Course Details

163 - When the White House is in Crisis: An Overview of How America Navigated Real and Perceived Executive Malfunction

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M, W, Th, F
Cost -


Course Description: This class analyzes traumatic issues that surrounded the Executive Branch. From the Election of 1800 to the current Administration, we’ll create context for how the nation survived crises and changed because of them. We’ll discuss stakes of the constitution with the Electoral College and issues it caused, handling the death of a President or Vice President, (until passage of the 25th amendment), impeachment trials (Johnson, Nixon, and Clinton), health issues (Garfield, Cleveland, Reagan), and other examples. Who knows what the next 8 months will bring, but we’ll have fun figuring it out.

Course Instructor: A native of Idaho, Ross graduated from Utah State in 1965. He then completed a PhD at Washington State University in 1968. After three years at the University of Texas-Arlington, he returned to USU in 1971. He served as Department Head from 1976-1984. He returned to USU as Vice President of Advancement from 2007-2011. Peterson teaches Recent American History as well as courses in African American Studies. His publications include a biography of Idaho Senator Glen H. Taylor and histories of Idaho, Cache County, and Ogden, Utah. His wife Kay, and all three of his sons have USU degrees.
ross.peterson@usu.edu