President’s Day began as a day of remembrance for the birthday of George Washington, the nation’s first president who was born on February 22, 1732. Over the years, the holiday has evolved to also commemorate the lives and achievements of all those who have served as president.
In honor of President’s Day and to learn about how the presidency has evolved over the years, we turned to Political Science Professor Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan. She has an intimate knowledge of the presidency, having worked at the White House during President Bill Clinton’s administration and been involved in eight presidential campaigns.