Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Obama Studies   [John Derbyshire]

A reader:

Mr. Derbyshire — your reader's comments concerning "Obama and/as literature" is yet one more bit of evidence proving the wisdom of James Buchanan biographer Elbert Smith. (His scholarly bios on ol' Buck and Taylor/Fillmore, from the University of Kansas American Presidency series, are superb.) In the intro to his 1975 Buchanan volume, he wrote the following, which explains a lot about why Bush was so unpopular and why the criticism of "Messiah" aimed at Obama is so apt:

"Expecting a president to be chosen by an elite group of electors or by the House of Representatives, the American founding fathers gave him immense power, particularly for dealing with matters related to peace and war. In domestic affairs he is more limited by the authority of Congress and the courts, but in dealing with the public he has both responsibilities and opportunities for personal influence far beyond his constitutional duties and power.  [This is the key part:]  "Having rid themselves of a British king, the often-unruly American people quickly turned to the presidency for the fulfillment of deep-seated psychological and emotional needs formerly met by the monarchy. Americans have always demanded a role in determining the national goals and direction, but they have usually felt more secure and contented with the image of a strong and trustworthy hand in the White House and most restive and troubled when they doubted either his strength or his dedication. Indeed, they have often considered the office even more powerful than it is.

"In times of national calamity the president is condemned. When the nation is relatively serene, he receives the praise. His words and actions are closely watched and disseminated to anyone and everyone willing to read or listen, and regardless of what he can or cannot do, he is held responsible for the state of the nation.

"Depending upon the national problems, crises, or mood, a president may become immensely popular by leading a whirlwind of activity or by doing almost nothing. Americans have occasionally idolized the mediocre and rejected the wise, but surprisingly this has affected the national destiny very little. Fortunately, not every period in American history has needed a president whose personality, principles, and talents can change the direction of an entire society.

"The great challenge to the system by which Americans chose their high priest and political pilot is the matching of the man with his times. Obviously, every president is subject to the momentum or inertia and the direction of his immediate predecessors and to powerful social, economic, and psychological forces and trends he did not create and cannot change. On occasion, however, the particular beliefs, philosophy, temperament, strength of purpose, understanding of political processes and rhetorical talents of certain presidents have in fact determined which of the different alternative directions the United States would take."

      —— Elbert B. Smith, The Presidency of James Buchanan, pages ix-x, 1975.

[Me]  I think my definition of a real U.S.-history enthusiast would be someone who's read a book about James Buchanan. (I say that in the sure and certain knowledge that Rick Brookhiser has read at least three. He's very likely written a couple himself.)

I'm hearing from students at other colleges with Obama courses in unlikely departments. Or even in unlikely colleges — the Rochester Institute of Technology, for instance:

0509-449 Special Topics: Philosophy and Literature: Barack Obama. Barack Obama’s election is widely recognized as a landmark event in US history. This team-taught course will examine Obama’s writings within a larger literary and philosophical context. We will attempt to better understand his life story and political philosophy by examining his published works (such as his memoir Dreams From My Father) in the light of other writings, memoirs, and essays drawn from various sources. We will see whether, and to what extent, Obama’s writings can be understood within a coherent theoretical and historical framework. (Meets TR 10:00–11:50 in 06-3225. Instructors: Capps and Elahi.)

I await news of the first college Obama Studies Department.

02/04 12:05 PMShare