GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Our nation has crossed two historic thresholds this week, said Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University.
For the first time in U.S. history, a second-term president watched both the House and Senate go to the opposition party during the midterm elections.
Also for the first time, a woman is set to become Speaker of the House; Nancy Pelosi, the political foil of George W. Bush, is second in line to the Oval Office should something happen to the 43rd president.
How to explain this political earthquake? Perhaps by looking at a third historic threshold the nation crossed this week: As of today -- the eve of Veterans Day -- George W. Bush becomes the longest-serving wartime president in U.S. history, passing the previous record set by Lyndon Johnson during the Vietnam War.
MEDIA NOTE: Interviews with Gleaves Whitney can be arranged by calling the Hauenstein Center at (616) 331-2770, or by calling (616) 460-7955.
Whitney is a presidential historian and author who served under former Michigan Gov. John Engler for 11 years as chief historian and speech writer. Whitney served as a commentator for major television networks when his son served in Iraq and during Ronald Reagan"s death and funeral.
BACKGROUND:
The Hauenstein Center was created to "provide a foundation for influencing present and future leaders through the study of the Presidency." During World War II, Ralph Hauenstein had witnessed first hand the difference American leadership could make on a global-scale, and he was "profoundly influenced by the need to avoid future armed conflict and the role of American leadership in affecting world peace." This was Hauenstein"s founding vision -- a center to inspire current and future leaders to make a positive impact on the world.
Grand Valley State University attracts more than 23,000 students with high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley is the comprehensive regional university for Michigan"s second largest metropolitan area and offers 70 undergraduate and 26 graduate degree programs. It has campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids and Holland and centers in Muskegon and Traverse City. The university is dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships.
