Tonight: Elizabeth Dole's Pioneering Political Legacy
FLARE virtual program discusses Dole’s mission-filled life and explores what kind of first lady or president she would have made.
When a man runs for president, but doesn’t win, he often slips from public view, sometimes to appear again in a position bolstered by his presidential bid. His spouse, the potential first lady who supported his campaign, is often erased completely from public memory. These politicos, also known as “also rans,” have made an impact on society that spans decades after their spousal support. One such person is former North Carolina senator, former Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Labor, and American Red Cross President Elizabeth Dole.
The First Ladies Association for Research and Education will host this free program at 7 p.m. EDT.
Dole continues to lead a mission-filled purposeful life. When she campaigned for then GOP nominee husband Bob Dole first in 1976 when he ran for vice president with Gerald Ford and in 1996 during his presidential bid, many in the press and public asked: Why isn’t SHE running for president (which she also did in 1999).
This program explores her two campaigns, her rhetorical activities, and her approach to both the campaign and to the type of first or second lady she would have been. Moderator Audrey Coleman, Director of the Dole Institute of Politics will moderate a discussion among Sarah Gard, Dole Archivist, Nichola Gutgold, professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Lehigh Valley, and Karrin Anderson professor of communication at Colorado State.
Join the program on Facebook or on YouTube.
April 29, 2024
The First Ladies Podcast Drops Episode 5 – International Influencers with Guest Elizabeth Natalle
Elizabeth Natalle, First Ladies Association for Research and Education member and associate professor of Communication Studies at University of North Carolina Greensboro, explains how modern first ladies influence diplomacy, often championing democracy on the world stage and advancing progress in foreign policy, human rights, education, and health. Listen here
New Civics Game Teaches Students How to Think Like a President
A new digital game designed to teach students about the American presidency was announced today.
iCivics, the nation’s leading civic education nonprofit, and the White House Historical Association today launched Brief the Chief, a new digital game that teaches students how the President of the United States makes difficult governing decisions, providing insight into how presidents rely on an array of advisors to make tough judgment calls.
“Education is critical to the Association’s mission and investment in civics is vital as the next generation is taught the awesome responsibilities of citizenship and considering different perspectives,” said Stewart McLaurin, President of The White House Historical Association, in a news release. “We are excited to launch this new tool to help students understand the past as an essential key to understanding who we are today.”
Brief the Chief also gives students an inside look into the historic White House offices of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Lyndon B. Johnson as they navigated some of the most pivotal moments of their presidencies and connects students with lesser-known historical figures connected to the White House including First Lady Mary Lincoln’s dressmaker Elizabeth Keckly, civil rights leader Amelia Boynton, the Johnsons’ personal cook Zephyr Wright, and Haitian leader Jean Jacques Dessalines.
“Brief the Chief teaches young people a skill that is increasingly more important: how to engage with people from different perspectives, gather important insights, and make evidence-based decisions,” iCivics Chief Executive Officer Lousie Dubé said in a news release.
The game positions students as trusted advisors to the president, challenging them to consult with a variety of sources and confidants within the White House and use evidence-based reasoning to give counsel on a number of different situations. Students advise Jefferson as he determines whether he should continue trade with independent Haiti in 1804 amid tensions with France; Lincoln as he contemplates the Emancipation Proclamation; and Johnson as he decides if he should run for another term as president.
Up to 145,000 teachers rely on iCivics resources each year to help some 9 million students learn foundational civic knowledge and the skills needed to become engaged citizens. The game presents students with the opportunity to investigate two key decisions from each of the presidencies of Jefferson, Lincoln, and Johnson, and provides educators with incredible flexibility to teach across U.S. History. With nearly 30 characters available to interview, students can play the game multiple times and learn new facts and perspectives with each gameplay.
The game is available for free here.