TV: Ultimate Guide To The Presidents (History Channel)

[Frank W. Baker]

In a world ruled by kings and emperors, the United States of America was a risky experiment – a republic of, by, and for the people – with power divided among three branches of government. But it is one branch, the Executive, in which the hopes and aspirations of the American people are primarily embodied – in the President of the United States.

In the week preceding the 2013 Presidential inauguration, HISTORY will present THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE PRESIDENTS. From George Washington to Barack Obama, this eight-hour series will cover the history of the most influential position in the world, and the men who defined its power. The series premieres on Tuesday, January 15 at 9 pm ET on HISTORY.

Forty-three men have taken the oath of President of the United States. Whether each set groundbreaking precedent, declared war or enacted laws altering the destiny of millions, each found himself in the eye of the storm. THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE PRESIDENTS delves inside the inner-workings of the Presidency, as well as the minds, methods and motivations of each man who has held the position of Commander-In-Chief.

 

Each episode also explores how the Office of the Presidency has evolved over the past 222 years. When George Washington was elected, no one knew what a President was. There was no title, no policy, and no code of behavior for a Chief Executive.  So everything he did – from selecting a Cabinet to determining where the Capitol should be to creating an Oval Office and a White House – set precedents for the nation’s future.

Interviews with historians, past administration officials, and family members portray the role of the Presidency as an ever-changing institution that is influenced by the personalities of each of the men and how each interacts with the events transpiring in the world around them.

(NOTE: If your school subscribes to, and receives, the quarterly Idea Book For Educators, the Spring 2013 edition includes a two page teacher guide, with critical viewing questions and other teaching resources.)