Lectures For Lifelong Learners!

Michael Scheibach

Michael Scheibach

Michael Scheibach

American History

Expertise: Political & Social American History

Available for in-person lectures in: South FL

Available via Zoom? Yes

To book Michael, e-mail: dan@hudakonhollywood.com

Michael Scheibach, Ph.D., is an independent scholar, lecturer, and teacher who has taught most recently for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Miami and at Florida International University. Michael, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, received his bachelor’s degree in English and master’s degree in history from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and his doctorate in American Studies from the University of Kansas. He is retired after a career in the publishing industry, including business, trade, and educational publications, and has more than twenty years’ experience as an adjunct professor in history and humanities. Michael also has given in-person and Zoom presentations for venues around the country.

Michael, an avid collector of artifacts from the early cold war era, is the author of four books on the Atomic Age, including Atomic Narratives and American Youth, 1945-1955; Protecting the Home Front: Women in Civil Defense in the Early Cold War; Atomics in the Classroom: Teaching the Bomb in the Early Postwar Era; and Alert America: The Atomic Bomb and “The Show That May Save Your Life.” He is the editor of “In Case Atom Bombs Fall”: An Anthology of Governmental Explanations, Instructions, and Warnings from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Lectures include:

Zoom Demos

POLITICAL HISTORY

FROM WAR TO THE WHITE HOUSE: MILITARY VETERANS AS PRESIDENTS

Of the 45 men who have been president of the United States, 31 have war experience. This multimedia presentation focuses on five of these men who served during wartime and went on to lead the nation: George Washington, War of Independence; Ulysses S. Grant, the Mexican-American War and Civil War; Harry Truman, World War I; John F. Kennedy, World War II, and George H.W. Bush, World War II. This presentation offers insights into their military experiences and their presidential accomplishments.

PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP IN DIFFICULT TIMES

From war to a struggling economy to rapid social changes, presidents must be able to respond to any situation with decisiveness while displaying the leadership demanded by the American people. This presentation looks at eight exceptional presidents who rose to the occasion when faced with turbulent times: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson.

TRUMAN, EISENHOWER, KENNEDY, JOHNSON: PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP IN THE EARLY COLD WAR

The early Cold War from 1945-1968 was arguably the most critical period in America’s history. During this era the nation entered an Atomic Age and Cold War against the Soviet Union, underwent the expanse of consumer society and technology, experienced two wars, dealt with myriad social changes, and witnessed assassinations of the nation’s leaders. This presentation looks at this era that, fortunately, had four of our greatest presidents: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson.

HISTORICAL ERAS

THE PROGRESSIVE ERA, 1890-1920: THE BIRTH OF MODERN AMERICA

The Progressive Era, 1890-1920, was arguably the most impactful period in American history. The nation witnessed a massive influx of immigrants, rapid population growth, and social unrest. It also saw a transition to a more proactive presidency, a bevy of legislative acts, and new challenges to constitutional rights and freedoms. And by 1920, Americans could purchase modern appliances and automobiles, go to the movies, and enjoy the benefits of a modern nation. This multimedia presentation examines this important era that marks “The Birth of Modern America,” as well as its legacy today.

THE GREAT DEPRESSION: LIFE IN THE 1930s

On October 29, 1929, better known as “Black Tuesday,” the U.S. Stock Market crashed, setting off a nationwide panic and ultimately a “Great Depression” that lasted until the outbreak of World War II. This presentation looks at the decade of the 1930s, from Hoovervilles and Okies, to the New Deal and politics, to sports and the arts, to Hollywood’s Golden Era. In addition, this multimedia presentation discusses the origins of World War II with the rise of dictators in Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain.

HOLLYWOOD GOES TO WAR, 1940-1945

With the outbreak of World War II in Europe in 1939, Hollywood responded by turning its focus to movies about war with an emphasis on patriotism and heroism. From Sergeant York about World War I, to For Whom the Bell Tolls about the Spanish revolution, to They Were Expendable about the fall of The Philippines, the movies made from 1940 to 1945 represent some of the greatest movies made during Hollywood’s Golden Era. Plus, the presentation looks at five of the most notable directors of the time – John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens – who helped to document the war.

LIVING WITH THE ATOMIC BOMB, 1945-1965

In August of 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, bringing World War II to an end and opening the Atomic Age. Four years later, the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb, creating an atomic-armed adversary. This multimedia presentation looks at the impact of “The Bomb” on American politics and American society from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. This was a time when many in government as well as the American people thought an atomic war was not just a possibility but a probability. And it was a time when grown-ups drank atomic cocktails and children played with atomic toys, too.

LIFE IN THE (NOT SO) FABULOUS 1950s

“Life in the 1950s” explores one of America’s most pivotal decades in its history. The decade saw the heating up of the Cold War and the re-emergence of the civil rights movement, as well as a resurgence in the economy, the rapid expansion of suburbs, a burgeoning consumer society, and advances in technology, including television. This multimedia presentation explores what life was like for parents and for children in a decade often called “The Fabulous Fifties.”

SOCIAL/CULTURAL HISTORY

TWO GENERATIONS, TWO DECADES: THE 1950S AND 1960S

The World War II postwar era, from the late 1940s through the 1960s, saw perhaps the most significant impact of America’s younger generation in our history. But unlike many who cite the Baby Boom Generation as the primary movers during these years, this multimedia presentation takes a refreshing look at the two generations that shaped these times: the World War II Generation, those born between 1938 and 1945; and the Vietnam Generation, those born between 1946 and 1953. This multimedia presentation will offer a new, more accurate understanding of the 1950s and 1960s.

IMMIGRATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY

The United States began as a country of immigrants, and over the course of our history millions of immigrants have entered the country and become contributing members of society. Today, however, there are growing concerns about immigration, especially those entering the country from South and Central America. This multimedia presentation provides an insightful look at the history of immigration from colonial times to the present, including the dark side of immigration: the social persecution and political actions against Jewish, Catholic, Chinese, and Mexican immigrants.

PROTECTING THE HOME FRONT: WOMEN IN CIVIL DEFENSE DURING THE 1950s

The Federal Civil Defense Administration estimated that 70 percent of the volunteers in the nation’s civil defense program were women. From auxiliary police officers and block wardens to nurses and communications specialists, women of all ages and backgrounds participated in the nation’s civil defense during the early Cold War, when many believed an atomic attack by the Soviet Union was a probability, not a possibility. This presentation looks at the many ways women helped to protect the home front.

DISCRIMINATION IN AMERICA: RACE, ETHNICITY, RELIGION

The first African slaves arrived in America in 1619, and slavery soon become part of the fabric of American society until it finally ended in 1865. Discrimination against Black Americans continued, however, and remains a reality in our society. Blacks are not the only victims of discrimination, however. Ethnic and religious discrimination also has plagued the nation from its earliest beginnings. This multimedia presentation takes a sweeping look at the history of discrimination in all its forms and provides insights into where we are as a nation today.

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dan@hudakonhollywood.com