The office of President and the duties of the Chief Executive.
Read the current chapter online: “The President”
Suggestions
- The “egg-shaped” reception room is currently known as The Yellow Oval Room.
- Learn more about the “Resolute” desk.
- You’ll find more about the ill-fated Franklin expedition in the Elisha Kane portion of our free history study.
- Who was the president of the United States at the time the book was published in 1894? What was a very unique fact about this president?
- What does the phrase “an old public functionary” refer to?
- Why would the president in the book not have wished to trade places with James Buchanan? What were the “perplexing times” during which he held office?
- How old must the President be to seek office?
- What did Longfellow mean by “age is opportunity”? Read the last stanza of Morituri Salutamus.
- View a photo from the Library of Congress of James Garfield’s inauguration in 1881.
- Learn more about The East Room, that Abigail Adams used for drying laundry!
- Also learn more about The Green Room, The Blue Room, and The Red Room.
- Learn more about the Tiffany screen of colored glass — that no longer exists.
- View the State Dining Room, the Cabinet Room, and the South Portico.
- Learn the origins behind the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House.
- View a photo of Leinster House near Dublin. Compare the architecture to the White House. What do you think?
- You’ll find more about the history of the White House in the resources below.
- Read Alexander Hamilton’s idea for a president in Federalist No. 68.
- How do we refer to the president of the United States today? Hint: It isn’t “His Highness the President of the United States of America and the Protector of their Liberty”!
- Learn more about the Conservatory as shown in the picture on pg. 44.
- Create a list of the duties of the president as listed on pages 44–45.
- Read more about how President Lincoln handled patronage.
- View the Library of the White House.
- Copy Milton’s Sonnet 19.
- List the duties of the Vice President as mentioned on pg. 47.
- View a photo of Lincoln’s inauguration in 1861.
- View photos of the Vanderbilt Mansion. How would you compare it to the White House? Why is the White House sometimes referred to as “the people’s house”?
- View a color version of the painting on pg. 50.
- Create a presidential notebook with a brief bio of each president (see resources below).
- Create a presidential timeline.
- Copy a favorite quote from your favorite president.
Learn more about the president from The Book of Knowledge:
The chief officer of the executive part of the government is the president, chosen for a term of four years….
The president must be a “natural-born citizen of the United States,” at least thirty-five years old….
The president is commander in chief of the armed forces, though no president has ever taken the field in person….
The president has power to make treaties with foreign governments, but two-thirds of the members of the Senate must approve before the treaties can go into effect. With the consent of the Senate, he appoints ambassadors, ministers and consuls to represent the nation in other countries, and many other officers.
The president is instructed to give Congress every year information on the state of the Union together with his recommendation for future action.
Enough has been said to show that the president is a very powerful head of state, much more powerful than most kings. Yet there is little danger that any president will ever become a dictator or tyrant. The people can turn him out before he becomes too strong if he should attempt to misuse his great powers; or he can be impeached by the Senate.
“How the United States is Governed” from The Book of Knowledge
Additional Resources
United States Presidents Timeline
Timeline for each president at Apples4TheTeacher.com.
The Presidents Timeline
Biographies for each president from the White House Historical Association.
Learn More About Each President
At WhiteHouse.gov.
The President of the United States
The details for younger students at Ben’s Guide.
The Executive Branch
Details from WhiteHouse.gov.
Presidential Veto and Congressional Veto Override Process
Background information.
U.S. Presidential Line of Succession
From AcademicKids.com.
White House — Facts
The history of the building from The History Channel.
The Second Floor
Tour the second floor of the White House.
East Room
Tour the East Room of the White House through history.
Green Room
Tour the Green Room of the White House through history.
Blue Room
Tour the Blue Room of the White House through history.
Red Room
Tour the Red Room of the White House through history.
State Dining Room
Tour the State Dining Room of the White House through history.
Activities
Presidential Portraits
One for each to view.
President for a Day
Interactive from PBS Kids investigating what it is like to be the President of the United States.
The American Presidency
Interactive from the National Museum of American History exploring the various roles of the president.
Inside the White House
Take a tour of the White House. (Click “Close Window” first.)
The White House
Print and assemble!
Deconstructing History: The White House
A fast look at the president’s home from the History Channel. (You may want to install an ad blocker before viewing.)
Units & Lesson Plans
If I Were President: 11 Presidents Day Activities
Quality ideas from Scholastic including making a White House Book and balancing the budget!
The President’s Roles and Responsibilities
Lesson plan from the National Endowment of the Humanities.
Roles of the President
What exactly does the president do? Another excellent resource from the White House Historical Association.
The President’s Job Description
Great 5-page download from Pearson.
Presidential Veto Power
Lesson plan from North Carolina Civic Education Consortium.
Designing the White House: 1792–1830
Excellent download from the White House Historical Association with many photos and suggestions for teachers.
Changes to the White House: 1830–1952
Continues where the above resource leaves off.
Public Spaces of the White House
Another excellent resource from the White House Historical Association.
Notebooking Pages & Printables
Lifespan of Each U.S. President
Timeline for notebook.
How to Become President {Free Poster}
Great download for notebook.
White House Grounds
Map for notebook.
Presidents Coloring Pages
A coloring page for each president through George W. Bush at White House Kids that can be downloaded as one PDF.
U.S. Presidents Coloring Pages
Coloring pages for notebook from Crayola.
The President Notebooking pages
Our free and simple notebooking pages for copywork, narrations, dictations, or wrapping up.
Enjoy the entire series:
DIY Homeschooler 
