Harvey Sicherman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, Walter A. McDougall of the University of Pennsylvania, Lowell Dittmer of the University of California at Berkeley, and Robert G. Sutter of Georgetown University examine U.S. policy toward East Asia during the George W. Bush administration; and consider the impact which the 2008 presidential campaign and the upcoming change in leadership might have on policy.

Video and audio options area available.

Harvey Sicherman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute discusses the history of U.S. policy and interventions in the Arab-Israeli Conflict, following forward particularly from Clinton's term in office through George W. Bush's actions and policies.

Melanie Frances Manion of the University of Wisconsin-Madison explores the oscillation of political policies in modern-day China and considers whether these indicate that China's extreme policy swings under Mao continue today. She compares policy decisions and processes today with those of the Maoist era, and concludes that policy changes today are apt to be "less extreme and more incremental." On October 21-22, 2006, FPRI's Marvin Wachman Fund for International Education hosted 50 teachers from 26 states across the country for a weekend of discussion on teaching about China. The History Institute, held in Kenosha, WI, was cosponsored by the Clausen Center for World Business, Carthage College.

Walter A. McDougall, Co-Chair of the FPRI History Institute for Teachers and Alloy-Ansin Professor of International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses the development of democracy throughout the 19th century, from 1829 to 1877—and the many important historical events that took place during this period. This lecture was delivered as part of "America in the Civil War Era: A History Institute for Teachers," held May 17-18 at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Wachman Center and by the Clausen Center for World Business, Carthage College and Adult Education, Carthage College.

Audio and video options are available.

Director of the Bush Presidential Library Warren Finch describes his two favorite items in the library's collection: a ready-room chair from the World War II aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto; on which George Bush, Sr. served and a rock painting of Managua, Nicaragua, gifted to the library by Violeta Chamorro.

To watch this clip, scroll to "Warren Finch" under "Presentation: My Favorite Things," and select "Play."

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, examines several years of Abraham Lincoln's life, including Lincoln's continued opposition of Stephen Douglas's political views; his rise to presidential candidacy; the fevered presidential race that followed; the secession of Southern states in reaction to his election; and his First Inaugural Address. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Seven: Debating Douglas on the National Stage, 1857-1858."

To view this documentary, scroll to "Multimedia Slideshows," and select "The Campaign of the Century, 1859-1861."

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, examines several years of Abraham Lincoln's life, including his campaign for U.S. Senate against Stephen Douglas; his arguments against Douglas; the content of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates; and his failure to win the Senate position. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Six: Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Rise of the Republican Party, 1854-1856."

To view this documentary, scroll to "Multimedia Slideshows," and select "Debating Douglas on the National Stage, 1857-1858."

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, examines several years of Abraham Lincoln's life, including his return to politics in reaction to the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and his election to the state legislature and resignation to run for the Senate. The lecture describes both Lincoln's and the nation's reactions to the Kansas-Nebraska Act and to the possibility of extending slavery into the territories that it represented. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Five: Return to the Law, 1850-1853."

To view this documentary, scroll to "Multimedia Slideshows," and select "Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Rise of the Republican Party, 1854-1856."

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, examines several years of Abraham Lincoln's life, including the end of his term in Congress, his extended return to the practice of law in Illinois, the death of one son and birth of two others, and his continued program of self-education. The lecture also describes the political condition of the U.S. during these years, including tensions over extension of slavery into the territories. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Four: Congress and the Mexican War, 1844-1849."

To view this documentary, scroll to "Multimedia Slideshows," and select "Return to the Law, 1850-1853."