Professor Michael D’Innocenzo will be guest in the pulpit at Temple Emanuel’s Sabbath Eve Service on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. His talk is entitled: “Rating America’s Presidents 1789-2016.”
As we head toward the 2020 elections, it’s worth looking back at the performance of past presidents. How and why have presidential ratings changed over many decades – from Parson Weems (1799), to NYU’s “Hall of Great Americans” (1900), to A.M. Schlesinger’s first historians’ poll (1948), to C-Span’s third major analysis (2019)? Which presidents have risen in the ratings, which have declined, and why?
Michael D’Innocenzo, professor emeritus of History at Hofstra University, and recipient of the 2008 American Historical Association National College Teacher of the Year Award, participated in one of the rating exercises, an acclaimed study, Rating The Presidents (editors: William J. Riding and Stuart B. McIver). Drawing, also, on Fred Greenstein’s book, The Presidential Difference, Mike will invite folks to consider the changing roles of American presidents and how they can be assessed.
How would you rate the presidents?
Professor D’Innocenzo received the American Historical Association Eugene Asher National Distinguished Teaching Award in 2009. During 59 years at Hofstra University, D’Innocenzo served as both a Professor of History and The Harry H. Wachtel Distinguished Teaching Professor for the Study of Nonviolent Social Change. He has degrees from Columbia University (where he was a Danforth Scholar and an Edward John Noble Leadership Fellow) and from Union College (where he was recognized with the Freling Smith Prize for outstanding history thesis, and received the Bailey Prize for outstanding senior service).
Temple Emanuel’s SCW Friday Night Speaker program is funded in part by Elaine & George Malin.
Professor D’Innocenzo’s talk will be preceded by a brief service and followed by a Q&A and refreshments. All members of the community are invited to attend.
Temple Emanuel of Great Neck is located at 150 Hicks Lane. For further information, call 516.482.5701.
