Archivist Fired by Trump Curates Essays on Presidential Power

Colleen Shogan, the U.S. archivist dismissed without explanation by former President Donald Trump in the previous year, is now curating a significant historical project titled "In Pursuit." This initiative, designed to commemorate the United States' 250th anniversary, features essays from former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, alongside numerous historians and authors. Each contributor was tasked with producing an essay reflecting on a specific president or first lady from American history. The project's explicit aim was to transcend contemporary political divisions and offer lessons from the nation's past.

Shogan instructed all contributors to maintain a non-partisan and non-ideological approach, a directive that she stated was taken "very seriously" by everyone involved. The overarching goal of "In Pursuit" is to make these historical lessons accessible to all Americans, fostering learning from both past successes and failures to inform present and future planning. Shogan described this process as "debriefing the American story." The collection encompasses essays on 43 presidents and 30 first ladies. Notably, essays on the current president, Joe Biden, and former President Donald Trump are excluded, a decision attributed to their presidencies being "too fresh to be appraised by history," a criterion that likely also served to mitigate immediate political passions.

Despite the directive for neutrality, some essays implicitly address contemporary anxieties surrounding the use of presidential power, the robustness of American democracy, and the integrity of the office, particularly in the context of the Trump era. For instance, George W. Bush's essay, while not naming Trump directly, can be interpreted as a commentary on Trump's post-2020 election challenges to the peaceful transfer of power and his discussions about potentially serving a third term, which would contravene the Constitution's two-term limit. Bush's contribution specifically celebrates George Washington, emphasizing the principle of relinquishing power and the virtue of humility in leadership, positioning Washington as the archetypal figure who established the precedent against monarchical rule.

The "In Pursuit" project is releasing its essays chronologically on a weekly basis, with the series scheduled to conclude in December. The essays aim to provide a historical perspective on the evolution of the presidency and the challenges inherent in wielding and transferring executive authority. By drawing on the experiences and reflections of those who have held the office and those who study it, the project seeks to offer valuable insights into the enduring principles and evolving dynamics of American governance. The inclusion of essays from presidents who have experienced the transition of power themselves adds a unique layer of personal reflection to the historical analysis presented.