Procedures

• STEP 1.

  Distribute a copy of the worksheet below to each student.

  Handout: The President in Times of Crisis (Google Doc)

• STEP 2.

  Ask students to pick two clips of their choice (or assign them as you see fit). The clips below feature presidential addresses from over the past century, in light of a specific event or other adversity faced by the nation.

  As a class, discuss the significance of the events that preceded each presidential address.

  Students will then fill out the worksheet as they view the videos clips.

• VIDEO CLIPS

  President Roosevelt’s First Fireside Chat on Bank Regulation (March 12, 1933 - 5:09)

  President Eisenhower sends the National Guard to Little Rock (September 24, 1957 - 5:28)

  President Johnson after the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (November 27, 1963 - 26:45)

  President Carter on the U.S. energy crisis (July 15, 1979 - 32:33)

  President Reagan following the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger (January 28, 1986 - 4:13)

  President Clinton after the Oklahoma City bombing (April 19, 1995 - 2:31)

  President Bush on the attacks on September 11, 2001 (September 11, 2001 - 4:32)

  President Obama on the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill (June 15, 2010 - 16:52)

• STEP 3.

  As a class, ask students to share their findings by discussing the following:

  • Which speech do you think was the most effective? Why?

  • If the president proposed future action, what was it?

  • Which the parts of the speech do you think had the greatest impact.

  • Consider the setting. Does the location of the speech make an impression?

• Extension

  Ask students to research the public and political response to the president’s speech. What impact did the speech have on the American public and shaping public policy?