Essay Series 'In Pursuit' Honors Past Presidents and First Ladies for Nation's 250th Anniversary

Launch of the 'In Pursuit' Essay Series

• 💡 A new essay series, titled "In Pursuit," has been launched to honor past U.S. presidents and select first ladies.
• 🎯 The project aims to celebrate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States by reflecting on the nation's history.
• 📌 The series features contributions from former presidents, politicians, and historians.

Goals and Content of the Essays

• 🔑 The essays aim to identify relevant lessons from the nation's past concerning democracy, character, leadership, and mistakes.
• 🧠 The series acknowledges that the U.S. has made mistakes and emphasizes learning from them, often more than from successes.
• 📈 Essays will be delivered weekly through December, covering both successful and struggling presidencies.

Notable Essay Subjects and Contributors

• 🇺🇸 George W. Bush wrote about George Washington, the nation's first president, who ran for election and re-election without party identification.
• 🏛️ Herbert Hoover's presidency, though overwhelming for him, is highlighted as instructive, with an essay by George Nash.
• ⚖️ William Howard Taft's post-presidency as Chief Justice, where he built the infrastructure of the federal judiciary, is also featured, with an essay by Chief Justice Roberts.

Educational Outreach and Civics

• 📚 The series is designed to address a "civics problem" in the U.S., with low proficiency rates in civics and American history among young students.
• 🏫 Partnerships with civics organizations like the Bill of Rights Institute, iCivics, and C-SPAN are providing teacher lessons and short videos for educational consumption.

Scope and Editorial Process

• 🚫 The series deliberately avoids essays on current presidents like Joe Biden or Donald Trump, allowing for historical perspective.
• ✍️ While editors are involved to ensure the best presentation, the writers' individual voices, interpretations, and lessons are preserved without alteration.