Nearly every poll of presidential scholars ranks Franklin D. Roosevelt among the top five American presidents—most often in the top three. This two-hour Zoom seminar examines why FDR commands such enduring respect. The discussion begins with the idea that presidential greatness is forged through extraordinary challenges, placing Roosevelt alongside George Washington and Abraham Lincoln at pivotal moments in U.S. history. The first hour explores FDR’s background and the personal and political trials that prepared him to lead the nation through the Great Depression. The second hour focuses on his final two terms, as he guided the United States and its allies through World War II. The seminar concludes with a balanced assessment of Roosevelt’s achievements, limitations, and lasting legacy.

Thomas Jefferson referred to the First Amendment as creating a “wall of separation” between church and state as the third president of the U.S. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black famously stated in Everson v. Board of Education that “[t]he First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state,” and “[t]hat wall must be kept high and impregnable.” This two-hour seminar will look at the origins of “the wall of separation” as well as its supporters and critics.

The five vital signs that measure a person’s health are blood pressure, body temperature, breathing rate, heart rate, and pain. However another vital sign that is becoming clinically recognized as a critical indicator of health is walking speed. In a recent meta-analysis review, walking speed was a highly accurate predictor of life expectancy than just age or gender. In fact, walking speed predicted other health indicators such as cognitive function, mental, and physical well-being. Within this series we will explore a set of studies scientists used to make these claims and what we can do to live longer, healthier lives.