In the early days of June, 1787, in the thick of the Constitutional Convention, a debate unfolded that would test the fate of the young American nation. Four years after the end of the American Revolution, the United States still had no functioning Executive branch. The Convention sought a solution that would eventually create one of the most hallowed institutions of the United States government: the presidency. In this episode, join Rick Atkinson, Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, Dr. Bruce Ragsdale, Dr. Patrick Spero, and Dr. Peter Kastor to explore the foundations of the American presidency and the first presidential election.

For free videos, lesson plans, and more, visit our website.

Written and directed by Dr. Anne Fertig. Narrated by Tom
Plott with additional voice acting by Matt Mattingly, Dr. James Ambuske, Matt Mattingly, Breck Pappas, and Adam Erby.

Inventing the Presidency is a Production of the Mount Vernon
Ladies’ Association and CD Squared Productions.