Explore

The official web site of the White House provides key information on the executive branch generally, as well as the Executive Office of the President, the White House Office, the vice president's office, and the first lady. You will also find recent press releases, photos, and links to video and audio of the president and his spokespersons.

To track presidential approval currently and over time from numerous different polling sources, use Pollingreport.com. The web site provides results on the president's job approval as well as personal approval over time. Poll results on other key issues are also available.

The Center for the Study of the Presidency (CSP) provides an important source for students and scholars of the presidency. Beyond providing issue papers and roundtables, the CSP publishes one of the important scholarly journals dealing with the presidency, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and offers a large fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students interested in studying the presidency.

What were past presidents like? C-SPAN's Welcome to American Presidents: Life Portraits web page provides links to information such as presidential gravesites, videos about some of the presidents, and portraits of the presidents. Who's buried in Grant's tomb, you ask?

Which one is "Old Hickory" and which one is the "Sage of Monticello?" This web site on the Urban Legends and Folklore surrounding the presidency provides a test on nicknames, and it claims to debunk many myths concerning particular presidents. Believe at your own risk.

How does the president get around and what does he eat? The White House Military Office provides information on Air Force One, Marine One, Camp David, and other aspects of the president's life concerning travel and food. The Detroit News Joyrides web story provides pictures of past presidential limousines.

Materials developed by Matthew J. Streb, Northern Illinois University