As modern sports developed in the 20th century, many future US presidents participated in them as collegiate athletes. From Teddy Roosevelt's boxing to Jack Kennedy's swimming to Jerry Ford's gridiron achievements to George H. W. Bush's success on the baseball diamond to Barack Obama's hoop dreams, this multi-media presentation will explore how POTUSes use athletics to bolster their political images.
Professor Barbara Perry is Co-Chair of the Presidential Oral History Program at the University of Virginia's Miller Center. A native of Louisville, she received her B.A. from U of L, M.A. from Oxford University, and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. A biographer of the Kennedys, she has also published books on the presidency and Supreme Court. In addition, Professor Perry was chosen as the 2014 Alumni Fellow for the College of Arts and Sciences.