http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/presidency Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Mon, 25 May 2026 22:01:44 -0400 Mon, 25 May 2026 22:01:44 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/994/how-eric-holders-role-as-attorney-general-impacted-the-obama-presidency By Federika A. Cariati - Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.’s recent resignation is not the first controversial issue to arise out of his nearly six-year career in the White House. Since his nomination process began, Holder’s career as Attorney General has been as groundbreaking as it has been inconsistent. His fierce defense of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as well as his efforts to broaden civil rights have molded Holder’s legacy in the American Justice system as well as his impact on the shape of Obama’s presidency. While there is no doubt that Holder left a mark on the Obama... Sun, 08 Feb 2015 10:15 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/994/how-eric-holders-role-as-attorney-general-impacted-the-obama-presidency http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/991/inaction-on-gun-control-reform-during-the-obama-administration By Jordan A. Lieberman - Gun control and federal reform of firearm legislation have recently become popular and contentious topics in Washington D.C. and around the country. Yet despite vast public support, none of the legislation proposed by the Obama administration has been enacted. The Obama administration and the several Congresses that have served during his time in office have failed to produce meaningful change in the area of gun control. In many cases, regulations have actually become less restrictive, allowing for easier access to guns and limiting rules governing their use. Several interrelated phenomena help... Sat, 07 Feb 2015 09:38 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/991/inaction-on-gun-control-reform-during-the-obama-administration http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/990/e-electioneering-the-political-and-cultural-influence-of-social-media-in-the-2008-and-2012-presidential-elections By Rebecca Pineiro - Early in 2007, a junior senator with a thin legislative résumé but an inspiring background in community organizing approached a Facebook executive during the site’s period of exponential growth. That senator, later known as our 44th President, was gearing up to embark on his own professional expedition: his monumental campaign for the American presidency. Senator Obama had his own ideas for the network’s leap into politics and potential for growth. At this momentous juncture, Senator Barack Obama wondered if the network’s reach and usage could be used as a tool... Sat, 07 Feb 2015 04:19 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/990/e-electioneering-the-political-and-cultural-influence-of-social-media-in-the-2008-and-2012-presidential-elections http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/989/why-taking-the-white-house-online-does-not-make-it-more-accessible-to-the-public By Leah C. Campbell - Much has been said in regards to Barack Obama’s revolutionary use of technology during both his 2008 and 2012 campaigns for President of the United States. Yet, during his administration, that groundbreaking tactic suddenly disappeared. In 2013, with the launch of the We The People website, the Obama administration focused its efforts on reigniting that feeling of connection that powered two successful elections. The site was created as an update to the Office of Public Engagement, which had drawn criticism in past administrations for its ineffectiveness. While the website and corresponding... Sat, 07 Feb 2015 03:31 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/989/why-taking-the-white-house-online-does-not-make-it-more-accessible-to-the-public http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/988/the-myth-of-obamas-post-racial-presidency-why-barack-obamas-election-didnt-end-racial-inequality-in-america By Breanna M. Bacon - The presidential campaign of Barack Obama was met with enthusiasm and controversy. If you were alive and cognizant at the time, you understood the importance and historic value of the 2008 election no matter your position. Barack Obama, the Hawaii-born Senator representing the state of Illinois, was the first black[1] candidate nominated by one of the two major political parties. Never before had there been a black candidate as viable to win the presidential election. The uniqueness of the Obama campaign led apolitical groups to actually get out and participate in the political process. The fervor... Sat, 07 Feb 2015 12:05 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/988/the-myth-of-obamas-post-racial-presidency-why-barack-obamas-election-didnt-end-racial-inequality-in-america http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/987/does-obamaism-exist-an-analysis-of-ideology-and-its-place-in-the-obama-era By Elliott A.S. Memmi - Philosophers have been grappling at what characterizes the manifestation of what we call “ideology” for some time now. Is it based in some written or spoken manifesto? Or is it much murkier than that— a frame for what we think in the same way language or culture might? And what of its prophets? How do we determine the ideological nature of an individual and the legacy it might entail? The name “Obama” excites such unusual passion that it is hard not to conceive his visage, already branded across highly colorful paraphernalia, as a symbol of this decade. But for the... Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:09 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/987/does-obamaism-exist-an-analysis-of-ideology-and-its-place-in-the-obama-era http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1070/the-bush-administration-and-torture-who-is-responsible-for-the-abuse-at-abu-ghraib By Erik Eriksen - Since first becoming public in March 2004,1 the case of the detainee abuse at the Abu Ghraib Prison2 has gained widespread interest and an important place in debates on the Iraq War. At the prison, systematic abuse of detainees, described as ‘sadistic, blatant, and wanton’, was perpetrated by military police guards.3 The guards beat prisoners; intimidated them with unmuzzled dogs; placed hooded detainees in a pyramid; carried out a range of incidents of abuse with sexual themes; and humiliated them in many other degrading ways.4 These actions are widely regarded as unlawful.5 While... Thu, 01 Jan 2015 07:58 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1070/the-bush-administration-and-torture-who-is-responsible-for-the-abuse-at-abu-ghraib http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/737/the-oklahoma-city-bombing-and-bill-clintons-eulogy-to-bombing-victims By Sujay Kulshrestha - On Wednesday, April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh detonated a bomb at the base of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. For the 168 individuals who lost their lives and the countless more injured and affected by the tragedy, otherwise going about their daily business, the bombing represented one of the most devastating acts of domestic terrorism. Roughly 90 minutes after the bombing, a state trooper arrested McVeigh on weapons charges and he was linked to the bombing the day after. With justice seemingly obtained, the question that then remained by that weekend’s memorial service was not &ldquo... Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:59 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/737/the-oklahoma-city-bombing-and-bill-clintons-eulogy-to-bombing-victims http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/736/commencement-addresses-delivered-by-incumbent-us-presidents-1914-2010-a-historical-analysis By Alexander E. Hopkins - Each year, thousands of colleges and universities across the United States hold commencement. This is a time when campus is in full bloom—manicured lawns, farewell hugs from classmates, and final exams. As the graduates march in unison to their seats, their colorful school robes flow gently amid the sea of flashing camera bulbs. Like a Hollywood premiere, the graduates are the stars whose years of hard work can finally be recognized by invited guests. Since a commencement is a significant investment in time and money, the ceremony is planned down to the last minute. In a sense, a commencement... Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:13 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/736/commencement-addresses-delivered-by-incumbent-us-presidents-1914-2010-a-historical-analysis http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/733/ronald-reagans-presidential-radio-addresses-themes-of-unity By Alexander E. Hopkins - Ronald Reagan’s public speaking career began in 1932 at the age of 21. By this time, the recent Eureka College graduate was hired as a sports radio broadcaster. The following year, Franklin D. Roosevelt became President and began the Fireside Chats radio series. According to political historian J. Jeffrey Auer (1992): “Each listener received the impression that Roosevelt was talking directly to him. Millions of Americans sat at their radios and agreed that they “could practically feel him physically in the room.” His voice communicated his expansive personality; it registered... Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:57 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/733/ronald-reagans-presidential-radio-addresses-themes-of-unity http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/709/diverging-discontent-examining-the-patriot-acts-passage-in-congress-under-the-bush-administration By Alexander E. Hopkins - On October 26, 2001, President George W. Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Act, by Congress just six weeks after the attacks with virtually no public debate, greatly-expanded the executive branch’s power to investigate possible domestic terrorism (Cheney, 2005, p. 1717; Chang, 2001). Rather than create new laws, existing laws were strengthened. However, members of Congress were still alarmed at possible civil liberties violations (Cheney, 2005, p. 1717; Seamon & Gardner, 2005, p. 321). Like many war-time Presidents, such as Woodrow... Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:24 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/709/diverging-discontent-examining-the-patriot-acts-passage-in-congress-under-the-bush-administration http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/622/the-constitutionality-of-the-patriot-act-examining-section-213 By Jeremy D. Bailie - In the aftermath of September 11, Congress was eager to put laws on the books to prevent another attack. In an unprecedented spirit of bipartisan patriotism, a law was passed in the House by 357 to 66 (Clerk of the House) and in the Senate by 98 to 1 (Secretary of the Senate). The title of the act, USA PATRIOT Act, is an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. Since its historic passage there has been much debate on the constitutionality of the act. Some would claim the Legislative and Executive branches acted opportunistically... Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:59 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/622/the-constitutionality-of-the-patriot-act-examining-section-213 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/281/george-bush-and-the-new-york-times-a-contentious-relationship By Anne C. Baker - And so began Bush’s public relationship with the New York Times. The long and frequently contentious back and forth between Bush and the newspaper became, in many ways, the definition of the president’s tenuous relationship with the press. Though the Times’ editorial board operates on a totally separate basis from the main newspaper, the staff editorials penned during Bush’s tenure in office offer an interesting insight into how journalists viewed the former president. An analysis of the editorials written throughout Bush’s first term paint the picture of the intellectual... Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:54 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/281/george-bush-and-the-new-york-times-a-contentious-relationship http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/258/george-bush-and-no-child-left-behind-a-federalist-perspective By Rachel S. McCloskey - President George Bush came into office in 2001 after both a campaign and outcome that shook the nation. Following the controversial Presidential election results, George W. Bush promised the American people that he was the right person to do this challenging job, acting as the next President of the United States. He wholeheartedly believed that his fierce agenda and revamped outlook on conservatism would create benefits to all across the United States. Through his strong Republican ideals a stronger country would be the product. President Bush campaigned under the slogan “A uniter, not a... Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:11 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/258/george-bush-and-no-child-left-behind-a-federalist-perspective http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/255/cases-and-controversies-george-w-bushs-appeals-court-nominations By Christopher Miles - Though it is hard to know exactly how the nomination process worked in the White House because those involved in the process have remained relatively silent, we do know some details. In the Bush administration, a group called the Judicial Selection Committee (JSC) met twice weekly or as needed to discuss judicial appointments. The JSC consisted of Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh, the Office of Legal Policy, White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales, and Associate White House Counsel Brett Kavanaugh. A different group composed of higher level administration officials has also been mentioned as... Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:59 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/255/cases-and-controversies-george-w-bushs-appeals-court-nominations http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/250/the-bush-administration-human-rights-and-a-culture-of-torture By Christopher P. Federici - For most Americans, 9/11 represents a turning point for our country. It is the beginning of a new chapter in our relations to the world and how we view our place in it. It is the beginning of a chapter where the American commitment to human rights was put in doubt, war was waged, and potential crimes were committed in the name of national security. The nineties by comparison were a prosperous time for Americans and the country. The economy grew by leaps and bounds; democracy was flourishing throughout the world. Even our old enemy, the mighty Soviet Union, turned out to be nothing more than lies... Wed, 12 May 2010 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/250/the-bush-administration-human-rights-and-a-culture-of-torture http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/246/eight-years-twelve-vetoes-why-president-bush-chose-to-ignore-his-veto-power By Jamie E. Kay - As one of the most important powers given to the president, one must ask why any would take such a powerful tool for granted. For five and a half years, however, President Bush failed to use the veto even once. Not until July 19, 2006 did he finally veto legislation, halting a congressional bill that would lift certain funding restrictions for embryonic stem-cell research.[2] This reluctance made President Bush the first president to go an entire four year term without using the veto in 239 years. The other veto-less presidents include John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, William Henry... Thu, 06 May 2010 10:43 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/246/eight-years-twelve-vetoes-why-president-bush-chose-to-ignore-his-veto-power http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/244/a-taxing-presidency-a-critique-of-the-george-w-bush-tax-policy By Chelsey E. Hay - Now that President George W. Bush has completed his two terms in office, it is only natural that political scientists and historians are in the process of completing retrospective analyses of the last eight years of leadership under the Republican president. From the start, Bush made his intentions very clear by outlining his goal to lower taxes for every American citizen. Bush made this policy central in his campaign for the presidency and then sought to get tax cuts through Congress immediately upon assuming office. The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2001 (hereafter Tax Policy) was the... Wed, 05 May 2010 07:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/244/a-taxing-presidency-a-critique-of-the-george-w-bush-tax-policy http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1117/barack-obama-and-the-nobel-peace-prize-justified-or-world-optimistic By Michelle Jones - The Head of the Nobel Committee for the prize believes so stating, “It is because we would like to support what he is trying to achieve.” The emphasis on many of the congratulatory reports focus on what Obama is going to do or trying to do. It soon becomes apparent that the question shouldn’t be “What has Obama done?” but, “What is Obama going to do?” Paul Reynolds from BBC News stated that the, “award was unexpected and might be regarded as more of an encouragement for intentions rather than a reward for achievement.”1 According to a BBC news... Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1117/barack-obama-and-the-nobel-peace-prize-justified-or-world-optimistic http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/24/friendship-and-conflict-the-relationship-of-the-us-founding-fathers By Jeffrey M. Estano - The founding fathers’ admiration of antiquity dramatically impacted their civic worldview, and in turn, their leadership. They went to great lengths to live out classical virtues and to imitate classical figures of the past. Samuel Adams, an educated gentleman, obsessively tried to embody republican values by forsaking personal wealth and fame. George Washington, like the Roman hero Cincinatus before him, wished only to return to his farm at Mt. Vernon after his victories in war.[4] John Adams’ adherence to stern republican values led him to reflect skeptically upon the licentious,... Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:50 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/24/friendship-and-conflict-the-relationship-of-the-us-founding-fathers http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1150/the-irish-presidential-system By Jason T. Williams - The role of President was laid out in the Irish Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann) of 1937 with the first elections to the position being held in 1938.  The role is defined in articles 12-14 of Bunreacht na hÉireann as being the ceremonial Head of the Irish State.  The Constitution defines the President as someone “who shall take precedence over all other persons in the State and who shall exercise and perform the powers and functions conferred on the President by this Constitution and by law.” Elections for the Presidency can take place every seven... Fri, 01 Jan 1999 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1150/the-irish-presidential-system