Ken Walsh presented “Celebrity in Chief: A History of the Presidents and the Culture of Stardom” on May 6 and 7, 2015 at the Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum. Walsh is an award-winning White House correspondent and presidential historian presented the lecture on his new book. Walsh discussed how the Obamas reached the point of the biggest political stars to occupy the White House. More importantly, he takes a detailed and comprehensive look at the history of America’s presidents as “celebrities in chief” since the beginning of the Republic. Walsh makes the point that modern presidents need to capitalize and build on their fame in order to propel their agendas and rally public support for themselves as national leaders so that they can get things done.
