Ex-Presidents Write on Predecessors, Sidestepping Trump
Former presidents contribute essays to a nonpartisan project marking the U.S. 250th anniversary, focusing on historical lessons without directly addressing the current president.
A new essay series marking the 250th anniversary of the United States features contributions from three former presidents, each writing about a predecessor without directly mentioning the current occupant of the White House.
The 'In Pursuit' project, curated by former U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan, brings together historians, authors, and public figures to reflect on the nation's past. Shogan, who was dismissed from her post last year, instructed contributors to avoid partisanship and ideology, aiming to make the lessons of history accessible to all Americans.
The series covers 43 presidents and 30 first ladies, deliberately excluding both President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, as they are considered too recent for historical appraisal. The essays are being published chronologically on a weekly basis through December.
George W. Bush's essay on George Washington, released on Presidents Day, emphasizes the first president's decision to relinquish power, a theme that resonates amid contemporary debates over presidential term limits. Bush writes that Washington's humility in giving up power remains one of the most consequential examples in American politics.
Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal's essay on Ulysses S. Grant highlights the Union general's commitment to principles over personal ambition and his resistance to demands for personal loyalty, a theme that echoes current political dynamics. McChrystal warns that the temptation to bend institutions toward personal power is not unique to Grant's era.
Bill Clinton's essay on Theodore Roosevelt examines the 26th president's efforts to expand the concept of 'we the people' while also acknowledging his exclusionary views on race. Other contributors include Chief Justice John Roberts on William Howard Taft, Hillary Clinton on Eleanor Roosevelt, and Michelle Obama on Jacqueline Kennedy.
The project has drawn significant public engagement, with over one million views on Substack and a companion podcast. A documentary about the series is scheduled to air on PBS in October. Shogan said the response indicates a public hunger for history that transcends partisan divisions.