A commemorative essay series marking 250 years of American history has drawn contributions from three former presidents and numerous historians and authors, with some pieces appearing to address contemporary political tensions without directly naming current or recent leaders.
The “In Pursuit” project, curated by Colleen Shogan, the U.S. Archivist, instructed all contributors to avoid partisan or ideological framing. Shogan told the Associated Press that the goal was to allow all Americans to engage with historical lessons from the nation’s past. The project covers essays on 43 presidents—all except Joe Biden and Donald Trump—and 30 first ladies, with installments being released chronologically and weekly through December.
While Trump and Biden were determined to be too recent for historical assessment, several essays reflect what observers say are implicit commentaries on current governance debates. Former President George W. Bush’s essay on George Washington emphasizes the founding president’s voluntary relinquishment of power and adherence to the two-term limit, a framing that readers and analysts have connected to contemporary discussions about executive restraint. Retired General Stanley McChrystal’s essay on Ulysses S. Grant similarly stresses the importance of loyalty to constitutional principles over personal allegiance, a theme some observers say echoes present-day discussions about institutional integrity.
The project features contributions from Chief Justice John Roberts, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, among others. The essays frequently address both accomplishments and failures of historical presidents, an approach that contrasts with some calls for more celebratory historical narratives.
Shogan, who was dismissed from her position as archivist in February 2025 without stated explanation, is now directing the project through More Perfect, a nonpartisan coalition of presidential centers and democracy-focused organizations. The essay series has accumulated over 1 million views on Substack, with accompanying podcast and YouTube content reaching substantial audiences. A documentary about the project is scheduled for PBS broadcast in October.
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