Erin McCord - The President Calling

I listened to President John F. Kennedy's conversations with Governor Barnett of Mississippi concerning segregation in the state and more specifically the nationalized issue of James Meredith, a colored applicant denied admission into the University of Mississippi. I also listened to Kennedy's nationwide address about the issue and I think he handled the situation very well. He was concentrated on keeping peace in Mississippi while riots broke out about the Supreme Court's decision to allow Meredith acceptance into the University. Kennedy opposed segregation and wanted, most of all, order and security amongst the citizens for their own safety and for the safety of Meredith on the campus. He reacted as a man of honor, I believe, in wanting the best for the citizens of his country as well as equality and safety among them. This type of source is unique and more interesting than alternative mediums such as listening to a lecture or reading the information and because of that, I find it easier to concentrate on and less of a burden to complete. I appreciated being able to hear, somewhat firsthand, what the president had to say about the matter and how the conflicts of those days were dealt with.

Elisabeth Gardner - The President Calling

I listened to 'LBJ Addresses Congress Days After Assassination' from The President Calling, which is about twenty-five minutes long. In the recording, Lyndon B Johnson speaks to the United States Congress a few days after President Kennedy's assassination. He tells Congress and the American People of the great loss of JFK and how they must use this grief to come together as a nation to bring into law what President Kennedy had been pushing for earlier that year - laws for racial equality. LBJ's speech is very compelling and his grief for the country's loss is easily heard in his voice. The speech overall was very interesting to listen to due to the great tragedy that had only occurred days before and to hear LBJ's plans for social reform during his presidency.

Megan Ramba- The President Calling

John F. Kennedy has always been an extremely respectable man in my mind, listening to these phone calls to fight for Meredith's acceptance into Ole Miss, despite the white segregationists and Governor Barnett's lack of cooperation, shows how much Kennedy valued fairness and equality for his country. Although Kennedy tried and tried to refrain from anything that would create blood-shed, the protestors of Mississippi continued to keep Meredith from being able to register at Ole Miss until Kennedy had to send to armed forces, ending with 2 killed.

Nathan Morse - The President Calling

I listened to Lyndon B. Johnson’s address to Congress after Kennedy was assassinated. It was a very well-written speech full of potential quotes for the history books. I thought that Johnson did a great job of trying to unite the country with this speech in this time of mourning and racism. Nowadays, the country is split down the middle on every issue, but Johnson indirectly asserted that we are all on the same team, and those who were against civil rights wouldn't be able to hold on much longer. At first I was thinking that Johnson was being redundant and saying the same thing over and over again in different ways, but the more I listened, I realized that this was such an important topic that Johnson did it just right. He was firm yet diplomatic and forward moving.

Megan Greenwood-The President Calling

I listened to President Richard Nixon talking about the executive decision to appoint Russell to Warren Commission. When I first listened to it, it seemed that Nixon was forcing Russell into a corner by making him feel guilty about not serving his country. However the second time I listened I found myself siding with Nixon more because Russell seemed to be just trying to get out of it, so he wouldn't have to work someone he didn't like.

Summer Reading Assignment

Theodore Houston
I chose "The Devil in the White City" because of the appeal of a mystery novel. This novel also caught my attention because it investigates a scandal that involved murder and confusion at the time of one of the world's greatest events, "The World Fair". Another aspect of the book that drew me to it is that it takes place where some one my family members are currently living.

The President Calling

Jeremy Pennington I listened to President Nixon's speech addressing the Watergate scandal. I have never listened to another one of his speeches before, but my evaluation of him, as a speaker, is that he sounds confident enough, but lacks a certain charisma that you'd expect from a president. He is not a poor speaker, but his voice didn't catch my attention by itself. During the speech, he spent most of his time protecting himself and claiming that neither he, nor any of his staff that were implicated, knew anything of it, or that they had anything to do with it. He condemned the action, saying that it was wrong, but he did not throw anyone under the bus from his administration, at least, not in the fifteen minute portion to which I listened. This type of speech is not something that was easy for me to give my full attention, so it's a good thing that there is a transcript that I could go back to and read the parts that I missed.

Daniel Keller - The President Calling

Daniel Keller- I listened to president Kennedy speaking with the governor of Mississippi about segregation laws in the state. I believe that Kennedy's choices were very wise and he seemed to be a very cautious man. It was a smart choice to not send any heavily armed troops to protests in order to prevent any serious violence. I also believe that its very respectable that Kennedy would be against the segregation laws despite the ruthlessness of southern racism. Additionally, I thought this type of source was interesting because it involved no reading. I just realized that I'm way too used to reading these sorts of things in books rather than listening to recordings.

Rachel Patel:The Things They Carried

I chose to read The Things They Carried, I am still in the process of reading this book. i chose this book because it has to do with O'Brien's life throughout out the war. At some points in the book it gets alittle confusing but it is interesting.

Jake Vancore, Devil in the white city

I chose this book because I am very interested in murder mysteries and because I wanted to learn about the Chicago world fair and it's impact on american culture. My dad also recommended this book to me and my family already owned it so I took advantage of what I had and it turned out to be a very good book about something I did not know much about.

Maxine Beck: Grapes of Wrath

I blindly chose Grapes of Wrath, as I was ignorantly unfamiliar with the text. Fortunately I found it to be a powerful story that authentically captured the Great Depression. The Joads, just like every other family are trying to make something out of nothing, so they head out to California with big hopes while battling the issues within the family. The amount of empathy and relatibility I had towards the characters shocked even me. To be honest I cried a few times while reading this book, because I am an emotional person and because of the genius plot. But regardless of the plot, Steinbeck's attention to details , namely nature, is what really impressed me. This book is a symbol of the Great Depression, struggles caused by it, and every American family. But most importantly it reminded me of my grandmother, Bonnie Milikan who grew up during the Great Depression and lived with nothing, but I grew up in the late nineteen-nineties and had everything. I have everything.

Maxine Beck: Grapes of Wrath

I chose Grapes of Wrath because I was familiar with the title, but not the contents.

Caniqua McGowan : THe Age OF INNOCENCE

I chose this book out of our possible books to read for several reasons. The fist reason is as i read the titles of the book on our book list this was the only one caught my attention .the i read the summary for the book online which just increased my curiosity and made me want to read the book even more.after i read the fist two senteces of the plot overview online and I will one hundred percent admit the word adultery in the first paragraph of plot made my final decision and indedd this was an great book after all

Noah Brown: The Last of the Mohicans

I am reading this book because I have easy access to it and I hear it is a good book from my family. It also seems to have an inserting and engaging plot line. It takes place during the French and Indian War and follows the last two members of the decimated Mohican tribe.

Erin McCord, The Grapes of Wrath

I chose to read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck because I am a fan of Steinbeck and have read other texts written by him such as The Pearl and The Red Pony. Aside from familiarity and fanaticism with the author, The Grapes of Wrath interests me because it tells a story of the struggles of moving west among the Dust Bowl migration on an intimate level while the experience is also portrayed in an almost surreal-like fashion to me because I am so unfamiliar with even nature in the west, let alone the struggle to survive and travel in it. There is a sense of relation and intimacy with the Joads as I read about their endeavor. This subject and style interest me and, if we're being honest, a friend recommendation helped seal the deal on my choosing this book. At times the story gets confusing and the dialogue is written in such a way that it must be read aloud in order to understand what is being said underneath such a heavy southern vernacular.

Austin Cowan- Uncle Tom's Cabin

I read Uncle Tom's Cabin this summer because I have always been told it is a very wonderful and emotional book, and I really was curious as to what all the fuss was about. I've found it more than lives up to it's reputation as a truly touching novel. Tom really dies a martyr's death.

Sean O'Halloran- Grapes of Wrath

I chose the book The Grapes of Wrath because it's an American classic and I am interested in the conditions our ancestors were forced to live in. It is sad how the Joad family had to quickly uproot themselves and be forced to migrate West and try and survive the best they can. It makes me wonder how many other families actually had to struggle with similar life threatening conditions in this time period. I am not much of a reader, so I am struggling with the syntax of this book, but what I have understood is giving me some good insight into a day in the life of the great depression era.

Abby Ellingsen: Age of Innocence

I choose this book because when I looked up a description online I found out that its setting and time was in the 1920's and it made me think about the roaring Twenties and that time period has always interested me so I decided to read this book.

Maryl Pritt - Catch 22

I chose the book Catch 22 because I am really interested in World War II. I like the book because it shows the issues of the world war through a crazy man named Yossarian. I am having a hard time keeping up with the plot.

David Yu: We Were Soldiers

As a big fan of Vietnam era books and movies, We Were Soldiers was a perfect choice for my summer reading. Having already seen the movie and a big fan of it, the book would allow me to gain an in-depth view of what it was truly based on. This book was written by Lt. General Harold G. Moore (Ret.), who was the actual leader of the operation that landed 400 of his men in the "Valley of Death". Rarely, does anyone get a first hand account of what happened and who better to tell the story than the man who was part of this history. This book is filled with compassion and tells the hardship of the first major battle during the Vietnam war. Landed in a recently attacked US military camp, Lt. Col. Moore led his men with little Intel into the La Drang Valley. Here, they suffered through days and nights of fighting, which led to the death of over 72 Americans, half which were killed in the largest ambush during the war. This book separated the glory of war from its horrors, creating a heart-pounding story that has pleased me and other to come.