Semester II Final

Part A
1. Before doing any research, I predict the three most highly ranked presidents in US history will be Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Theodore Roosevelt and the worst might be Richard Nixon 

2. Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Theodore Roosevelt have all been consistently identified as among the top four presidents. 

Theodore Roosevelt has always been in 4th position and Dwight D. Eisenhower was in 5th position in 2017. Harry S. Truman was in 5th position in 2009 and 2000. 

3. Over the years the top four presidents, that I listed above, have been constant head leaders, but below that, the president has had a change in ranking at least once, with exceptions to Thomas Jefferson William Howard Taft, and Barack Obama, as it does not apply to him. 
I found it interesting how overall, for the majority of presidents, they decreased in their rankings. 
The top ten Presidents have stayed pretty constant, with shifts in the bottom three positions each year interval. 

4. The professions of the survey participants show their credibility, usually indicating their College of Univerity and or profession such as "Historian and Author," Lawyer, Journalist, or Biographer. If C-SPAN did not include this information I woul have questions on who these people are and if this source is reliable. Many of these people come from well-known universities and Colleges and or their occupations indicate to the reader that they are educated in a particular field that is important in making these sources credible.  

5. The Servey ranked each president based on ten qualities: "Public Persuasion," "Crisis Leadership," "Economic Management," "Moral Authority," "International Relations," "Administrative Skills," "Relations with Congress," "Vision/Setting An Agenda," "Pursued Equal Justice for All," and "Performance Within the Context of His Times" (C-SPAN).

6. No, C-CPAN did not weigh any categories more than others, they say, "Each of the ten categories was given equal weighting in arriving at a president's total score" (C-SPAN).

7. I would have Crisis Leadership, Economic Management, Administrative Skills as my top three categories. I would weight Crisis Leadership because "crisis" situations are very important to the country and how we respond to them can change the world drastically. Making a decision about a crisis is very difficult because time is always moving and the leader of the county must make a major choice that will most likely affect the future. Economic Management is important to consider because the economy plays a large part in how the county physically functions and relationships with other countries. I also chose Administrative Skills because they are important to consider how a person may respond to situations under pressure and how he collaborates with others because the government will not function with only one person running it. It takes a team to succeed.   

8.  I knew Abraham Lincoln would be one of the first, if not the first, president on the list. John F. Kennedy was one of the top 15 presidents. I chose John F Kennedy because my previous project was focused around him so I felt like I knew more about him than many of the other presidents. even though John F Kennedy's time in office was cut short, he was still able to make an impact and because of his short time in office, I knew that he might not be in the top ten presidents. I feel like I was pretty uneducated about some of the "worst" presidents that have happened and therefore I listed Richard Nixon as one that might be at the bottom of the list. He came in at 24th place, as of 2017, and the only information I had off the top of my head was his association with the Watergate Scandal.

Part B
 10. "On March 16 we celebrate the anniversary of James Madison's birthday. Madison, traditionally viewed as the Father of the United States Constitution, is also seen by many as a defender of open government. He once wrote, "[a] popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps, both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."1
 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. In a similar vein, he asserted that "the advancement and diffusion of knowledge" is "the only Guardian of true liberty" ("Celebrating James Madison and the Freedom of Information Act"). 

Paraphrased: James Madison will be celebrated on March 16. He has been known for his "support of open government" and being the "Father of the United States Constitution." James once wrote a comment on his views of knowledge and how one must embody the truth, which some might mind difficult to consume. He states that a government that doe not have popular opinions might not be taken seriously by all people. James relates a Government like this to a "Farce and Tragedy." He states that one must essentially keep their head high even if others do not agree. He says that the learning of facts and the breaking apart of information is the only "boundary between true freedom."    

11. " . . . [K]nowledge of our own history is essential in the making of Americans. The reasons for this belief may be summed up under four main heads. History makes loyal citizens because memories of common experiences and common aspirations are essential ingredients in patriotism. History makes intelligent voters because sound decisions about present problems must be based on knowledge of the past. History makes good neighbors because it teaches tolerance of individual differences and appreciation of varied abilities and interests. History makes stable, well-rounded individuals because it gives them a start toward understanding the pattern of society and toward enjoying the artistic and intellectual productions of the past. It gives long views, a perspective, a measure of what is permanent in a nation’s life" (American History Association). 

Both of the excerpts state facts that are important in the creation of finding the "real" truths. the excerpt from the AHA states that we must learn from our past in order to create a better future for all. It states without the past, essentially there would not be a "today"  because though the experiences our history holds, we are able to make better decisions about tomorrow. This excerpt showed me how crucial it is to know history because facts and fiction can easily get mixed up and it may be hard to know what is real, but as long as we know, as citizens, the truths of history, it will make us and everyone a little more sure about the facts because we are educated. 
James Maddison's quote explains how the facts are more important than pleasing the audience. His quote ties in with the American History Association's statements because having the facts from the present will eventually create the past. We rely on the past to create the present and future. Time flows together and having the true facts will determine what citizens will eventually become. I agree with what both of these quotes stated and I never really considered why history is so essential to my daily life and what decisions I will have to make. I will soon be voting for president and it will be important for me to know information about the candidates when I finally decide on who I will vote for.

Part C
11. This year I have not only expanded my knowledge events throughout history, but also what it means to "be a historian" and have empathy. This year I had to think outside of the box and think in new ways, for example, when we were given the choice to expand our knowledge about our trip to Montgomery, I chose to design a monument/memorial to honor the Freedom Riders. This was a fun way in which I was able to use creative skills in making purposeful decisions. I had to use prior knowledge and research to make a monument/memorial that would have an impact on society. Through my film project, I had to find reliable sources in order to evaluate the accuracy of the film. My film, Jackie, was interesting to research because she was such a public figure that was seen not only as a first lady but also as a celebrity. I found many articles that were similar to articles you may find in People Magazine. This made my research interesting because I had to sift through what may be fact and fiction.  

12. I am most proud of the invitation. I wanted to create a theme that was not obvious, that is why I chose the theme of "Grace and Resilience: A Celebration of Wisdom through Experience." The party was to honor Jackie and all strong women that helped influence the world. I decided to invite Nancy Reagan and Michelle Obama because they became future strong women and I thought that it would be interesting for Jackie to interact with women who had similar views. 

13. I think that Ella Jane always does outstanding work and always found her blog posts very informative and interesting. I noticed that Ella Jane did the same design challenge as me and it was interesting to see how she designed her memorial. We different approaches to the challenge but they were also very similar in some ways, for example, we both used the iconic bus to commemorate the Freedom Riders. I found it interesting how she decided to add a water aspect to her memorial which created a reflective surface telling the viewer to reflect. She was very deliberate about her choices and described the events clearly. 
Ella Jane US History: Remembering Freedom Riders

14. I chose a quote from Abraham Lincoln that states, "I am not concerned that you have fallen; I am concerned that you arise" (Abraham Lincoln). According to Lincoln Archives, Inc., Lincoln said this quote in a Speech in Washington D.C back in 1865. I feel like this quote showed the importance of "rising back up" and not letting things knock you down. It is hard not to focus on the negative things in life, but it is important to try your best to block out the people in your life that might hurt you. I feel like this quote also speaks to the country as well. Many times the country might fail but we can rebuild and become stronger because of the things that may tear us down.

Mini-exhibit

This is a picture of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964. This was a law that “ intended to end discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin” (Britannica). Although it received major backlash at the time, it changed America for the better and was the pinnacle of the Civil Rights Movement.  

Abraham Lincoln was an outstanding president that fought for the rights of all the American people. He was a strong leader and was the start of creating less segregation. The seed that Abraham Lincoln planted in history continues to grow and will always be an important part of history. 

This is a picture of a flyer form the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Between 1870-1920, Women’s suffrage became a prominent topic of discussion. Women were demanding to have their voices heard. Although gaining the right to vote was a major goal for women, some also fought for “non-discrimination against women regarding pay and employment and easier divorces” (Washington State University).

In-Class Write

1. The film Jackie shows the audience what an impact a single President could have. Kennedy was assassinated and his life was cut short at only the age of 46. There are many scenes within the movie that showcase the frustrations that people like Jackie and Robert (Bobby), John's younger brother,  had when they talked about how much more he could have done, given the time. I read an article from Vanity Fair that confirmed how her feelings were portrayed in the film. The article said that "At times, conversations with Jackie were like skating on a pond of think ice, with certain areas designed dangerous" (Leaming). The Kennedy's contributed a lot to the American people and the White House. They renovated it and we're passionate about the arts. I feel like the film does a good job of showing how they would bring the arts to the white house and how that contributed to making America more culturally open to new ideas and people.
I read an article by Manohla Dargis from the New York Times and she stated that the film "mostly avoids presidential politics and policies, grim scandals, sex parties, and popped pills". Dargis said that "Instead it explores the fantasy that becomes that scandalous house's own double: Camelot." Although the film stays away from the aspects of politics, it does show the roles that the people of Congress play when such a tragedy occurs. Bobby helped Jackie immensely by being emotional support for Jackie, but he also had to deal with many of the legal aspects like how to protect the Kennedy family while also having to help the new President transition into office. The assassination of John was a rut in the lives of the American people, but everyone including Jackie was able to move on and become stronger because of it.

2. Like I said before, the film mainly focused on the emotional ride that Jackie experienced after her husband's assassination. WIthout any prior knowledge of the Kennedy's one may not know even why the film was created. The film covers little about what John did for the United States and his impact. I personally found the start of the film a little confusing, because it is based all around an interview that Jackie had with Theodore White. The interview makes the plot move and takes the audience back and forth between past and present. I feel like the film does not display the responses of the Americans to this tragedy. The loss of John was a loss for all of America. John and Jackie were seen as the "ideal American marriage" and the film did not show how America was responding. It focused more on what was happening on the inside of the White House. The film does make clear the concerns that were occurring about having a procession and felt like Jackie might be at risk for another attack.
I feel like the film does not show her Jackie's true intelligence in the film. Jackie studied at George Washington University and was fluent in French. She was knowledgeable in multiple other languages as well. The film shows her quickness to discern any assumptions that the media might have had about here and incautious about her appearance because she has become such a great celebrity during this time period.

3. I feel like there could have been more scenes with John before his assassination. He contributed to so much of how she became who she was. By showing their life before, I feel like it could build up, even more, the fantasy which the writers and directors might have been looking for. John would every now and then make comments about Jackie which were genuine statements and would have created an even more emotional connection to Jackie's character. The Kennedys are well known for the renovation of the White House, which was featured in the film and I wish that there was more about the hard efforts that she took to get to that the place was she was able to show the American people what she did. I feel like showing how she was able to retrieve all pieces for renovation would show the audience how passionate and driven she was to get stuff done.

Annotated Sources

Jackie 

America's History, 9th Edition, Chapter 27, "Uncivil Wars: Liberal Crisis and Conservative Rebirth, 1961-1972," Pages 846-847; 862-864

Britannica: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, by Betty Boyd Caroli - Background history on Jacqueline Kennedy

The New York Times: 'Jackie': Under the Widow's Weeds, a Myth Marketer - This was a film review written by Manohla Dargis she broke apart the film and gave thorough commentary

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: Life of Jacqueline B. Kennedy  - confirmed some of the background information I had read about before and went more into detail about her connection to the arts.

VOGUE: Jackie Kennedy's Best Hostess Advice and Most Memorable Entertainment Moments  - This article gave me a taste of what her parties at the White House were like.

Smithsonian.com: The Preservation Battle of Grand Central - This article talked about Jakie's efforts to save Grand Central and what that meant to her.

Vanity Fair: The Winter of Her Dispair, by Barbara Leaming - This article gave me very minute details about Jackie and her life after her husband died.

Archivally Speaking: An Inside Look at the JFK Library Archives - This article provided me with a picture of one of Jackie's menus from a dinner party.

History.com: Fifty Years Ago: The Food of the Kenedy White House, by Stephanie Butler - This source told me about how the Kennedys transformed the Whitehouse through its food.

Town & Country: Jackie Director Pablo Larrain on Filming a First Lady in Mourning - This was an interview with Pablo Larrain, the Director of the film Jackie. The interview covered why he chose Natalie Portman to play Jackie and how the film changed his opinion on her.

Menue

Champagne
Champagne was Jackie's favorite drink and something she brought to the White House. It represented her class and elegance that her legacy left behind.  

Oysters Rockefeller

Soupe a l’oignon (French onion soup)
Soupe a l'oignon is part of French cuisine and is appropriate food to serve at the dinner because onions are the main ingredient and onions have many layers that can be pulled back and "make one cry." Jackie had gone through lots of trauma including the death of two children and the assassination of her husband. On the outside, Jackie looked like a very strong and poised woman, but she was also very emotional. Jackie preferred to keep her personal questions for a priest. In the film, the director decided to show some of the intimate conversations she had where she would ask questions like, "Why God would allow her husband to die when he had so much more to offer to the world." 

              

Coq au vin (braised chicken)

Haricots vert aux amandes (green beans with almonds)
I chose this meal because green represents growth and the Kennedy's brought a new beginning to the history of the White House. They refurbished the White House and challenged American citizens to think about what they could do for their country.  

Crème brûlée
I chose this dessert because it is a classic French dessert. This dessert also is similar to Jackie as it looks elegant on the outside but one has to crack into the desert to get to the real "meat" of the desert. Jackie may have seemed beautiful on the outside, but she kept many things about her personal life private. She only allowed William Manchester, an author, to write a book about Jack right after the incident. The director even stated that his initial view of here was superficial and thought she only cared about style. 

Mousse au chocolat (chocolate mousse)

              

Demi-tasse (espresso)
Jackie was known for starting a tradition in the White House of inviting the men and women to have coffee together after the dinner. This was not common in the previous history, usually, men and women would "retire to separate rooms after the dinner" (Bobb)

          

I decided to plan a dinner menu that would pay homage to JFK, but also celebrate Jackie’s love of fine food and culture. Jackie was known for being very smart. She studied French literature at George Washington University and impressed people with her fluent French. She also commissioned fashion pieces from French designers.

I found a collection of White House dinner menus from January-April 1962, which are part of the Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers at the JFK Library. Jackie was very intentional in planning the menus. She often chose to limit them to three or four courses and tailored the dishes in order to reflect the cultural background of dinner guests. I noticed that all of the menus had at least one French dish. Based on her love of French culture, I chose to design an entirely French menu for this dinner. This is a celebration for her and how she left a mark on the American people. 

I felt that it was important to incorporate JFK’s identity into the menu, because one of the major themes in Jackie was JFK’s legacy. In an interview after his assassination, Jackie says he didn’t have enough time. In another scene, she and Bobby talk about how he could have accomplished more with civil rights, the space program, and relations with Vietnam.  According to the JFK Library, he loved seafood and he preferred chocolate desserts. Therefore, I decided to serve oysters as an appetizer and chocolate mousse for dessert. The oysters represent the entire Kennedy family, who grew up on the water in Cape Cod. This was known as the Kennedy Compound and was a part of every Kennedy’s identity.

Exhibit

This is a link to the documentary of  A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy. Jackie was well known for her impact on the White House. She made the White House a home for the family and America. The Kennedy's wanted people to appreciate the history of the White House more and so Jackie worked to restore the White House. She worked to acquire antique furniture that had once been significant pieces in the history of the White House and to those who had come before them.  Once Kennedy's had finished some of the renovations, she hosted a special on CBS on a tour of the White House. Eighty Million watched her tour. 

These were the funeral arrangements for President Kennedy's funeral. In the film, the director showed Jackie focusing much of her energy on creating a proper funeral for her husband. She wanted his legacy to continue well beyond his death and she believed his funeral would play a large role in that. Jackie pulled inspiration from Lincoln's funeral plans and wanted to implement some aspects of Lincoln's funeral into John's.

This was the packing list from the day before Jack was assassinated. This haunting note that helped Jackie organize her thoughts for the next day; it included specific "hour by hour timestamps along with the clothes and accessories that would accompany the event.    

Jackie was known for her triple-strand Pearl necklace. This is a picture of a Faux Pearl Necklace that is similar to one she would have worn that was inherited from her mother. Her Pearls were just one part of her fashion trends that she set. Pearls represent generosity and integrity, which is what Jackie exemplified.  Pearls are also made over a long period of time and this links back to the theme of the party, "Grace and Resilience: A Celebration of Wisdom through Experience," because pearls also symbolize wisdom. The pearls are an important item to this dinner party because guests will receive a pearl as a party favor to remind them of the females that influenced their lives.  

This was the Life Magazine article written by Theodore H. White. The film uses the interview between Jackie and White to move the plot and show the viewers different pivotal times after the assignation. The interview between the two was said to last for four hours and the iconic Camelot myth was mentioned.      

This is the Pink suit Jackie wore on that fateful day. She wore the blood-stained suit hours after the assassination to show Americans "what they had done." She was known for her iconic style with her pillbox hats and sheath dresses. Jackie has influenced people not only through her character but through her fashion as well.

This was the beaded silk gown designed by Oleg Cassini that Jackie wore on the night Pablo Casals performed at the White House. The film featured a clip of Jackie and President Kennedy on that night when Casals performed and was used as a flashback to the days of splendor and fantasy. 

This was Lincoln's Bed that Kennedy's were able to acquire for the White House. Lincoln himself was an import figure in the Kennedy's lives. The film makes it clear how Jackie wanted John to have a great legacy like Lincoln. Like I said before, Jackie used Lincon's funeral plans for inspiration and she wanted a procession like Lincoln's for Jack.

Invitation

The theme of my evening is "Grace and Resilience: A Celebration of Wisdom through Experience." After watching the film Jackie, I learned that despite the many tragedies that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis experienced, she was a symbol of amazing strength. This evening takes place on the 25th anniversary of her husband, President John F. Kennedy's death. At this stage of her life, Jackie remained a prominent figure in society, because she used the wisdom she had gained earlier in life to advocate for other causes. Jackie was passionate about the arts, architecture, and culture. According to the Smithsonian, in 1975, she helped prevent the destruction of the famous Grand Central Terminal in New York City. She was persistent, arguing that the building was a symbol of history and beauty. I chose to host the evening at Grand Central Terminal, because without her wisdom and resilience, it may not have existed in 1988.

Guest List

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is hosting the evening. She has arranged this dinner to celebrate her love of culture with others. She and President Kennedy were known for bringing elegance to the White House. They often entertained guests with sophisticated food and classical music. Jackie also became a fashion icon by wearing pearl necklaces and pillbox hats. She had an identity apart from being First Lady to the President.

Robert F. Kennedy, also known as Bobby, was JFK's younger brother. He supported Jackie after JFK's assassination. Bobby is displayed as a very important character in the film and it was very clear to me that he wanted to bring her comfort. I chose to invite Bobby to this dinner as a way for Jackie to express her gratitude for his support.     

Nancy Ludlow Tuckerman was Jackie's personal secretary. She is featured in the film as a close friend and confidante to Jackie, especially after JFK's assassination. For example, she helped Jackie respond to the many condolence letters she received. I chose to invite Nancy to this dinner because she remained in Jackie's life until her own death.

Pablo Larrain is the director of Jackie. He is Chilean, and therefore, did not feel personally connected to the story of the Kennedys, an iconic American family. However, after he learned more about Jackie herself, he became interested in portraying an emotional journey from the perspective of a strong woman. I chose to invite Pablo to this dinner because he also views Jackie as a symbol of grace and resilience.

Theodore H. White was a journalist and historian featured in Jackie. After JFK's assassination, Jackie summoned him to the White House and asked him to help preserve JFK's legacy by writing a heroic article about him. I chose to invite Theodore to this dinner because I think Jackie deserves the same recognition that JFK received.

Pablo Casals was a cellist and composer from Spain. In Jackie, he is featured playing cello during a dinner party at the White House. The scene is a flashback to when JFK was living, and he and Jackie would co-host dinner parties. JFK awarded Pablo a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his musical talents. I chose to invite Pablo to this dinner to play music for the other guests, as a positive reminder to Jackie of her life as First Lady but also the 25 years since, where she has continued to enjoy the arts.

Although they were not featured in Jackie, I chose to invite Nancy Reagan and Michelle Obama, future First Ladies, to this dinner. Nancy and Jackie shared similar interests in fashion and culture. Most importantly, however, Nancy experienced similar trauma to Jackie when Ronald Reagan was injured from an assassination attempt. I think that Jackie could share wisdom with Nancy at this dinner, assuring her that Reagan would recover and that she will grow stronger because of the experience. I also chose to invite Michelle Obama because she too was an iconic First Lady. Not only was she the first African American First Lady, but she established her own identity at the White House. I think Michelle, like Nancy, would draw strength and inspiration from Jackie.

Thinking Like A Historian (2.10)

Frances Willard, pictured in the middle, was a major activist who helped introduce women's suffrage to the United States.

The documents that I read were all about Frances Willard. Frances Willard was a late-nineteenth-century temperance reformer who also fought for women's suffrage and temperance. She built the WCTU (Women's Christain Temperance Movement) which applied Christianity ideals to fighting for reform. During this time there was a large amount of alcohol abuse and women in WCTU fought against that. Frances wrote multiple guide books for WCTU members, one of the documents had some excerpts from Hints and Helps. There were rules on what to get involved in and who one should write letters to. From reading these different documents I got the sense that sometimes they mad their actions speak louder than their words. For example, Frances took s picture of here on a bicycle to show worries parents that riding a bike was safe and fun.