Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., issued this news release earlier this week.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Britannica Publishes “The American Presidency”

Chief executives from Washington to Obama covered
in full-color volume for K-12 students 

CHICAGO, February 16, 2009—Compton’s by Britannica, an imprint of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., has just published The American Presidency, a lavishly illustrated volume with extensive coverage of every president of the United States from George Washington to Barack Obama.

The book, written and designed for students ages 10-17, contains an extensive profile of each president that includes a detailed biography, the president’s signature, the name of his vice president, a profile of the first lady, and a timeline of his life and career.

Other features describe the Cabinet, the White House, how presidents are elected, historical election results, the presidential flag, and the presidential seal and its history. With over 175 images, 43 timelines, and 33 world events maps, the book provides a rich journey through U.S. history.

It also includes an introductory essay on the presidency by Thomas J. Craughwell, a presidential scholar and author of “Stealing Lincoln’s Body.”

“The beginning of a new presidency is a good time to call students’ attention to the institution, its history, and the many different men who have held the office,” said Michael Ross, a senior vice president at Encyclopaedia Britannica. “This up-to-date book does it in a way students will enjoy—with clear writing, vivid pictures, and excellent special features.”

The American Presidency is priced at $29.95. Schools and libraries interested in it or any of Britannica’s products may call 1-800-621-3900 or go to http://info.eb.com.

About Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. is a leader in educational publishing. The company’s encyclopedias and other products can be found in many media, from the Internet to cell phones to books. A pioneer in electronic publishing since the early 1980s, the company also still publishes the 32-volume Encyclopaedia Britannica, along with educational online services such as Britannica SmartMath and Britannica Online School Edition and new printed products such as Britannica Illustrated Science Library. Britannica’s editorial operation is overseen by some of the world’s most distinguished scholars. The company makes its headquarters in Chicago.

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Contact:
Tom Panelas
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
312-347-7309
tpanelas@eb.com

Steven Chu—director of the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a professor of physics at U.C. Berkeley, a 1997 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics, and author of Britannica’s entry on spectroscopy—has been tapped by President-elect Barack Obama to be his Secretary of Energy.

He joins on Obama’s team another Berkeley colleague and Britanncia contributor, economist Christina Romer, author of the economic sections of Britannica’s extensive article on the Great Depression. Professor Romer will be chairing the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Reposted from the Britannica Blog

“The nation’s founders originally intended the presidency to be a narrowly restricted institution,” says the Encyclopaedia Britannica about the highest political office in the United States.

Those founders would, to say the least, be surprised if they could see what has happened to the presidency since then.

The office, whose occupant the article goes on to say is “arguably the most powerful elected official in the world,” has undergone significant changes since George Washington took the oath in 1789.  Today, as Americans prepare to elect the country’s 44th chief executive, you can get extensive background on the presidency and its history from Britannica, and, if you have a Web site of your own, provide those same resources to your readers with links to Britannica’s material. 

Highlights:    

• “presidency of the United States of America,” in the Encyclopaedia Britannica.  An extensive treatment on the office of the presidency, its powers and duties, its history, and transformation in the 20th century. 
• “Encyclopaedia Britannica Profiles the American Presidency,” a special Web site that focuses on the institution as well as on presidential campaigns and elections.  It includes bios of the presidents, vice presidents, and first ladies; vote tallies from every election; photos of campaign memorabilia; and special essays by presidential scholars.   It’s fun to browse this site, and you’ll probably learn some things you didn’t know.  Did you realize, for example, that Ulysses S. Grant’s main opponent in 1872 was newspaper mogul Horace Greeley?  That the Prohibition Party was a significant presence in the election of 1928 (and that the Prohibition Party still exists)?  
• Articles on the three remaining major candidates in this year’s election: Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Barack Obama.

You can link from your own site to any of these features, or download this widget, with a collection of Britannica articles on the presidency, and post it on your site.  Your visitors will be able to click on the links and access the articles in their entirety.