Lecture Extra Credit

Details for a talk I am giving at UIC on Oct 25 are here. This is an extra credit opportunity.

Extra Credit Assignment for Fall 2011, POLS 184

184 Extra Credit Assignment:
In the summer of 2011, a columnist at the Atlantic conducted a survey of the best and worst foreign policy Presidents during the 20th century (1900s, so no GW Bush). This list was met with some controversy on the internet. Your task is to evaluate this list and provide a better list of sorts. Nominate one person to be one of the best, worst, and also a wild card (like GW Bush was mentioned in the original article). Justify your selections with original research. If you nominate someone as the best FP President, they cannot already be on Atlantic’s list as the best (but they can be on the worst list and vice versa, hint). Stick to the 20th century. For each nomination, you must include at least two original research sources (books, journal articles, no blog posts, Wikipedia articles, or newspaper articles). Your paper should be at least 7 pages (including 6 original sources) and is worth 20 points applied to any test or assignment. Assignment is due during the Final.

Original article link

Best (cannot repeat in your paper):
1. FDR
2. Eisenhower
3. George HW Bush (the Elder)
4. Reagan
5. JFK

Worst:
1. LBJ
2. Jimmy Carter
3. Woodrow Wilson
4. Truman
5. Nixon

Wild Card: GW Bush

Top 10 Worst Osama Tweets

All these come from the night of Osama Bin Laden's death

1. JimGaffigan Jim Gaffigan
Osama bin Dead!

2. ApocalypseHow Rob Kutner
by hodgman
How sweet would it be if the actual shot was fired by a gay soldier?

3. AlbertBrooks Albert Brooks
Trump demanding to see Bin Laden death certificate. #binladen

4. thebrianposehn Brian Posehn
Anyone else beating off to the song "America, Fuck Yeah!"?
(no, Brian, no one is)

5. me_irl the government man
by hodgman
Beloved character actor Osama bin Laden, star of TV's "Fox News", dies age 54

6. RealLamarOdom LAMAR ODOM
Who's watchin' #khloeandLamar CT?
(sounds desperate, don't you have an NBA playoff game to worry about)

7. JimGaffigan Jim Gaffigan
Does anyone know if Bin Ladin's cave is rent controlled? First dubs! #fourkids
(Cause you know, people really live in caves over there)

8. RobRiggle Rob Riggle
I wonder how bummed Osama was when he got to hell and realized there were no virgins?

9. JuddApatow Judd Apatow
Bin laden is dead. Your welcome.
(Director of Knocked Up takes credit?)

10. Drudge_Report Drudge Report
BIN LADEN ANNOUNCEMENT CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF TRUMP'S 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE'... http://drudge.tw/lo68bu
(Of course it was planned this way)