Historical Association of Tobyhanna Township

HATT | PO Box 2084 | Pocono Pines, PA 18350-2084

September 16, 2015

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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP

September 16, 2015
Clymer Library, 115 Firehouse Road, Pocono Pines, Pa.



Speaker: Dr. Brian Alnutt, “Our American Presidency”

Rick Bodenschatz called the meeting to order. He welcomed attendees and encouraged non-members to join HATT.

He reminded the audience that the next HATT meeting will be the annual dinner meeting being held at the Lake Naomi Club on October 7, 2015 at 6 p.m. The topic for the evening will be “Pennsylvanians on the Titanic.”

SPEAKER: Dr. Brian Alnutt spoke on “Our American Presidency”

At the start of our country, we did not have a president, but were governed by the Continental Congress.

Here are highlights Dr. Alnutt presented on some of our presidents over the years:

  • George Washington (president from 1789-1797) was chosen as our first president because he was a non-controversial nonpartisan, quiet, formal individual. He was a good delegator and he realized that the president needed to be separate from the Congress, and he set the example for future presidents.
  • Thomas Jefferson (No. 3, 1801-1809), a writer of the Declaration of Independence, favored small government with strong state control. Alexander Hamilton favored business and industry, a national bank and a strong federal government. Thus began the two-party system of today. As president, Jefferson was for the common man, cutting taxes and supporting states rule.
  • John Quincy Adams (No. 6, 1825-1829) was filled with bold ideas that never happened.
  • Andrew Jackson (No. 7, 1829-1837), a frontiersman, liked small government, but he opened up the idea of patronage.
  • James Buchanan (No. 15, 1857-1861), of Pennsylvania is thought of as being ill-prepared to be president, and likely the worst one in our history.
  • Abraham Lincoln (No. 16, 1861-1865) was our first president to be a member of the Republican Party we know today. His goal was to preserve the union at all cost.
  • Theodore Roosevelt (No. 26, 1901-1909) was a high-profile individual who worked to break up conglomerates.
  • Warren Harding (No. 29, 1921-1923) was elected because he “looked the part,” when in fact he had no idea how to govern or lead.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt (No. 32, 1933-1945), who served as president for 12 years, helped the common man by having government help them.
  • Harry S. Truman (No. 33, 1945-1953) was popular at first, but was very unpopular by the end of his years in office.
  • Jimmy Carter (No. 39, 1977-1981) was elected because he was a humble man and from outside the Washington Beltway. Sadly he never meshed with his party, the Democrats.
  • Ronald Reagan (No. 40, 1981-1989) was a president who did what he said he would. He delegated well and became more popular as his presidency progressed.

The traits of a good president: The ability to deal with constant issues in the in-box, the ability to work with Congress, honesty, the ability to delegate, flexibility, and abundant energy.

Following a short question-and-answer period, Rick presented a plaque to Dr. Alnutt, who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rick reminded the audience that the cut-off date for reserving a seat at the annual dinner is October 1.

The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne Dyer, HATT Secretary