The Transformation of the US Presidency in the 20th Century

Jim Mc Bride will look at how presidential power and authority changed between 1901 and 2000 and how the role of the president was shaped and influenced by the personality of those who were in power in the White House.

During this period, the president had to deal with major domestic matters such as the Great Depression and the battle for Civil Rights. At the start of the 20th Century, the USA was not a major world power but by 1945, thanks to World War II, the president of the USA was now one of the most powerful men in the world.

From 1945 until 1991, the USA and its president led the western powers in the battle against communism in the Cold War.

This talk will be followed followed by the book launch of The American Presidency 1901-2000 by S. Bredin and J.Mc Bride