In 1982, Ronald Reagan invited Lenny Skutnick--the government employee who dove into the icy waters of the Potomac River to rescue passengers following the crash of Air Florida Flight 90-to sit with First Lady Nancy Reagan in the House of Representatives balcony during the State of the Union address. Since that time, presidents have found it useful during major addresses to recognize ordinary citizens responsible for extraordinary acts of citizenship. In this book, Stephen Frantzich tells the fascinating stories of forty of the heroes who have earned this presidential recognition and explores the larger context of whether they represent a presidential gimmick or a touchstone with the American spirit. Taken together, the stories of how they got there, their decision to allow themselves to be used as symbols, and the impact of the recognition tells a great deal about the presidency, politics, and the role of heroes in American society.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:1442205601
ISBN13:9781442205604
Release Date:February 2011
Publisher:Globe Pequot Publishing Group Inc/Bloomsbury
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