So You Want to Be President?

He or she is the most powerful person in the world, the leader of the greatest military, economic and cultural nation on earth—the American president. Those called to serve will be remembered by future generations that study American and world history. They will be revered, and perhaps reviled, but will remain an indelible part of the American experience. But presidents pay a heavy price for their place in history, especially in the current information age. What does it take to be president? What are the costs to the president and his or her family? Is the job worth the personal sacrifices? Biography seeks the answers to these questions with interviews with past presidents and presidential contenders. So You Want to be President would be useful for classes on American History, American Culture, Ethics and Political Science. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

OBJECTIVE

Students will learn the political process that ensures a safe exchange of power every four years. They will examine the steps necessary to secure the presidency and discuss the ethical concerns regarding the characters of presidential contenders.

NATIONAL HISTORY STANDARDS

So You Want to be President fulfills the following National Standards for History for grades 5-12: chronological thinking, historical comprehension, historical analysis and interpretations, and historical research capabilities for United States History era 10.

Vocabulary

• Adrenaline
• Animosity
• Apprehension
• Aspirants
• Disingenuous
• Entourage
• Irony
• Operative
• Osmosis
• Parlay
• Pundit
• Superficial

Discussion Questions

1. Although the presidency is probably one of the toughest jobs in the world, many covet the position. Why would anyone wan to be president?
2. The Constitution sets specific guidelines to be eligible for the presidency. What are these requirements?
3. Presidential candidates usually win their primaries before they go on to the general election. What is a primary? How are primaries different from the general election?
4. Discuss the price presidential candidates pay when they run for president.
5. Gary Hart looked like the clear front-runner for the Democratic nomination in 1988. Why didn't he receive the nomination?
6. Michael Dukakis, the Democratic nominee in 1988, cites his family as the source of his greatest support. Discuss the role of a candidate's family in supporting a candidate's presidential run.
7. Discuss how a candidate's life changes after he or she receives the party's nomination.
8. Discuss the evolution of party politics in the twentieth century.
9. What is a "celebrity candidate?" Why are there more "celebrity" candidates during times of peace and prosperity?
10. In recent years, the media has exposed many personal details about presidential candidates. How much is the public entitled to know about the personal life of a potential president?
11. Why did New York governor Mario Cuomo refuse to run for president, despite his popularity and the urging of his party?

Extended Activities

1. Create a chart or poster that illustrates the electoral process of the American presidency.
2. Hold a mock presidential debate between the two candidates (Al Gore-Democrat, George W. Bush-Republican) running for the presidency in 2000.