No single figure characterizes the contemporary era, but foreign affairs continue to ask much of American presidents and of the nation they serve. After the attacks of 9/11, George W. Bush waged a global “war on terror” that set aside traditional diplomacy in favor of U.S. military intervention abroad. During this time, the country’s urge to strengthen homeland security has led presidents to introduce new surveillance techniques and anti-terrorism laws that have, in turn, tested privacy laws developed in the pre-digital age.
War continues to influence the twenty-first century as the United States follows a doctrine that relies upon both shield and sword. At the same time, public reactions to every issue, at any given moment, have become nearly instantaneous by way of social media. Partisan divisions are as high as they were in the 1850s, affecting debates as wide-ranging as climate change, immigration, and healthcare. Nevertheless, as we reflect on the past, we can anticipate that the nation will continue to overcome obstacles and move toward ensuring citizenship rights for all Americans.
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George W. Bush
Artist: Jerry Spagnoli
2005
Whole-plate daguerreotype on copper plate
Image/Sight: 15.8 x 20.7cm (6 1/4 x 8 1/8")
Gift of Jerry Spagnoli
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Gallery Tour: America's Presidents