Celebrated historian Jeremi Suri will discuss the rise and fall of the American presidency, from the limited role envisaged by the Founding Fathers to its current status as the most powerful job in the world. He will argue that the presidency is a victim of its own success—the vastness of the job makes it almost impossible to fulfill the expectations placed upon it. As managers of the world's largest economy and military, contemporary presidents must react to a truly globalized world in a twenty-four-hour news cycle. There is little room left for bold vision. This lecture is based on Professor Suri's recently released book, The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office, which is a masterful reassessment of presidential history and essential reading for anyone trying to understand America's fraught political climate.
Jeremi Suri is a professor of history and holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas. He lives in Austin, Texas.
This event is part of the Inaugural Year series, exploring the theme Democracy and Education. What does Democracy and Education mean to you? Share your thoughts—written or video—with us on social media using the hashtag #SLCDemocracyEducation.