Lecture Notes: Myths and Misconceptions About the U.S. Presidency

Introduction

• The U.S. President (PUS) is a powerful global figure.
• Many myths surround the presidency due to political beliefs and storytelling.
• Aim to dispel myths to prevent distorted perceptions.

Silly Myths About Presidents

George Washington Myths

• Cherry Tree Myth: False story about honesty from an 1806 biography.
• Wooden Teeth Myth: Partially true; Washington wore dentures made from various materials, not just wood.
  • Most likely sourced from impoverished whites, not slaves.

Abraham Lincoln Myth

• Gettysburg Address: Not written on an envelope spur of the moment; drafts were composed on normal paper.

Theodore Roosevelt Myth

• Moose Riding Picture: Doctored photo for an article.

William Howard Taft Myth

• Bathtub Incident: Rumor of getting stuck in a bathtub; played upon due to his obesity.

Woodrow Wilson Myth

• Edith Wilson's Presidency: Rumor she manipulated the presidency after Wilson's stroke; largely gossip.

Substantive Myths About Presidents

George Washington

• Often regarded as the greatest president, yet faced calls for impeachment during his presidency.
  • Scandals: Botched military raid, French neutrality, Whiskey Rebellion, Jay Treaty controversy.
  • Farewell address criticized for hypocrisy.

Abraham Lincoln

• Not a full abolitionist initially; opposed slavery's expansion but not its existence until politically expedient.

Presidential Influence on the Economy

• Presidents often wrongly blamed for economic downturns.
• Example: Herbert Hoover blamed for the Great Depression.
  • Economic control is limited; Congress has more influence.

Expansion of Executive Power

• War often expands presidential powers.
• Presidents have always had significant authority since the beginning.
  • Congress and the Supreme Court provide checks and balances.

Conspiracies and the Presidency

• Conspiracies are not new in U.S. history.
  • Examples: Red Scares, Wilson's and Truman's actions, John Adams' Sedition Acts.

Presidential Influence on Culture and Morality

• Presidents are not the central moral compass of American culture.
• Influence is more policy-oriented than cultural or moral.

The New Deal and Economic Ideologies

• The New Deal did not end with FDR; subsequent presidents had their versions.
  • New Deal influenced policy until the rise of neoliberalism.

Political Realignment

• Political parties have shifted over time; conservatism and liberalism have changed sides.
  • Southern Strategy and rise of conservatism outlined.

Election Myths

Voter Fraud

• Modern claims of voter fraud are often used to disenfranchise.
• Historical cases were more about disenfranchisement during Reconstruction and the Solid South era.

Election Integrity

• The electoral process has been abused historically, but not for presidential elections on a large scale.

Conclusion

• Myths about the presidency often distort perceptions and are used for political purposes.
• Understanding these myths is crucial to maintaining democratic values.