Date of Award
3-24-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
First Advisor
Charles Romney
Abstract
In this work, the author argues that the funeral of an American President constitutes a final venue from which the president can communicate with the American public. In this “speech” the president can make subtle statements about which parts of their lives they want to be remembered for. The work’s argument is illustrated through a case study analyzing the 2018 funeral of President George H.W. Bush, backed by oral history interviews with individuals who had attended the funeral in an official capacity. The author closes the work by insisting that the presidential funeral offers a window into the mind of a former president that should be considered by historians as they interpret the life and legacy of an American president.
Recommended Citation
Shuman, Aaron Lee, "Farewell to the Chief: The American Presidential Funeral" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 1063.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/1063
