The American President in Popular Culture

(Hardback)

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Description

The American presidency has held a unique role within the realm of the nation's culture. From the character of George Washington in early American mythology, to Richard Nixon's now famous utterance of Sock it to me! on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In to George W. Bush waving the starting flag at a NASCAR event, the leader of the executive branch has often taken stage in the forum of American popular culture. This edited collection presents chapters that survey the ways popular culture has both reflected and been influenced by presidents throughout history. Chapters focus on Birthplaces and Homes; Drama; Film; Libraries; Memorabilia; Magazines and Tabloids; Myths, Legends, Stories and Jokes; Newspapers; Paintings and Sculptures; Political Cartoons and Comics; Popular Music; Radio; and Television. A timeline traces intersections of the presidency and popular culture, and a subject index provides an additional resource for researchers.

Author Bio

JOHN W. MATVIKO teaches communication and popular culture courses at West Liberty State College. He holds a master's degree in Speech - Public Address and Rhetoric from the University of Pittsburgh. John has long been active in popular culture organizations and was a founding member of the Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association and for eight years he produced the American Culture Association's newsletter and served on their executive board. John's research interests include popular culture, media ethics, television studies, and rock and roll.