Brief the Chief

Advise the president through major moments in US history.

  • Should LBJ run for a second term? How might President Lincoln respond to the situation at Ft. Sumter? What can President Jefferson do about the Port of New Orleans?

    Your students will take on the job of advising the president through historical events and challenges by talking to people in and around the White House. Consult with confidants within the White House and use evidence-based reasoning to provide a presidential briefing.

    Can your students advise Presidents Jefferson, Lincoln, and Johnson on landmark events and important historical decisions that defined their presidencies? 

    In Brief the Chief, your students will:

    • Select from three presidencies: Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Lyndon B. Johnson

    • Choose from 6 historical challenges

    • Interview stakeholders and collect notes

    • Make an informed position and present it for consideration

    • Discover the historical outcomes of each challenge

    Made in partnership with The White House Historical Association.

  • iCivics