LibGuides: Presidency: Media

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The Almost Painless Guide to the Executive Branch (20:00) The executive branch of the U.S. government and its relation to the legislative and judicial branches is the subject of this engaging program. Starting with the importance of the phrase “We, the people…” the video covers presidential powers and responsibilities, the electoral college, the process of impeachment as it applied to Clinton and Nixon, and the vice presidency, as well as checks and balances, the division of federal and state power, and more. The video concludes with a synopsis of the program, and a quiz is provided after the closing credits. A viewable/printable teacher’s guide is available online.
Bill Moyers Journal: The Rise of Unitary Executive Power (58:00) How far can a President go to defend the nation? This program examines the unprecedented presidential power that some say has been amassed by the Bush administration—and wielded, often secretly, in the name of national security. Bill Moyers gets perspective from two experts on the limits and abuses of federal power: Charles Fried, who teaches Constitutional law at Harvard Law School and served as solicitor general in the Reagan Administration, and Fritz Schwarz, who served as chief counsel to the Church Committee, which uncovered decades of abuse by the CIA and other intelligence agencies.
Constant Combatants: The President and Congress—A Fred Friendly Seminar (56:00) Moderated by Harvard Law School’s Charles Nesson, this Fred Friendly Seminar focuses on the tension between the President and Congress during a policy crisis in the fictional European country of Nukraine, involving issues such as the power to wage war, conduct diplomacy, and operate in secrecy, as well as the media’s responsibilities in matters of national security. Panelists include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia; former Secretary of State Alexander Haig; former Senator Warren Rudman; Professor Michael Sandel, of Harvard University; Richard Holbrooke, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and former Assistant Secretary of State; James Fallows, former editor at U.S. News & World Report; and others.
The Executive Branch of Government: A Study of Federal and State Government (30:00) This fast-paced and informative program shows students how the Constitution established the Executive Branch, and provided for the separation of powers and the relationship of the Executive Branch to the Legislative and Judicial Branches of the federal and state government. Specific roles of the Chief Executive are defined such as Commander-in-Chief, Foreign Policy Director, Legislative Leader, Party Leader, Popular Leader, and Chief of State, interspersed with interviews of state and national Executive Office Staff, Legislators, Media, Historians, and others. In addition, the program explains how the role of the Chief Executive has evolved in terms of its influence and exercise of power since the Constitution was ratified. A Cambridge Educational Production.
The Kennedy Presidency: History or Hype? (45:00) In a freewheeling town hall discussion at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, we explore how today's college students view the presidency of John F. Kennedy and how it compares with the traditional view. What is it about JFK's 1000-day presidency that continues to resonate? Can the "Camelot" myth be separated from the harsh reality of crises during the 1960s? Phil Donahue hosts our panel of historians and authors--Robert Dallek, Steve Gillon, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Professor Ernest May.
President Obama (24:00) In a wide-ranging interview, the president discusses the battle against Islamic extremists, U.S.-Russia relations and the upcoming midterm elections.
President Trump (53:00) Examine the key moments that shaped President-elect Donald Trump. Interviews with advisors, business associates and biographers reveal how Trump transformed himself from real estate developer to entertainer to president.
Series: US Presidential Election Debates This series includes all televised United States presidential election debates through Barack Obama, from ABC News.
Transition of Power: The Presidency (1:26:00) What does it take to transition the most powerful office in the world? The countdown to January 20th begins long before America picks its next president. Transition of Power: The Presidency is an inside look at the hand-over process from election to inauguration, and its key milestones including security briefings, cabinet selection and the transfer of the nuclear football. In the 220 years since George Washington first stepped down from office the presidency has changed hands 43 times. Rare archival material of the most notable transitions in history highlights this uniquely American tradition as it endures through times of war, scandal, and sudden tragedy.
U.S. Government: How It Works: The Executive Branch (23:00) Many equate it with the presidency, but the executive branch of our government is far more complex than that. Containing departments and agencies that directly affect the health, safety, security, and prosperity of the American public, the Executive branch is an administrative mountain with the White House at its peak. This program expands on that description, familiarizing students with the most visible arm of U.S. leadership and its evolution through the years. Topics include the president’s roles as head of state, head of government, chief executive, and commander in chief; his or her responsibility to fill federal positions; relationships between the Executive branch and the other two branches, including the appointment of judges and the power to veto legislation; and more. Selected presidents, from Washington to Lincoln to Obama, are concisely profiled.

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U.S. Presidents