The phrase “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is, I believe, one of the few portions of the Declaration of Independence that most Americans can recite from memory.[1] It is no surprise that two groups have chosen “In Pursuit” as the title for history-based projects For America 250.

I reviewed one of those projects on my previous post.  On to round two!

I first became aware of More Perfect, [2]  a bipartisan alliance of presidential centers, foundations and sites, and its  In Pursuit project several months ago when writing friend Heath Hardage Lee announced that she was contributing an essay on Pat Nixon to the project. She was rightly excited by the prospect.

The project’s director, Dr. Colleen J. Shogan, former archivist of the United States, describes In Pursuit as “the most ambitious history-based civics project in the United States for 2026.” The project begins with the idea that American democracy is an evolving experiment, in which each generation reinterprets the country’s founding principles in response to new challenges. Its goal is to consider the most important lessons of American’s last 250 years, looking through the lens of presidents and first ladies. Under Hogan’s direction, a cohort of historians, journalists, public servants, and former presidents and first ladies have contributed short essays about each of our presidents and selected first ladies. The first essay, on George Washington, written by George W. Bush, was released on February 16; the final essays, on the Obamas, will release on the week of December 7. The project includes a podcast, with Shogan in conversation with historians and journalists, talking about their subjects in more depth than a 1200 word essay allows.

Fascinating as the inhabitants of the White House are, I think some of the most important historical lessons could be drawn from less elevated perspectives. That said, several months ago, I realized just how little I know about most of the first ladies. This is an excellent chance to learn more. I’ve enjoyed the essays thus far– the most recent essay, on Julia Grant, was an eye-opener. I will continue to follow along as new essays and podcast episodes are released.

You can find more about In Pursuit here

[1] I would like to claim I can recite the entire thing, but in reality I peter out after “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another….” Then my brain skips down to “We hold these truths to be self evident.” What about you?

[2] Another quotable phrase, this time from the preamble to the Constitution—the Founding Fathers could really write.