What will archeologists think of Presidential Libraries?

Those of you who know me are aware that I have been traveling to presidential libraries to conduct research on the role of presidents in the Head Start Program. This is the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas.

If these libraries survive the millenia and become part of the main public record of our time (like the pyramids, or the Greek and Roman ruins), what do you think future historians will claim our culture was like? My guess, consistent with the posting below, is that they will come to the conclusion that our presidents were great emperors, who had much power and were much revered...

This is me at the ruins in Velia (Elea), Italy, looking for signs of my ancestors' brickwork (imperfections, or crooked walls). Actually, Velia has nice ruins of structures made of a flat brick. The castle in the background is of some 18th century tower made overlooking the sea. Velia is in Campania, southern Italy, where the ankle meets the front of the foot, about 90 minutes south of Naples.

The picture was taken in May of 2005, a trip I made with my father and oldest sister.

Is the Bush Administration Against Popular Democracy?

In preparing my course on the presidency, and in reading the non-stop stories about the clandestine activities of the Bush Administration, I have come to the conclusion that, although they may accept the use of elections to select political leadership, virtually everyone in the Bush White House (with some exceptions, like Condolezza Rice) rejects the notion that the popular will should be heeded. Bush himself seems to beleive that following public opinion is bad (academics who conduct research in the field are generally divided on the question). But it is clear that the Bush Administration acts like an elected ruler, not a chief executive...