The Public Papers of the President by NARA are searchable and browsable.
The American Memory Collection now includes a collection of 400 items from each of 62 Presidential inaugurations. Searchable and browsable.
Presidents of the U.S. is a reasonably comprehensive site.
Another comprehensive site on U.S. Presidents is POTUS.
The U.S. Blue Pages lists contacts within the federal government. Could be an excellent beginning place for an executive branch search.
Note that the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is available on the Superintendent of Documents website.
1. A patron has asked for a copy of the most recent Economic Report of the President. In particular, the patron is interested in information on budgeting for higher education. After recording a complete bibliographic citation for this document, briefly discuss intellectual access provided, and what you can find on federal budgeting for higher education.
2. You have been asked to give an introduction to information sources on the presidency to a course in political history. Discuss and compare the utility of these sources: Presidential Documents [AE 2.109], Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States [AE 2.11 4], and Codification of Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders [AE 2.113].
3. For a research paper, a political science student has to identify and analyze all of the executive orders and proclamations made by George Bush in a typical month. What would you suggest that he do? How many executive orders and proclamations would be made in a typical month?
4. You need to help a user find a Presidential Directive on Biodefense for the 21st Century. What is a Presidential Directive? You might begin with Presidential Directives and FAS Presidential Directives and Executive Orders site. What about hard copy sources?
5. A user needs a current list of the Cabinet members. Best quick source?
6. The Office of Management and Budget has considerable political and management power. Prepare an introduction to this office, including who is in charge and include some discussion of why it has been so powerful. Where might you locate information about OMB's current activities? You may include non-governmental sources.
*7. A high school teacher has asked you to speak to her junior U.S. history class on authoritative information [governmental and non-governmental] about the Presidency available on the web.
8. A patron has needs to learn more about the "plum book." What is it?
9. A graduate research assistant in political science has been asked to identify the presidential advisory committees and commissions dealing with agricultural topics. Discuss your strategy and the results.
10. A patron needs to know how many people work for the federal government. Strategy? Why is this a difficult question?
11.You have been asked to help a user find Chester A. Arthur's inaugural address.
12. A patron wants to know what President Bush has recently said about the airline crisis. What can you find?
13. The George Bush Presidential Library website has been described as the "model" for presidential websites. Compare this site with two other presidential library websites and note your conclusions. You may wish to begin with the NARA Presidential Libraries site.
14. A patron wants to know how many people work for the Office of Homeland Security. What can you discover? You might begin with their website, but examine other sources.
15. The Vice President has been relatively invisible in the past few months. What can you learn of his activities from official and non-official but authoritative sites?
