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Presidents & The Presidency


  Presidents, Vice Presidents, & First Ladies
Ref
E176.1
P918

The Presidents: A Reference History. 2002.

Biographical information on each of the presidents through George W. Bush. Includes election information, appointments, and key events for each presidency. Bibliographies with each article note authoratative resources for further reading. Special articles on the history of both the Presidency and White House and the role of First Lady.

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E176.1
K3

Facts About the Presidents. 2001.

Compilation of biograhical and historical information including genealogical, on the President and First Lady. Presents chronologies of important dates, election data, chief advisors and appointments, notable events of the presidents' terms, and further reading.

POTUS:Presidents of the United States
http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/

Links to "background information, election results, cabinet members, notable events, and some points of interest on each of the presidents. Links to biographies, historical documents, audio and video files, and other presidential sites are also included to enrich this site." - from the Web site

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E176.1
A653

American Presidency . 2004.

Covers Presidents George Washington through George W. Bush. "Interpretive" articles written by presidential scholars, ranging in length from 5 - 20 pages each. Includes a selective bibliography and a limited index. Although biographical information is included, the main intent is to focus on "how these individuals have perceived and used the office." - From the book introduction, p.ix.

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E176.1
D56

The Presidents, First Ladies, and Vice Presidents: White House Biographies, 1789 - 2001. 2001.

Brief biographies with no bibliographes included. Includes an article on the daily life of the president.

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E176.49
V52

The Vice Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary. 1998.

Vice Presidents through Al Gore. Includes references and a chronology of events.

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E176.2
A44

American First Ladies: Their Lives and Their Legacy. 1996.

First Ladies through Hillary Rodham Clinton. Each article is accompanied by a bibliographical essay.

  Presidency, Presidential Appointments & Transitions
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JK516
C57

Guide to the Presidency. [CQ] 2v. 2002.

Includes sections on origins, development, and powers of the presidency, selection and removal of the president, the president, the public, and the parties. Covers the White House and Executive Branch and biographies of presidents and vice presidents. Reference materials include some important primary sources as well as data on elections, approval ratings and presidential appointments.

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JK511
E53

Encyclopedia of the American Presidency. 4v. 1994.

Covers the powers and prerogatives of the office and the executive branch and its relationship to the judicial and legislative branches. Includes articles on the presidency, policy and issues, laws and legal cases, historical events and politics. Biographical information on presidents, vice presidents, selected first ladies, and other notable figures directly related to past presidencies.

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JK518
R34

Vital Statistics on the Presidency.1998.

Data on presidents and their selection, election, and appearances. Statistics on presidents' relations to the public, Congress, and the judiciary. Covers presidential policy making, organization and the executive branch.

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JK516
M37

How to Research the Presidency. 1996.

Introduction to basic research resources on the presidency. Includes secondary and primary sources and their finding tools.

Project Vote Smart: President & Executive Branch
http://www.vote-smart.org/official_president.php

Brief descriptions of and links to the Executive Offices and Departments of the President, Independent Federal Agencies Other Federal Government Resources.

United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions [The Plum Book]. 2004.
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plumbook/2004/index.html

A listing of the leadership and support positions in the executive branch that can be filled by non-competitive appointment. Lists the political appointments in each department and program by name and title, the name of the incumbant, and where each job stands on the executive pay scales. Published by a Congressional Committee every four years immediately after the presidential election.

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JK723.E9
T715

The 2004 Prune Book: How to Succeed in Washington's Top Jobs. 2004.

Describes the recommended skills, experience and insight required for sixty jobs filled by presidential appointments. Includes background profiles of the current holders of these offices. Useful for its background information on agencies, their organizational structure and the issues they face.

A Survivor's Guide for Presidential Nominees
http://www.appointee.brookings.org/survivorsguide.htm

A guide that includes information on the process of becoming a presidential nominee. Includes information on the appointment process, financial disclosure, Senate confirmation, dealing with the media, and restrictions after leaving office. Notes additional sources of information.

The White House Transition Project [Martha Joynt Kumar, Executive Director]
http://www.whitehousetransitionproject.org

Extensive information on transitioning from one presidency to the next, including original essays on transitions, White House operations, institutional memory, and inquiry of presidential nominees.

Issues
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E176.1
U16

U.S. Presidents and Foreign Policy From 1789 to the Present . 2007.

Overview articles tracing each president's role in foreign policy from their early life and political (or military) career and concluding with their legacy. Each article is accompanied by a chronology, which will assist in identifying primary sources, as well as a brief list of secondary sources.

Accompanied by a small collection of primary sources, a Chronology of the Foreign Relations of the United States, and an index.

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E183.7
E53

Encyclopedia of U.S. Foreign Relations . 1997.

Includes articles on presidents and their involvement in significant foreign-policy issues.

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E176.1
H56

Historical Encyclopedia of U.S. Presidential Use of Force, 1789-2000. 2001.

Describes incidences and concepts related to the use of force by the president. Includes further reading for each entry.

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JK468.E7
R556

Ethics in U.S. Government: An Encyclopedia of Investigations, Scandals, Reforms, and Legislation. 2001.

Describes incidences and individuals involved in serious ethics controversies. Includes suggested readings for each entry and an index of subjects and names.


  Elections

U.S. Electoral College [NARA]

Background information and statistics on the Electoral College. Links to additional resources.
http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college/electoral_college.html

Google:Presidential Elections
http://directory.google.com/Top/Regional/North_America/United_States/Government/Elections/Presidential/

Includes links to sites covering information on presidential elections. Covers issues such as election reform, the Electoral College, voting systems, and voter education.

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JK1967
C66

Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections. 2001.
Comprehensive data on elections for president, governor, senator, and representative.

Ref
G1201.S1
M5

Routledge Historical Atlas of Presidential Elections. 2001.
Arranged chronologically by election. Narrative describes each election. Maps and graphs depict election results by candidate and percentage and number of electoral votes.

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JK1965
A57

American Presidential Campaigns and Elections. 3v. 2002.

Covers the election campaigns from 1788/89 to 2000. Introductory section on the American electoral process includes issues of suffrage, influence of major and third parties, nominating conventions, role of the press and media, campaign finance, and the "character issue". Essays on each campaign explain the historical context, political climate, and campaign themes. The discourse is enhanced by accompanying primary sources such as copies of letters, circulars, speeches, newspaper articles and political cartoons.

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JK524
P6783

Presidential Elections, 1789 -1996. 1997.

Provides an overview of the presidential election process including the presidential primaries, nomination convention and political party nominees, electoral votes. Includes popular vote returns for minor candidates and parties.

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JK524
A73

America at the Polls: A Handbook of American Presidential Election Statistics. 1994.

Election statistics from 1920 - 1992.

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JK524
R83

Source Book of American Presidential Campaign and Election Statistics:1948 - 1968. 1971.

Goes beyond the standard presidential statistical source by including data on presidential campaigns including preference primaries, campaign staff, campaign itineraries, cost of campaigns, media exposure, and public opinion polls.

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JK524
R6

The Presidential Vote:1896 - 1932. 1970.

Statistics on presidential elections with the focus on counties within each state.

For additiional information on ELECTIONS and ELECTORAL REFORM
see
Congress Resources http://www.towson.edu/~sara/congress.htm#elections

For information on CAMPAIGN FINANCE
see
Congress Resources http://www.towson.edu/~sara/congress.htm#campaign

  Presidential Candidates

Project Vote Smart: Current Presidential Candidates
http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president.php

Includes links to voter education sources including State Primary Dates, Electoral College, Votes per State, What is the Electoral College?, Debates, Forums & Events, Other Internet Resources, and How Does the Primary Process Work?

Presidential Election
http://www.presidentialelection.com/

An information source providing government, state, local, and presidential election information on all the political candidates for the upcoming election. Includes links to news sources on the candidates positions and information on campaign finance.

The Living Room Candidate: A History of Presidential Campaign Commercials, 1952-2000
[American Museum of the Moving Image]
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/

183 television commercials, some in their entirety, for major presidential candidates from the years 1952 to 2000. Provides a brief introduction to major political party advertising strategies and a map that shows election results for each campaign. Highlighted themes include Commander in Chief, Looking Presidential, Attack Ads, Biography, Family Man, and Real People. Ads may be accessed by year or candidate.

The Great Debate & Beyond: The History of Televised Presidential Debates [History Channel]
http://www.museum.tv/debateweb/html/index.htm

Includes video, photos, headlines, memos & spin for 1960 - 2000 presidential races.

 

Primary Resources

Web source


American Presidency Project
[University of California, Santa Barbara]
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/

  • Archive of over 78,000 primary sources including public papers of the President, inaugural addresses, news conferences, Presidential candidates debates, documents related to 2001 Presidential transition, and party platforms

NARA Presidential Libraries and Museum Page
http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/index.html

Provides links to U.S. Presidential libraries, which provide selected primary sources. Also explains various types of presidential documents and how they can be useful in your research.

Stacks
J80
A283

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States

Cumulation of Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. Covers Hoover, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton.

Bush, Clinton, and Bush are also available online.

On Microfilm
2nd floor

Presidential Papers on Microfilm [Series]

This microfilm series is located on the 2nd floor of Cook Library in filing cabinets near the Periodicals Desk. The call numbers range from E300 - E750. Included are the following presidents:

  • Arthur, Chester Alan Papers 1843-1938
  • Cleveland, Grover Papers 1828-1945
  • Coolidge, Calvin Papers 1921-1929
  • Grant, Ulysses S. Papers 1844-1922
  • Harrison, William Henry Papers 1734-1939
  • Jackson, Andrew Papers 1775-1856
  • Johnson, Andrew Papers 1814-1900
  • Lincoln, Abraham Papers 1833-1916
  • Madison, James Papers 1674-1859
  • McKinley, William Papers 1847-1902
  • Monroe, James Papers 1758-1839
  • Pierce, Franklin Papers 1820-1869
  • Taylor, Zachary Papers 1814-1931
  • Tyler, John Papers 1710-1918
  • Washington, George Papers 1741-1799
To check the catalog record for manuscript collections in each set, search the Towson Catalog > Advanced Search > Search for words in.... series > enter word/s to search search as... presidential papers


President of the United States: Federal Government Resources
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/fedprs.html

An excellent source with links to resources arranged by topics including Biographies | Bush Cabinet | Citizen-Services | Continental Congress | Current Speeches | Directives | Documents | E-Mail | Executive Orders | First Ladies | Historic Speeches | Impeachment | Libraries | Pardons | Politics | Presidential Medal of Freedom | Public Papers | Salary | Statements of Administrative Policy | Succession | Vetoes | Weekly Compilations | White House (Current).

President / Executive Branch
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/govinfo/federal/gov_uspres.html

Links to primary resources including Presidential documents, and resources coming from the Executive Office of the President, Executive Branch Resources, and other sites .


Online Databases available through Cook Library home page
http://cooklibrary.towson.edu
= full text = some full text = no full text

Academic Search [Ebsco]
Search for citations, abstracts and some full text articles from magazines and journals in various disciplines including Political Science, Law and History.

Note: The truncation symbol in this database is *. For example, president * = president, presidents, presidential

To search for articles on presidents:

  • It is important to search Academic Search [Ebsco], Military & Government Collection [Ebsco], and Social Sciences Abstracts [Ebsco] together by clicking on Choose Databases tab, selecting the appropriate databases and clicking on [Continue].
  • Then click on the Advanced Search tab and search lastname firstname (e.g. bush george w, kennedy john ).
  • Academic Search indexes scholarly (peer-reviewed) journals, news magazines, and the New York Times
  • Social Sciences Abstracts indexes a broad selection of journals in the Social Sciences
  • Military & Government Collection indexes publications like FDCH Political Transcripts, Press Releases, & Congressional Testimony and Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
  • Include Communication and Mass Media Complete if your topic includes a president or the presidency and the media or public opinion


America: History and Life

Search for abstracts of articles from scholarly journals in history and social sciences published from. Most comprehensive source for articles in American history. Includes book reviews. Journal covereage varies. Some journals are indexed beginning in the early 1970s to date. Indexes and links to journals that are available in full text from JSTOR.

LexisNexis Academic

For National Newspapers: Click on Guided News Search tab. Select General News, then Major Papers. Provides full text of major newspapers including New York Times (1980 - ) and Washington Post (1977 - ) .
Note: The truncation symbol in this database is !. For example, For example, president! = president's, presidential

Note: Once in Guided News Search. Search for your words in the Headline and Lead Paragraph. Extend the time period searched to longer than previous six months, if desired. Once you have a list of results, you may want to click on Sort by: Relevance to change the arrangement of results so that the "best" articles are listed first, instead of the "most current".

National Newspapers also provides full text of the Washington Post (1987 - ).

New York Times Historical [1851-2001] and New York Times [Current 5 years to date]

Provides full text of all articles and page locators, which indicate exactly where the article appeared on the page.

  Print Indexes
  The following print resources index magazine, journal, and newspaper articles that were published earlier than the online databases cover. They index material published in English from the 18th century to the first half of the 20th century. They are shelved on the back wall of the main (3rd) floor of Cook Library. Those articles that were published during the time of an event would be considered primary sources.
Ref
AI13
I7

International Index to Periodicals, Devoted Chiefly to Humanities and Science. 1907- 1964.

  • Indexes scholarly/professional journals
  • Continued by Social Sciences & Humanities Index 1966 - 1974 [Ref A13 S6]
  • Continued by Social Sciences Index 1974 -1997. [Ref A13 S611]
Ref
AI13
R4
 

Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature . 1900 - 1997.

  • Indexes general interest and news magazines, as well as Department of State Bulletin, Congressional Digest, and Vital Speeches of the Day
  • Continues Poole's Index to Periodical Literature 1890 - 1899 [Ref A13 P7]

The URL for this Web page is http://pages.towson.edu/sara/presidency.html

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