Carston Saelzler, ‘21, interviews professor of history at University of Texas Jeremi Suri during the San Joaquin Valley Town Hall lecture, March 13.

Suri is the author of nine books including his newest “The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America’s Highest Office.” Suri’s work all centers around contemporary politics.

In his lecture, Suri explained how through the years, the role of the president has evolved. One of his examples included George Washington, the first president, and father figure to the United States. The next examples used were Abraham Lincoln as the nation’s first capitalist and CEO and finally, Franklin D. Roosevelt as the nation’s healer.  

Suri’s main point was that the pressures we place upon each President have made their job impossible. The United States has mounted so many hopes upon the President that he can no longer do his job effectively.

The next and final speaker for this year’s ‘lecture season’ at the San Joaquin Valley Town Hall Lecture will be Julia Gillard. Gillard is the first woman Prime Minister of Australia and will be speaking in the Saroyan Theatre at 10:30 a.m., April 10.

To find out more about Jeremi Suri, stay tuned for Saelzler’s article coming soon to The Feather.

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