New: Obama Presidential Library preview 4/11 zoom

Obama Presidential Library preview 4/11 zoom

Issues and Challenges for new Executive and Congressional Policymakers

One place that might not be on many people's radar to check for helpful information during new Presidential and Congressional transitions is the Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO is often called the "congressional watchdog" since it "investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars."  It has a Presidential and Congressional Transition page with three topics to help new leaders focus on important issues and challenges:

1. Priority Recommendations: The GAO sent letters to key federal departments and agencies urging them to focus on recommendations available for viewing by subject term, federal agency, or topic.
2. Key Issues and High Risk List: "GAO’s High Risk List calls attention to agencies and program areas that are vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or are in need of transformation."
3. Management Agenda: "The Management Agenda provides high-level information for new leaders about the critical management challenges facing the federal government and lays out the actions needed to address those challenges."

Conflicts of Interest and the Presidency - CRS Report

On 10/14/2016 the Congressional Research Service (CRS) published a brief Legal Sidebar report addressing whether or not the federal law requires the President to relinquish his or her business interests. Conflicts of Interest and the Presidency reveals what the law is and how it is being applied. It covers conflicts of interests, divestiture of assets to avoid conflicts, disclosure requirements, the history of presidential practices, and issues in the 2016 election.

Vacancies in Major-Party Candidacies and the Position of President-Elect

On Oct. 6, 2016 the Congressional Research Service (CRS) published a brief report addressing what would happen if a candidate for President or Vice President were to die or leave the ticket before the Nov. 8th election or between the election and the Electoral College Meeting or between the Electoral College Meeting and the Inauguration. Read about the different procedures for each of those scenarios in Thomas H. Neale's Presidential Elections: Vacancies in Major-Party Candidacies and the Position of President-Elect.

Presidential Candidates and Election Information

Where can you find out more information about Presidential candidates' policies? Check the Elections/Voting LibGuide for links to various free and subscription (library only or remote access with a Rice ID) services.
For example, if you want:

• information about candidates' foreign policies, check the Council on Foreign Relations site.
• information about a candidate's biography, voting record, positions, ratings, speeches, and funding, check Project Vote Smart.
• to see where candidates stand on a host of issues, check ProCon.org's Presidential Election site.
• to check whether candidates' statements are factual, access FactCheck.org.http://www.factcheck.org/ and/or  POLITIFACT. 
• more information about how delegates are awarded by the political parties or how the electoral college works, check the Presidential Election Process from USA.gov. 
• information on elections, parties, voter behavior and campaigns, check CQ Voting & Elections Collection (subscription).
• information about campaign contributions, check the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and/or OpenSecrets.org.
• general information on evaluating candidates for public office, check USA.gov's Choosing Candidates to Vote for

Natural Born Citizen as President Debate

Since questions have been raised about what it means for a U.S. President to be natural born, the Social Science Research Network is hosting two opposite opinions. Taking a broad view is Michael D. Ramsey from the University of San Diego School of Law in his January 7, 2016 article, "The Original Meaning of 'Natural Born.' " Taking the narrow view is Mary Brigid McManamon in the Catholic University Law Review, v.64,  no. 2 (2015), Widener Law School Legal Studies Research Paper No. 14-21, "The Natural Born Citizen Clause as Originally Understood."

The 2015 Economic Report of the President written by the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers is now available for download (full report or by chapter) in PDF format. Statistical appendix tables are also available in either PDF or Excel format.

In the introduction President Obama notes that 2014 was a "breakthrough year" with the lowest unemployment rate in over six years, health coverage for more Americans, continued investment in renewable energy and a cut in dependence on foreign oil. For 2015 President Obama would like to focus on three initiatives for the middle class:

• affordable childcare, college, health care, a home, and retirement
• upgraded skills so more Americans can "earn higher wages down the road."
• high-skilled, high-wage jobs supported by "21st century infrastructure — modern ports, stronger bridges, better roads, clean water, clean energy, faster trains, and the fastest internet."

Remembering JFK

 

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Remembering

 

 

John F. Kennedy

 

May 29, 1917 - November 22, 1963
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John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

John F. Kennedy Papers (in Fondren = Gov AE2:114:961-963, Public Papers of the Presidents, 1961-63); (digital through Univ. of Michigan); (digital through JFK Museum)

 

Assassination Documents:

• Warren Commission Report (in Fondren)  (digital through National Archives)
•  House Select Committee on Assassinations Report (microfiche in Fondren - PDFs in ProQuest Congressional) (digital through Internet Archive); (AARC Public Library [nonprofit group] digital documents)

Space Speech at Rice University, Sept. 12, 1962

 

Noncopyrighted official portrait available from Wikimedia Commons 



 

 

 



President Bush's Accomplishments

Now that his term is ending, the White House has posted documents highlighting the accomplishments of President George W. Bush. You can access a separate appendix entitled "100 Things American May Not Know About the Bush Administration Record" or the full report (including the appendix): Highlights of Accomplishments and Results: The Administration of President George W. Bush, 2001-2009.

Please Note: With the Obama Presidency, Bush Administration documents such as the ones mentioned above that were located on http://www.whitehouse.gov, now reside at http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/.

Transition Web Site - New Administration & Congress

As Barack Obama and newly elected Congress members work to effect a smooth transition, help is available from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). On its Serving the Congress and the Nation page, the GAO "provides insight into, and recommendations for addressing the nation’s major issues, risks and challenges." The site also includes video messages from experts and reports for further research.

The following are listed as "urgent issues" for the newly elected leaders to address:

• oversight of financial institutions and markets,
  
• U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan,
  
• protecting the homeland,
  
• undisciplined defense spending,
  
• improving the U.S. image abroad,
  
• finalizing plans for the 2010 Census,
  
• caring for service members,
  
• preparing for public health emergencies,
  
• revamping oversight of food safety,
  
• restructuring the approach to surface transportation,
  
• retirement of the Space Shuttle,
  
• ensuring an effective transition to digital TV, and
  
• rebuilding military readiness.

LBJ Centennial

On August 27, 1908 Lyndon Baines Johnson was born in Stonewall, Texas. To help celebrate his centennial, the staff of the LBJ Library has prepared a brief pictorial history of this "Great Society" President, matching dates and pictures to the most important events of his life. A Web site commemorating his birthday includes a calendar of celebrations and events being held in Texas and Washington, D.C. in his honor through the end of the year. For a more detailed history of his life and that of his wife, Lady Bird, visit online or in person the LBJ Library and Museum at the University of Texas in Austin.

National War Powers Commission Report

The National War Powers Commission co-chaired by former Secretaries of State James A. Baker, III and Warren Christopher recommended in a report released on July 8, 2008 that Congress repeal the War Powers Resolution of 1973 "and substitute a new statute that would provide for more meaningful consultation between the president and Congress on matters of war."

White House/Presidents Quiz

With the U.S. Presidential race constantly in the news, how much do you know about past Presidents and the White House? The White House Kids page has an assortment of quizzes aimed to test your knowledge of the White House and its inhabitants. For example, can you answer the following questions? (answers at the end)


1. Who was the only president to get married in the White House?

2. What did Lydia Darrah do to help George Washington's troops at Valley Forge?

3. Which President inspired the March of Dimes?

4. Who was the first President to dedicate a new baseball stadium?

5. President Ronald Reagan was the broadcaster for which baseball team?


Answers:
1. Grover Cleveland
2. Provided intelligence about the British troops
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt
4. Lyndon B. Johnson – Astrodome – April 9, 1965
5. Chicago Cubs

Happy Birthday George Washington

As the political campaigns heat up, today is a good time to reflect on the life of our first president, George Washington, born Feb. 22, 1732. The events of his presidency are reflected in the George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress 1741-1799 and in the University of Virginia's The Papers of George Washington. A time line of important happenings in the lives of George and Martha Washington is available from the American Memory collection of the Library of Congress. Views of their Mount Vernon estate and gardens are posted online by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, a private, non-profit organization founded in 1853.

Election Wikis

If you like to research and share information about current elections,
Congresspedia (from the Sunlight Foundation and the Center for Media and Democracy) now provides you a forum. Nicknamed the “citizen's encyclopedia on Congress that you can edit, ” the wiki includes the following sections:

• Wiki the Vote which focuses on U.S. Congressional elections with information about candidates, election coverage, and listings of local U.S. Congressional-related blogs by state.


• U.S. Presidential Election, 2008 which discusses announced and rumored presidential candidates and provides some information about primaries, debates, Congressional endorsements, and political ads.

Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary

July 26, 2007 marked the 17th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A July 27 press release entitled Fact Sheet: Six Years of Progress Under the President's New Freedom Initiative details the efforts President Bush's New Freedom Initiative for People with Disabilities has made to improve conditions for those with disabilities. The full report is also available.

New JFK Video

If you were alive on November 22, 1963, chances are you will be able to pinpoint exactly where you were and what you were thinking when you received the news of President John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. The family of George Jefferies has donated to The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza a newly discovered home movie of the Kennedy motorcade seconds before the President was shot.

To learn more about President Kennedy's legacy, access the
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum site. The museum links historical documents that reveal the policies, life, and times of our thirty-fifth president. Access the multimedia White House Diary (under Historical Resources) to experience the day-to-day routine and momentous events of his presidency.

Troop expansion in Iraq

On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a non-binding resolution opposing President Bush's decision to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq. The President announced his plan in his address to the nation on January 10 and discussed it in the State of the Union address on Tuesday. The Senate Armed Services Committee today heard testimony from Dr. William J. Perry, Ambassador Dennis B. Ross, and General John M. Keane on the current situation in Iraq and the President's plan for an increased military presence.

Former President Gerald R. Ford - Funeral and Biographical Information

Former President Gerald R. Ford passed away on December 26. See Firstgov.gov for information about the funeral and for biographical information about President Ford. Other links include the Gerald R. Ford Memorial hosted by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum and coverage of the funeral on CNN. To view tributes, speeches and related links, access the White House. To read the public papers of Gerald R. Ford, browse or search the University of Michigan's The Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States. Browse under "G" for Gerald or search using "Gerald R. Ford." For pictures of President Ford and Mrs. Ford during his presidency, see the Gerald R. and Betty Ford section of the Time Line of Presidents and First Ladies maintained by the Library of Congress. Ford was the 38th President of the United States.

Presidential Pardons in Time for the Holidays

This article from CNN supplies the details on 16 pardons issued by President Bush. The current president has now issued a total of 113 pardons during his time in office. By way of comparison, the article notes, "President Clinton issued 457 in eight years in office. Bush's father, George H. W. Bush, issued 77 in four years. President Reagan issued 406 in eight years, and President Carter issued 563 in four years. Since World War II, the largest number of pardon and commutations -- 2,031 -- came from President Truman, who served 82 days short of eight years."