About this episode

This episode explores the history and impact of the Presidential Fitness Test in American schools.

The Presidential Fitness Test has been a gym class staple for decades. Generations of Americans have performed pull-ups, sit-ups, mile runs and flexibility tests under the watchful eye of their sweaty peers. In the end, a select group of kids were given the coveted Presidential Physical Fitness Award. At the time, it all seemed *so important*! But was it, actually? Whose idea was it? And did it accomplish what it set out to do? Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: “A brief history of the bizarre and sadistic Presidential Fitness Test,” by Phil Edwards for Vox “Tools of the trade: The Presidential Physical Fitness test,” by Elissa Nadworny for NPR “The report that shocked the president,” by Robert Boyle for Sports Illustrated “The soft American,” by John F. Kennedy for Sports Illustrated “The origins of the Presidential Fitness Test,” by Vince Guerrieri for Mental Floss “Remember running the mile in school? The Presidential Fitness Test is coming back,” by Rachel Treisman for NPR “The first 50 years, 1956-2006,” by Julie Sturgeon and Janice Meer for the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports “The President’s…

People in this episode

Host: Kristin

Topics covered

• Presidential Fitness Test
• gym class
• physical fitness
• American history
• childhood experiences
• historical analysis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Vox, NPR, Sports Illustrated, Mental Floss, President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, International Journal of the History of Sport

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