Research Guides: *Politics: U.S. Presidency

Getting Started with a Topic

American Presidency Project This link opens in a new window
Documents related to the study of the President, including proclamations, presidential signing statements, messages and papers, nomination acceptance speeches, approval ratings.
Public Papers of the Presidents This link opens in a new window
Public writings, addresses, and remarks, 1929 to current. For earlier presidents, see Messages and papers of the presidents, 1789-1897 or search CBBcat by president's name and papers or writings.

Miller Center
Transcripts of White House tapes, speeches, oral histories, and images.

Comparative Agendas Project This link opens in a new window
Datasets on the national policy agenda and public policy outcomes since WWII. Includes statistics on executive orders and State of the Union speeches. Choose United States under "Select a Project."

Presidential Libraries
From Hoover onward - presidential libraries may have digitized documents.

Compilation of Presidential Documents This link opens in a new window
Statements, messages, and other Presidential materials released by the White House during the preceding week. Publication dates: 1993 to present weekly compilation of presidential documents daily compilation of presidential documents

Digital National Security Archive (DNSA) This link opens in a new window
Declassified government documents on U.S. foreign and military policy. Publication dates: 1945 to the present.

See Elections Research Guide for extensive resources.

Presidential Elections - Roper Center
See "How Groups Voted" for votes by demographic groups. 1976-present.
The Living Room Candidate
An online collection of television commercials for campaigns from 1952-2012.

CIS Index to Presidential Executive Orders & Proclamations
Includes chronological list of executive orders, Washington to Wilson.
Executive Order Disposition Tables
Current status of EOs, 1937-present.
Executive Orders in the Federal Register
In Nexis Uni. Publication dates: 1936-present.
Codification of Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders
Edited and re-arranged text of Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders from April 13, 1945 to January 20, 1989