Allen Priest
Ph.D. in History from Western University (2021), with an M.A. from Trent University (2015)
My current research interests centre on the intersection between political leadership and masculinity at the height of the Cold War, in both Canada and the United States. My doctoral dissertation explores three presidential elections in the United States and six federal elections in Canada between 1949 and 1963. It argues that stereotypical masculine archetypes, rationalized as necessary to defend against communism, were considered by the voters as a definite factor in selecting prime ministers and presidents. It uses electoral politics, as a new gateway to examine the concept of "domestic containment" and its extension into the political sphere. Furthermore, its bi-national approach, in contrasting Canada and the United States, demonstrates that Canadian politics, and society, was heavily influenced by Cold War masculinity, crafted in the flames of the Red Scare.
My M.A. thesis entitled "Beyond Paris: Jacqueline Kennedy and the Presidency," works to redefine the standard historical image surrounding America's 35th First Lady. It positions Jackie as a calculating figure in shaping the international and domestic image of her husband's administration. In the realm of foreign policy, she worked hard to build relationships with foreign leaders. Domestically, she sought to create a renewed sense of national pride in American history through the resotration of the White House. Following her husband's assassination, she turned these talents on the creation of the "Camelot" legacy, and orchestrated his funeral into a nationally symbolic spectacle. At the height of the Cold War, Jacqueline Kennedy's tenure as First Lady reveals a calculated effort to elevate America's global image, in service of her husband's goals.
Supervisors: Dr. David Sheinin (Masters Supervisor) and Dr. Aldona Sendzikas (Doctoral Supervisor)
Address: Canada
My current research interests centre on the intersection between political leadership and masculinity at the height of the Cold War, in both Canada and the United States. My doctoral dissertation explores three presidential elections in the United States and six federal elections in Canada between 1949 and 1963. It argues that stereotypical masculine archetypes, rationalized as necessary to defend against communism, were considered by the voters as a definite factor in selecting prime ministers and presidents. It uses electoral politics, as a new gateway to examine the concept of "domestic containment" and its extension into the political sphere. Furthermore, its bi-national approach, in contrasting Canada and the United States, demonstrates that Canadian politics, and society, was heavily influenced by Cold War masculinity, crafted in the flames of the Red Scare.
My M.A. thesis entitled "Beyond Paris: Jacqueline Kennedy and the Presidency," works to redefine the standard historical image surrounding America's 35th First Lady. It positions Jackie as a calculating figure in shaping the international and domestic image of her husband's administration. In the realm of foreign policy, she worked hard to build relationships with foreign leaders. Domestically, she sought to create a renewed sense of national pride in American history through the resotration of the White House. Following her husband's assassination, she turned these talents on the creation of the "Camelot" legacy, and orchestrated his funeral into a nationally symbolic spectacle. At the height of the Cold War, Jacqueline Kennedy's tenure as First Lady reveals a calculated effort to elevate America's global image, in service of her husband's goals.
Supervisors: Dr. David Sheinin (Masters Supervisor) and Dr. Aldona Sendzikas (Doctoral Supervisor)
Address: Canada
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Peer-Reviewed Articles by Allen Priest
Book Reviews by Allen Priest
Doctoral Dissertation by Allen Priest
Early chapters, which follow the political tenures of Louis St. Laurent and Dwight Eisenhower, establish that their ability to project themselves as reassuring, paternalistic father-figures was crucial to their electoral success. When combined with the portrayal of opponents as outside the bounds of hegemonic masculinity, it was a strategy that won elections. However, as the 1950s progressed, concerns about nuclear weaponry and fears about eroding manhood entered the public discourse. These new anxieties quickly rendered the paternalistic approach to governance insufficient. In its place, a more forceful brand of leadership emerged. It was focused on countering the malaise of the late 1950s by utilizing the nostalgia of the “self-made man” and promising a return to the individualism of the frontier-era. The candidacies of both John Diefenbaker and John F. Kennedy benefitted greatly from this approach, as both men promised to push towards “new” frontiers.
Masters Thesis by Allen Priest
Interviews by Allen Priest
Early chapters, which follow the political tenures of Louis St. Laurent and Dwight Eisenhower, establish that their ability to project themselves as reassuring, paternalistic father-figures was crucial to their electoral success. When combined with the portrayal of opponents as outside the bounds of hegemonic masculinity, it was a strategy that won elections. However, as the 1950s progressed, concerns about nuclear weaponry and fears about eroding manhood entered the public discourse. These new anxieties quickly rendered the paternalistic approach to governance insufficient. In its place, a more forceful brand of leadership emerged. It was focused on countering the malaise of the late 1950s by utilizing the nostalgia of the “self-made man” and promising a return to the individualism of the frontier-era. The candidacies of both John Diefenbaker and John F. Kennedy benefitted greatly from this approach, as both men promised to push towards “new” frontiers.