1. Which of former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara’s 11 lessons (The Fog of

1. Which of former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara’s 11 lessons (The Fog of
War, film) are most directly tied to the President’s constitutional powers, and why?
Choose one, with a second possibility.
2. Using Stephen Skowronek’s theory of the presidency and Elaine Karmack (“The
Fragile Legacy of Barack Obama”), Sidney Milkis and Michael Nelson’s coverage of
Barack Obama’s presidency (in their American Presidency) text, explain why Barack
Obama should or should not be considered a reconstructive president.
3. How does the Iran-Contra scandal speak to the debate over presidential power found
in the Pacificus and Helvidius debates between Alexander Hamilton and James
Madison?
4. Presidential historians typically rank Lincoln, Washington, and FDR as the “best”
presidents. Make your case for who should be ranked 4,5, and 6, and explain why.
5. Respond in the form of an op-ed (800-1000 words) to Harvey Mansfield’s argument
found in Taming the Prince. Do you agree or disagree with Mansfield’s theory of the
presidency – why or why not?