cancer. In
reading this, you should remember that breast cancer research and advocacy was
not “mainstream” as it is today, although unfortunately, we do not yet have a
cure. Answer the following questions after reading the chapter.
A. How were the
illnesses of presidential wives treated prior to Betty Ford, and what was the
public image as opposed to the reality?
B. How long had Betty
Ford been First Lady when she was diagnosed with cancer? What activities did
she engage in between her husband’s swearing in and the date of her surgery?
C. How did the public
respond to the publicity about her diagnosis and surgery, as well as that of
Second Lady Happy Rockefeller?
D. The author of this
chapter conducted a study of the letters written to Betty Ford. Who wrote most of the letters, men or women?
E. Briefly describe each
of the three categories of letters.
F. Why does the author
suggest we should study the letters of survivors? In a sentence or two, analyze
the content of these letters by survivors.
G. In what respect can
one argue that Betty Ford was a political leader on the breast cancer issue?
Was she an adaptive leader? Explain your response.
2. Web-enriched
assignment: The author of this chapter notes that in 1974, the year Betty Ford
was diagnosed, “…there were few support groups or advocacy organizations for
cancer patients.” This has certainly changed, at least with regards to breast
cancer. Due a web or newspaper search and look at the web site of one such
organization. In a couple of paragraphs, describe the organization, what they
do (raise money and how they do this, conduct research studies, publicize the
disease, lobby legislators, etc) and include one current activity occurring
this year. See if they have a local presence here or in your home state or
community. Answer this assignment in a couple of paragraphs and give me both
the name and the url of the organization. See if you can find how long the
organization has been in existence, too. Email me at carolb@usca.edu with your response by
midnight.
3. Blog assignment: Answer
the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight
Wed. June 23 Back to the Future or Back to the
Past? Laura Bush
Assignments:
1. Reading assignment:
Laura Bush is an interesting figure who, as we have learned, has been stereotyped
and underestimated. But she has found a place in popular culture. Several years
ago, a best seller entitled “American
Wife” was based on her life – the author was pretty upfront about it, too.
It’s a pretty good read, a book I enjoyed! You can read an excerpt on the
author’s website if you click on the link I gave you. More recently, Laura Bush
just published her own memoirs, “Spoken
From the Heart.” I gave you the link here from amazon.com if you want to
take a look, or you can get the book if you would like to learn more about her
from her own perspective. In any case, answer the following questions after
reading the chapter.
A.
Who was the first presidential spouse to deliver the weekly presidential radio
address and what was the topic?
B. What evidence does
the author present (p. 310) that Laura Bush “has done relatively little to earn
the admiration” seen in polls, compared to other First Ladies?
C. Briefly describe her
background and upbringing, and early years of married life. What kind of First
Lady would you have expected her to be, based on her background? What kind of
First Lady did she turn out to be?
D. In what respects
could she be compared to Bess Truman? Is this a fair or unfair assessment?
E. What social causes
did Mrs. Bush promote from her early days as a political wife? Why?
F. How did 9/11 change
her and her role as First Lady? Be specific. Be sure also to look at Tables
15.3, 15.4, 15.5, 15.6, and 15.7.
G. In what traditional
activities was she also engaged? What political motivation could there have
been for these activities? How did her popularity and image figure into the
political considerations?
H. Take a look at Tables
15.7 and 15.8, and read the relevant discussion of his typology. Where would
you place her, and why?
2. Web-enriched
assignment: The author of this article states that public opinion polls showed
Laura Bush to be very popular, indeed far more popular than her husband, whose
popularity ratings dropped quite low during the latter part of his presidency,
after this article had been written. Let’s examine the results of this annual
poll in a bit more detail and see what we find. Email your response to carolb@usca.edu by midnight tonight
A. First, take a look at
this article, written shortly after the end of the Bush presidency, and comment
in a paragraph on what you see there. One good paragraph will do. What
were the findings of the poll? How did her favorability ratings compare to her
husband, President Bush? Why do you think that was so? How did her favorability
ratings compare to other First Ladies, Hillary Clinton and Barbara Bush? Why do
you think that was so?
“Laura
Bush Leaves White House as Popular Figure,” by Jeffrey M. Jones (
B. However, the author
argues that Laura Bush’s approval ratings were higher than those of most other
First Ladies, citing the 2002 Gallup poll you will find in Table 15.1 on p.
308. Take a look at that, and then take a look at the Gallup polls done in the
following years. I will give you the links here. Who topped the poll each year
after 2002? Why do you think that is so? Where did Laura Bush rank, compared to
other First Ladies mentioned? Do you think Watson gave us an accurate picture,
or is his data misleading? Why or why not? Indicate your findings in a few
paragraphs and explain them. Alternatively, you can go to www.gallup.com and type in “most admired
women” in the search box.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/10084/George-Bush-Hillary-Rodham-Clinton-Most-Admired-2003.aspx
(2003)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/14470/George-Bush-Most-Admired-Man-2004.aspx
(2004)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/20635/Bush-Hillary-Most-Admired-Again.aspx
(2005)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/25996/George-Bush-Hillary-Clinton-Most-Admired-Again.aspx
(2006)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/103462/Hillary-Edges-Oprah-Most-Admired-Woman-07.aspx
(2007)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/113572/Obama-Hillary-Clinton-Share-Most-Admired-Billing.aspx
(2008)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/1678/Most-Admired-Man-Woman.aspx
(2009)
3. Blog assignment: Answer
the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight
Thurs. June 24 Public Images of Modern First Ladies
Readings for today: W/E,
pp. 326-358. This is a long chapter, but much of it is actually tables, not
text. But you will need to review the tables as you answer the questions. We’ll
work our way through the chapter!
Assignments: In this
chapter, where we examine and compare Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, the
author argues that “policy activism is not necessarily detrimental for first
ladies.” We’ll look at some attitude survey results in the course of this
discussion.
1. Reading assignment:
Answer the following questions after reading the chapter.
A. The author states:
“Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton exemplify the vast array of differences that
can be found in presidential wives in recent years.” Explain how these two
women illustrate that “recent first ladies have been a diverse lot.”
B. How did respondents
see Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton in the National Election Study surveys (see
Table 16.1 and the discussion in the text) that used a feeling thermometer?
Where did they rank each woman? What does this suggest about how these women
are viewed, both in general and as First Lady?
C. What patterns appear
when we look at this data broken down by party? See also Table 16.2.
D. What were the
findings of the PEW Center surveys of Laura Bush in 2001 and 2002? How were
they categorized, based on content? See also Tables 16.3 and 16.4 Does this
make sense, given the feeling thermometer responses from the NES surveys?
Explain.
E. What kinds of changes
do we see in the survey results between 2001 and 2002? What explanation does
the author suggest?
F. The public always seems
to hold some ideal of the First Lady, although each First Lady is very
different. How close did First Ladies Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Barbara
Bush, and Nancy Reagan come to some ideal image of the First Lady? What
difference did party and gender make in people’s views? See Tables 16.5 and
16.6.
G. From all of this,
what can you conclude about whether activism helps or hurts First Ladies?
H. Although, as you
know, Laura Bush did become more of an activist on a wider range of issues
during the second Bush term (see your earlier assignments!), the author argues
that the presidential couple were really not partners even after the second
term had begun. What evidence is presented to support this?
2. Web-enriched
assignment: Commentator Arianna Huffington referred to Laura Bush as “the
Harriet Nelson of first ladies.” The image of First Ladies is certainly
important, and as you have seen, can even affect their husband’s political
career and his party’s fortunes. So let’s take a closer look here. Although
“Ozzie and Harriet” was a very popular television show in its day, I don’t
think Ms. Huffington meant that remark as a compliment! Take a look at a couple
of clips that illustrate Harriet Nelson’s image in the public’s mind, both then
and now.
A. First, indicate if
and to what extent you think Ms. Huffington was correct. This can be either a
criticism or a compliment of Mrs. Bush, depending on your view of what Harriet
Nelson represented and what Ms. Huffington meant (explain). Just what kind of
image do you have of Harriet Nelson?
B. What women in popular
culture (television, movies, music, etc) come to your mind when you think of
Laura Bush? Explain your answer in a substantive paragraph.
The Adventures of Ozzie and
Harriet promo (1:14 minutes)
The Adventures of Ozzie and
Harriet: The Bowling Alley, Part I (7:02 minutes)
3. Blog assignment: Answer
the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight
Mon. June 28 Michelle Obama and the Future
Assignments:
As we finish up, we come back once again to our current First Lady, Michelle
Obama.
1. Reading assignment: Answer the following
questions after you read this short and final chapter.
A.
What role do the authors think is the most important for a First Lady, and why?
B.
Summarize the key accomplishments of pre-modern or early First Ladies.
C. Which of the lessons learned
about modern First Ladies that are presented here (select two) do you
think are the most significant or important? Explain which ones and why.
2. Web-enriched
assignment: Now go back to those two lessons learned that you just selected.
Find two newspaper articles about Michelle Obama, substantive articles
from a good newspaper like the NY Times.
These articles should illustrate these lessons. These must be articles we have
not previously read, of course. Give me the date, title, and url for each. Summarize
each article in a separate paragraph in your own words. Then in two more
paragraphs, explain how what you read illustrates each of the lessons learned
that you picked.
3. Blog assignment: Answer
the question posed by the blog by midnight tonight
Classes
end! Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Final exams are June 29 and 30 – but there will be no
final exam in this class! You are done. But please complete the online and
anonymous student evaluation by June 29 at 11:59 pm. See link for online evaluations, but wait until the end
of class, please!