A series of weak presidents since the Civil War had seriously damaged the powers of the office, until Theodore Roosevelt led the country to victory in the war with Spain, starting the emergence of the US as a world power.
T.R.'s legacy greatly influenced Franklin D. Roosevelt in his battle against the Great Depression and World War II. In turn, both Roosevelts served as role models for strong presidents through the century, facing different, but difficult issues: Truman and the Cold War, Johnson and Nixon and the Vietnam War and Reagan's war on communism.
Presidents, Politics and Power looks at these six men who redefined the presidency and shaped their time.
The series will take place on Thursdays from Noon—1 p.m. beginning June 26. Attendees may bring a bag lunch. Location: South Carolina State Library, Room 309, 1430 Senate St., Columbia, SC.
Thursday June 26 Theodore Roosevelt
Thursday July 10 F.D.R.
Thursday July 17 Harry Truman
Thursday July 24 Lyndon Johnson
Thursday July 31 Richard Nixon
Thursday August 7 Ronald Reagan
This free lunchtime program is presented by the South Carolina Center for the Book, the South Carolina affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book. The SC Center for the Book is a cooperative project of the SC State Library, the University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science, and The Humanities Council SC. For more information: Susanna Brailsford 803-771-2477.