Shogan argues that the public seeks nonpartisan, accessible historical lessons that illuminate present governance without partisan bias.

Context includes Trump’s firing of Shogan in 2025 and ongoing questions about archival transparency and congressional notification, with the White House not commenting on these events.

The project features broader historical scope, including profiles of Millard Fillmore and Franklin Pierce to illustrate diverse narratives within U.S. history.

A forthcoming PBS documentary in October will accompany the essays, which also highlight lesser-discussed figures like Millard Fillmore and Franklin Pierce to broaden the historical narrative.

The overarching goal is to debrief the American story by examining both successes and failures over 250 years, presenting history without partisan slant.

To mark the United States’ 250th anniversary, the In Pursuit project features essays by former presidents and other prominent figures, including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, who discuss past presidents and first ladies without naming Donald Trump.

Colleen Shogan, the U.S. archivist who was fired by Trump, curates the series with a nonpartisan, historically grounded aim to inform current and future governance.

The essays draw leadership lessons from figures like George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt, emphasizing humility, constitutional adherence, and the balance between power and principle.

The project stresses contemporary relevance by drawing parallels between historical leadership and today’s concerns about power, democracy, and constitutional norms, including reflections on Trump-era debates.

More Perfect, a coalition of presidential centers and scholars, organizes the project, with Shogan noting strong public interest and substantial multimedia engagement, including a PBS documentary planned for October.

Published weekly through December, the series has attracted over a million Substack views and broad listenership and viewership across podcasts and YouTube.

The essays address both achievements and failures of presidents, reflecting contemporary anxieties about power and democracy in a nonpartisan frame.