Five Obscure Presidents (And Why They Matter)

Lifelong Learning | FULL (Membership Required)

9000 Babcock Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15237 United States
Ryan Room
10/29/2026-12/3/2026
11:00 AM-12:30 PM EDT on Th
11/13/2026

Five Obscure Presidents (And Why They Matter)

Lifelong Learning | FULL (Membership Required)

Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt (Theodore and Franklin), and a handful of other Presidents are household names. Their images appear on money; cities, towns, and schools are named for them, and one, Andrew Jackson, is associated with an entire age. Their impact on American society is unquestionable. However, there are a handful of lesser-known Chief Executives (Van Buren, Polk, Tyler, Pierce, and Hayes) whose decisions changed the course of American history. This course will study their Presidencies and explain why they matter.

L Jon Grogan

L. Jon Grogan, PhD, has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Tufts University, a master’s degree in public history from the University of San Diego, and a PhD in American history (with a minor concentration in African colonial history) from Loyola University Chicago. He is also a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer. He teaches for OLLI programs across the country.