Product Description
A vivid portrait of a man whose pre- and post-presidential careers overshadowed his presidency.

Chosen by the House of Representatives after an inconclusive election against Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams often failed to mesh with the ethos of his era, pushing unsuccessfully for a strong, consolidated national government. Historian Robert V. Remini recounts how in the years before his presidency Adams was a shrewd, influential diplomat, and later, as a dynamic secretary of state under President James Monroe, he solidified many basic aspects of American foreign policy, including the Monroe Doctrine. Undoubtedly his greatest triumph was the negotiation of the Transcontinental Treaty, through which Spain acknowledged Florida to be part of the United States. After his term in office, he earned the nickname "Old Man Eloquent" for his passionate antislavery speeches.
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Customer Reviews (27)

A good overview of JQA...
The Schlesinger series has its ups and downs, but this is a bright spot. Remini examines the man's strengths and weaknesses, and gives you a great idea about why JQA was only a one termer. He delves into the frayed marriage of JQA and Louisa, and his struggle as a parent. But, contrary to what another reviewer says, it does give him great credit for his successes as Secretary of State and as a Congressman, as well as his private citizen foray into the Amistad matter. A good primer on the man, which is the purpose of the short books of the Schlesinger series.

Will Make You WANT To Keep Turning The Pages
To be honest, the first five books of the "American Presidents" series (excluding, ironically enough, the John Adams installment) were somewhat of a chore for me to get through.Unless you are obsessed with that time period, and not just fascinated by the Presidential Office and looking to gain a bit more history like myself, at times the series can get a bit bogged down in details and philosophy.This "chapter", however, has been the easiest to get through to this point, as author Robert Remini keeps the narrative moving forward and doesn't get lost in the fine details.

Basically, Remini paints a fascinating portrait of our nation's sixth president, a man whose entire administration was steeped in controversy from the very beginning, and whose impeccable honor did not permit him to stoop to the level of his aggravators.While reading, I began to see both sides of "JQA"...the man of great principle who so desperately wanted (much like his father) to be "above" the realm of politics; as well as the shrewd orator with the fiery temper who could argue a case like no other.

Perhaps what really made me admire this, installment, though, was the focus on JQA himself, not the current world events.Sure, the events taking place during Adams' administration are going to play a large role in the book, but they are tempered (unlike the earlier works) to be viewed through the prism of Adams, not explained in every minute detail.

Thus, I considered this to be the best effort of the series up to this point.For whatever reason, the stories of both "Adams Presidents" have been the most compelling and well-written.

A good starting place
Remini's book on John Quincy Adams is as good a starting place as any.What was odd about the book is that it spent so much time on his younger days and seemingly less time on the period of his life where he was the most influential.While JQA's early life and time in Europe was certainly interesting, I would have preferred a more in depth look at his thinking during his days in Congress.The book is brief and so it there is little room to quote extensively from Adam's or his contemporaries, and while source material does appear, it isn't enough to give the reader the sense that Remini's interpretations of JQA and his motives are conclusive.In fact, the book leaves you with more questions than it answers.If you are looking for a basic introduction to the subject area, then this is an excellent choice.If your preference is for deeper, scholarly material...look elsewhere.

A President with ideals.
JQA reminds me of Jimmy Carter.Here was a man with ideals who wished to point the country in a direction and failed miserably.Much of what is said about JQA was mudslinging by his political opponents like Calhoun or Jackson.He was against slavery, wanted progress for the nation in scienitific and exploration projects, and development.The opposition effectively shut him down by attacking his character and intelligence.JQA tried his best, but failed to lead.His personal demeanor was not political, and this also cost him support.

JQA ultimately failed to lead.However his career after the Presidency resulted in him being elected to Congress for nine terms.His oratory made its point in Congress.His ideals shown through.Ultimately he was a patriotic idealist.

JQA
Great, concise biography.You will want to read another in-depth bio after this one.You can't read enough about these great ones. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Excellent title
I've read a few of the books in this series so far and I think this is one of the better ones. It covers the life and career of George Bush, and like every other book in this series, intentionally glosses over many things in the name of brevity. However, the book still manages to cover many of the salient points of this president who often suffers by having come between two of the most popular and charismatic presidents of recent times. Additionally, it gives a good overview of some of the aspects of the man himself and some of the issues he grappled with that many people may not remember or know about. This is a president who served one term and quickly faded from memory, but was actually involved in a number of high profile events, not the least of which was the effective end of the cold war and the sea change in Eastern European politics.

I would say that this book begins with a fair and favorable assessment of Bush and ends that way. In between, there are some sections that are not so positive and make him out to have been somewhat out of his league or not up to the tasks at hand. The coverage of the Iran-Contra scandal is especially ambiguous in that it clearly suggests Bush was not completely innocent but stops short of accusing him of wrongdoing. However, the author clearly comes down on the side of believing that Bush was the right man for the job and that he displayed a great deal of integrity and wisdom in much of what he did. His approach to international relations and his attempts at making domestic progress are seen here as being well-intentioned, and in many cases, successful.

As is the case with all of the presidential biographies in this series, this book is more of a beginning point than anything. The casual reader will enjoy remembering the career of Bush but the serious reader or researcher will want to go beyond what is found here.

Read My Lips...And Read This Book!
"George H.W. Bush" provides the reader with an interesting insight into the life, career and even the soul of one of our recent presidents.Born into a patrician, political family, this son of a United States Senator was taught from an early age to value loyalty, service and character.Through the pages of this book we learn how George H.W. Bush lived out these values as he strode across the world stage.

In this volume of the American Presidents Series, author Timothy Naftali was limited in the length of his, but yet he has brought us a work which digs below the surface as it analyzes the president who was hard, for many, to know.

This book covers a whole life, not just his presidency.Beginning with his youth, it leads us through his service as the youngest Navy pilot in World War II, during which he lost his crew when their plane was shot down, his business career and early entry into politics.Starting as County Chairman, Bush ran an unsuccessful race for the U.S. Senate before settling in for two terms in the House of Representatives.After another defeat for the Senate, he entered a period of appointive positions, including Ambassador to the United Nations, Representative to China, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Chairman of the Republican National Committee.Throughout this period, Bush repeatedly angled for the Vice-Presidential nods from Nixon and Ford before getting it from Reagan.

Ready to run for office again, Bush set his sights on the top in 1980, waging a valiant but unsuccessful challenge to the front runner, Ronald Reagan.Serving as a loyalvice-president, Bush gained the experience, and some taint of scandal, which would figure in his eventual succession to the Presidency.
As President, Bush faced a series of challenges, including the management of victory in the Cold War, the savings and loan crisis, the lingering effects of Iran Contra, which could have tarnished Bush's reputation more than it did, Operation Just Cause in Panama and the infamous betray of the "Read My Lips" promise of no more taxes.

The George H.W. Bush Administration will be mostly remembered for Operation Desert Storm in which forces of the coalition which he molded drove Sadam Hussein out of Iraq, but left him in power, only to be dealt with by another George Bush.In telling the story of the Washington end of Desert Storm, Naftali brings the reader into the rationale and the surprises which led to the victory which was obtained.He confirmed my suspicion that the administration was counting on a coup which would topple Sadam from power without the need of a military conquest.

After Victory in the Desert, Bush entered a political downward spiral which led to the bitterness and disappointment that followed his defeat by Bill Clinton.The book explains why Bush was unable to connect with the people for whom he had achieved victory.

Naftali does a good job at demonstrating why Bush was so unsuccessful in developing a loyal political following.He follows the development of this moderate Republican into a Reagan Conservative who then tried to become his own man without alienating the Reaganites who formed his political base.The people who elected him did not really know him and when Ross Perot offered a new and different candidate, many deserted Bush to follow a new leader.In the end, Bush suffered a rejection unprecedented since William Howard Taft.

Despite his political failings, Naftali makes the point that, for a time in his administration, Bush achieved the status of greatness.When confronted with the international challenges of the end of the Cold War and the start of the struggle with Iraq, Bush skillfully brought the forces of the world together in a way that few other leaders have.In this, Bush makes his mark on history.

Although short, this book enables the reader to see President Bush from a different perspective and gain a deeper understanding of him.Although not an apology for its subject, it does evidence a deep respect.It has changed my view of this period of history.A book that can do that is a valuable read.

One of the better presidents.
Well I too thought that George H. W. Bush was a better president than either the previous occupant or Clinton.He was a wise man who counciled patience and caution.He also wasn't afraid to break a campaign pledge that hurt the country.Unfortunately crazy conservatives killed him in the primaries and Clinton smiled his way to the Presidency.After his son's disasterous presidency, George H. W. Bush is looking much better.
The author makes these points in his book.This is an interesting read about a controversial president.I thought Tim's biography was unbiased.His appraisal of Bush shows both his strengths and weaknesses.However, the author does show the innate goodness of this man.

A worthy addition to the American Presidents series.This is a nice read about a modern U.S. President.

Interesting but not very insightful
I have to say that I found Timothy Naftali's work to be interesting.He did provide a broad brush overview of Bush 41 but did not really give us any insights that couldn't be gleaned from other people's memoir's. It would seem to me that he read what Bob Woodward, Colin Powell, Norman Schwartzcroft and company had to say and simply gleaned off his own interpretation.Granted I don't think the books in this series are supposed to be of tremendous relevance for the more recent presidents, but I certainly hope that for future generations they can provide details on the lesser known ones.

I think this is an interesting and very light read but it does tend in my opinion to reinforce the notion that George H.W. Bush was as much an observer of history than a participant.He was the guy who just happened to be sitting in the Oval Office when this stuff happened and his presence really didn't have that much to do with the rapid changes in the world at the time and quite the opposite, he nearly prevented them from happening.Anyway it's an interesting afternoon read, but don't expect to come away very impressed with Bush 41.

Released too soon
I have this book and my comments are not on the quality of the writing or the information presented. This book should not have been released until after Mr. Bush's death. This was done for Ford's biography in this series and I'm sure it will be done for Carter's. Mr. Bush has many years left to serve on the boards of directors of many a corporation before he passes on. I doubt he'll accomplish anything profound in that time, but if he does it will be lost in this volume. ... Read more

Product Description
An intimate portrait of the first president of the 20th century

The American century opened with the election of that quintessentially American adventurer, Theodore Roosevelt. Louis Auchincloss's warm and knowing biography introduces us to the man behind the many myths of Theodore Roosevelt. From his early involvement in the politics of New York City and then New York State, we trace his celebrated military career and finally his ascent to the national political stage. Caricatured through history as the "bull moose," Roosevelt was in fact a man of extraordinary discipline whose refined and literate tastes actually helped spawn his fascination with the rough-and-ready worlds of war and wilderness.

Bringing all his novelist's skills to the task, Auchincloss briskly recounts the significant contributions of Roosevelt's career and administration. This biography is as thorough as it is readable, as clear-eyed as it is touching and personal.
Amazon.com Review
Theodore Roosevelt was a man of contradictions: a warrior who won the Nobel Peace prize, a wealthy man who battled corporate greed, a thinker who prized action more than words (but who wrote fine books himself).

He was also, writes Louis Auchincloss in this lucid biography, an extraordinary leader, "a political idealist who had the wisdom to know that only by astute and well-considered compromise in our legislative process could he hope to see enacted even a fraction of the social and military programs that he deemed ... essential to the welfare of his nation." Compromise he did, of course, though in the end the war hero and trustbuster could not bring the right wing of the Republican Party to see the wisdom of his reformist ways. The result, Auchincloss chronicles, was a terrible split, bringing about the defection of liberals from that once-liberal institution and the birth of a political war that still rages.

With a keen eye for political nuance and a clear appreciation for Teddy Roosevelt as a one-of-a-kind, self-made man, Auchincloss offers an engaging view of a great American president. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Good Cliff Notes Version of Teddy Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most dynamic presidents in the history of our country. After being born in affluence, he established himself as a man's man by becoming the leader of a crew of rough country characters and city men and leading them in the Spanish-American conflict in Cuba. He himself led the charge up San Juan hill which proved to be pivotal in winning the battle.

He also had stints as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Commissioner of Police in New York City, Governor of New York, Vice President, and ultimately President following the assassination of William McKinley. Throughout his life, he was a diligent reader and even endeavored on writing several books himself. He had a very excitable and strong personality with a constant bent towards leadership and inspiring others to his vision.

The only short coming of this book is the concise almost cliff notes story of his life. He had so many exciting experiences and such vivacity of life that I would liked to gone into more depth and may check out additional accounts of his life.

Concise to a fault
Masterful writing and insightful information does not make up for what is essentially introductory material into the amazing life of Theodore Roosevelt. Divided chronologically, the author uses a macro-historical look at the political mosaic of Roosevelt's life. Using letters, quotes, and documented research, we find a slightly biased yet fair treatment of Roosevelt's complexity and world-view.

Putting to rest the criticism of imperialism, the author demonstrates TR's philosophy of caring for the people, for nature, for the nation, for his family, and his relentless commitment to excellence in all pursuits. Several asides about hunting, ending corruption, and some contradictory information found in various letters, add a glow to this little biography, providing an excellent overview of TR's life. Especially satisfactory were the pieces on the Panama and the criticisms of both Taft and Wilson.

Yet in spite of the fine writing and the keen perceptions provided, the book felt rather confusing at times. Excess detail quickly gave way to broad generalizations. Good stories seemed to dissolve and replaced with a need to get to the end. Most likely the writer was slightly uncomfortable in the genre and desired a more creative outlet for his ability.

For those seeking a truncated biography laced with nice tidbits of political information on TR, this is the one. Anyone wanting more depth and personal information should find a complete biography.

A Concise Biography
Obviously, a 140 page biography is far from complete.I would recommend "Theodore Rex" as a much more thorough biography.But what this biography lacks in completeness, it compensates for with some the more obscure elements of Roosevelt's life.Particular attention is paid to family life and Roosevelt's social views.

Just from the pages devoted, one might assume that Roosevelt's term as president was brief.The amount of pages devoted to his greatest time seems rather odd.Furthermore, the author does not shy away from Roosevelt's short-comings.The partisan rants of Roosevelt during Woodrow Wilson's terms in office tarnish Roosevelt's legacy of leadership.

In many ways, Roosevelt was the first "green" president with his protection of forestry and expanding national forests from 42 million acres to 172 acres during his term and created 51 national wildlife refuges.This is a trait that people from both sides of the aisle can admire.

A model for the next four (or eight) years?
History never ends;it merely repeats similar but never identical challenges and opportunities and thus determines the fate of nations and leaders by the response to old events in new settings.

And so, President Theodore Roosevelt is a prototype for Barack Obama.It makes this 2002 book a guide to the next four years, perhaps a forecast for the next century.

The popular image of Roosevelt is a Rough Rider vigorously charging up San Juan Hill like a Bull Moose-- the Rambo, or perhaps Dumbo, of his generation.This book offers a more astute portrait of a complex intellect who used bravado and the Bully Pulpit as images and not as a crutch.

Roosevelt inherited the Gilded Age excesses, just as Obama inherits the wreckage of the Greedy Age;his guiding principle, shaped by his vigorous response to devastating asthmatic attacks as a child, was "the classic credo that every man is master of his fate."

He became president when the Great Powers, real or in sorry delusions, were Britain, France, Germany, Austria/Hungary, Russia and Japan.Due to his intellect and ability, he became the moderator of their disputes.The Great White Fleet was a powerful image;Roosevelt was the intellect to which they listened.

Had he been president in 1914, could he have prevented or stopped World War I?Auchincloss raises this issue and concludes Roosevelt was deluding himself;however, based on his successes in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905 and the Moroccan Crisis of 1906, he might have succeeded.

Roosevelt's words were often bravado, but his actions were common sense and realistic.For example, in 1895 he advocated "an immediate war with Great Britain for the conquest of Canada."In 1903, when faced with the Alaska-Canada border dispute, he settled for negotiation (Canada has never lost a war with the U.S., or won an argument).

In conclusion, this is a brief but superb study of Roosevelt's character and major decisions.In some ways he was greatly flawed, but it many ways greatly talented and wise.It's easy to be president if no major decisions are required--think of Millard Fillmore, president from 1850-53;Roosevelt is an example of the ability to respond to great challenges.

May America do as well in the next four to eight years.

Great Introduction to TR
Louis Auchincloss is one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, and while he has certainly received a notable number of awards and sold great numbers of books during a 50+ year career, he is underappreciated in my estimation.

This short and imminently readable biography of Theodore Roosevelt shows Auchincloss the historian, not Auchincloss the novelist, at his finest -- though of course, his narrative powers developed in writing novels certainly add to the liveliness.Weighing in at about 150 pages, including notes and timelines, this book is a great introduction to TR for either the serious student of history or the political gadfly.

I can also imagine it being used to great effect in a classroom, given its length and the clarity of its prose. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

The "Accidental" President
For the first time in U.S. history, a sitting U.S. President (William Henry Harrison) died in office, thus promoting the vice president (in this case John Tyler) into the "captain's chair".This is the story of that first "accidental" president.

Though the inauguration of Tyler started the presidential trend of moving away from the "Virginia Dynasties", and also moving away from the characters that are household names, author Gary May still manages to make the Tyler presidency both relevant and interesting.

What I really like about this book is its ability to shed light both on Tyler's personal life, as well as the background of his political life and times.Basically, there is nothing here to discourage you from continuing with this series.

Pretty well done biography of John Tyler
Trivia question: Who was the first Vice President to rise to the Presidency as a result of the death of a sitting President? Answer: John Tyler, who became President after the death of William Henry Harrison very early in his term.

Tyler came from a goof background, owned a plantation and had slaves. He was a part of the so-called Virginia Aristocracy, and saw himself as one more in the line of Virginia presidents--from Jefferson to Monroe. To cement his place in the arena of the well-to-do, he married well (to Letitia).

Public service became a part of his life, as he served in Congress and the Senate and at the state level, too. He was uncomfortable with the Whigs (irony indeed!); he was an unreconstructed states' rights advocate, suspicious of a strong central government.The book describes the series of steps by which he ended up being selected as Vice President to William Henry Harrison (hence, Tippecanoe and Tyler, too). Although Harrison was elected as a Whig, Tyler was not comfortable with the party's positions on many issues (e.g., a national bank, a system of internal improvements, tariffs, and so on). Upon Harrison's shocking death, Tyler rose to the office.

This book well tells his struggles, as he opposes many of those among the Whigs, as he tries to advance his agenda against the opposition of many. He was not one of the more important presidents, but there were accomplishments (whether one agree with them or not), especially in international relations (e.g., United States' relations with Texas).

Some interesting personal aspects to this work. The death of his wide Letitia devastated him, but he soon found a much younger woman with whom he fell in love (scandalizing many).

Although he desired re-election, he had no support. He tried an abortive third party candidacy and gave that up for a purported deal with candidate James Polk.

Tyler remained active in politics, and was even involved in efforts to avert the Civil War.

Not one of the better known (or better accomplished) American Presidents. But this book does provide, in a brief biography, a solid introduction to this "accidental" President.

And Tyler too.
I found this book very enjoyable and a joy to read.May tells why Tyler does matter in American history.Without him, some other politicians would not have had the guts to annex Texas.He also settled boundaries with Great Britain over Canada.He had the courage to face Clay over his convictions on a Central Bank.On this issue, he lost the backing of the Whig Party and became persona non grata in the political establishment.His further support of the Confederacy alienated him from any Northern support and any legacy with historians.

A nice easy read about our 10th President.This is a nice summary of a complicated man.

A weaker entry for the series
I have been reading the American President series and have found them to be both interesting and informative thus far. I have to say that I personally enjoy the lesser known presidents better.I found that the biography of John Tyler did what any good biographer would do. They got all the names and dates and associated facts straight. What they failed to do was provide the passion behind these increments of data. Pieces of Tyler's life are thrown around as incidental when they can in fact be quite interesting. However this work never makes that final step to something truly interesting and sadly we are left with a work that could have been much better.

A lesson for our times
As we look back on the chaotic and fractious reign of President George W. Bush, this book is a timely reminder that no president's term of office has been a walk in the park.

John Tyler, like Bush, was an "accidental president."Elected Vice President in 1840, Tyler became president when William Henry Harrison died a month after taking office.He inherited a mess;the U.S. was on the brink of a war with Canada, Seminoles were fighting in Florida and Texas was pushing for annexation.

He left, by all immediate appearances, a greater nation that included Florida, Texas and the Oregon territory.As his term was ending, he signed a measure to annex Texas, an event which resulted in the Mexican War of 1846 and a hardening of slavery attitudes that in 15 years became the Civil War.

This book is a timely reminder of the implications of presidential decisions.For example, could the Texas/slavery issue have been handled in a manner that would not have led to the Civil War?In today's terms, what will be the eventual social impact of the economic stimulus plan President Barack Obama will surely implement?

Like Bush, Tyler wanted a legacy.Perhaps like Bush and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tyler believed the annexation of Texas "shall crown off my public life...I shall neither retire ignominiously nor soon be forgotten."

In retrospect, Tyler ranks 35th in the latest Wall Street Journal "greatness" poll of presidents as rated by distinguished historians.By comparison, Jimmy Carter ranks 34th.Harry Truman summed up Tyler as "one of the presidents we could have done without."

Perhaps.The issue relates to how much control a president has over events, and how many presidencies are controlled by events.That in itself is an endless debate about the role of fate in our lives.

It's a relevant issue for modern times, provided we define "modern times" as any and all presidents we can remember and those we are about to come to know.This book isn't mere nostalgia about an almost forgotten president--tippy canoe and tie her too, or something like that--it's as relevant as the next four years, and probably much longer.

It's the beauty of this 'Presidents Series'...it's more than history, it's current events and even some thoughts about the future.




... Read more

Product Description
Until recently rescued by David McCullough, John Adams has always been overshadowed by Washington and Jefferson. Volatile, impulsive, irritable, and self-pitying, Adams seemed temperamentally unsuited for the presidency. Yet in many ways he was the perfect successor to Washington in terms of ability, experience, and popularity. Possessed of a far-ranging intelligence, Adams took office amid the birth of the government and multiple crises. Besides maintaining neutrality and regaining peace, his administration created the Department of the Navy, put the army on a surer footing, and left a solvent treasury. One of his shrewdest acts was surely the appointment of moderate Federalist John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Though he was a Federalist, he sought to work outside the still-forming party system. In the end, this would be Adams's greatest failing and most useful lesson to later leaders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Great, brief intro to John Adams
All other reviews on Amazon at the time of my writing this review are for a completely different book in a different series, The American Presidents, and erroneously placed under this book.This is a review of the John Adams book for the Childhoods of the Presidents series.

This book is a simple, short (40 easy pages, including many pictures) telling of Adams's life, with an emphasis on his childhood.It would be appropriate for children from 3rd-6th grade, although all ages would enjoy reading it.Far from being a dry textbook, it's written in an engaging, easy-to-read style, with a short glossary in the back for words a child might not be familiar with (such as "diplomat" and "pulpit").My 11 year old homeschooled daughter and I love this series of books.In less than one enjoyable hour, you get an accurate (if brief) biography of the president, with a focus on the influences and circumstances that led him to become the man he did.If we didn't get to read it for school, we'd read it for pleasure.It should be noted that there are only a few pages dedicated to his actual presidency, and no mention of his affiliation with the doomed Federalist political party, so any student doing a book report on Adams would certainly need other sources.But for a basic, interesting introduction to United States history and our presidents, this series can't be beat.

A Complex Take On A Complex Man
Over the past few years, thanks to a TV docu-drama bearing his name, our nation's second President, John Adams, has gotten quite a bit of press after years of playing second-fiddle (at least in public perception) to names like Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin.This book only adds to that new-found sense of legacy for Mr. Adams by giving a very clear and concise picture/assessment of his time in office.

The author mostly focuses on how Adam's political philosophy differed so radically from his contemporaries.Whereas George Washington thought himself above politics and government, and Thomas Jefferson thought that "the people" should completely control the government, Adams instead championed the notion that a strong government and executive office is actually NEEDED in order to provide for the masses.Though this idea was ultimately what led to the general sullying of Adams' reputation, as he was labeled a monarchist by a young country fresh off a revolution, Adams was remarkable adept at turning his ideas into practices, some of which still thrive to this day.

Basically, this is the summary of Adams that you want to read if you would like to get to know both the man and his times without poring over volumes of literature.I am currently in the process of working my way through this American Presidents series, and this volume surely did not disappoint.

Good short bio of John Adams
Personally, I prefer more detailed biographies of historical figures as opposed to briefer ones. Hence, I really appreciated McCullough's detailed work on John Adams. Nonetheless, Diggins' book is a worthwhile addition to one's library. Especially for those who want a briefer, accessible biography, the Diggins' book would be a good investment.

First, unlike most books in The American Presidents series, there is considerable emphasis on the ideas of John Adams. This is most important, given that he had a more philosophical bent than most American presidents, and his writings are, in themselves, contributions to our understanding of American political thought. This alone makes this book most useful to those who are interested in the impact of presidents. In this case, his ideas are important to be aware of.

Second, it is a decent biography in its own right, given its brevity (a hallmark of this series). The book traces the arc of Adams' life from birth to death--a rich, long, full life. We see his friendship with Thomas Jefferson disintegrate and become enmity--only to have the friendship rekindled after the termination of Jefferson's political career. Their letters back and forth are intriguing, in exposing the very different political perspectives at stake in the early 19th century.

We get a sense of the special relationship between Adams and his wife, Abigail. We see his unique, and sometimes problematic, personality at work--desperate for respect and prickly enough. His role as diplomat in Europe. His service as Vice President under George Washington (describing the office as "The most insignificant office that ever man contrived"). His role as President, after having defeated Jefferson. While he had some bad moments (e.g., the Alien and Sedition Acts), he also showed some political, courage (e.g., not caving in to the demand for war against France). He was much aggrieved in his loss in the 1800 election to his archrival Jefferson. He retired to his native Massachusetts and the book describes his life as citizen. . . .

So, in the end, a worthwhile brief biography, that makes a nice contribution in describing Adam's political thinking.

Overanalytical for a summary history.
The author spent an ungodly amount of his space in writing about John Adams theories and thoughs rather than spend the necessary time talking about his short one term Presidency. This clouded the enjoyability of this read.Rather than here what he did during his Presidency, we come away with his thoughts and theories about social class and political functions.Thus, this short read became difficult to those who wanted to know a little about our second President and his term in office.

The American Presidents series are nice little summaries of all our Presidents.This book is not as interesting as some of the latter books.

John Adams (The American President)
I found this book very concise and informational.It is an excellent overview of his Presidency without getting deeply into all issue's.I found many items out which I was not previously aware of after reading this book.I deigned that your acquisitive nature will be rapt within the pages of this book.I only caution that I found myself going to the dictionary frequently in regards to wording used to describe the situations.Overall, though, this book met and exceeded my expectations. ... Read more

Product Description
Fortuate Son juxtaposes Bush's accomplishments asGovernor of Texas with the specters of his past, including accusationsof draft-dodging Vietnam and cocaine abuse. Fortuate Sonprovides the full research on these and other allegations, includinganti-Semitism in the Bush family and a possible connection to the BCCIScandal. Originally published by St. Martin's Press, this bio wasrecalled after revelations about the author's criminal past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (78)

Are you serious?
Banned because of right wing pressure? How about the author lying (initially) about a conviction for conspiracy to commit murder? Hatfield is a nut,and any publishing house anywhere that values integrity wouldn't even let this tabloid trash in the door.
This book isn't remotely objective,just a congregation of jibberish based on watered down rumors and innuendoes in a desperate attempt to scare up a few bucks for the writer.
I read this book years ago,thinking there would be some heretofore unknown facts dug up,only to find a rehash of the rumors that were exactly what I had hoped would be substantiated with solid references.
However,this moronic waste of paper and print made it obvious that no intent to investigate was remotely attempted.
A good use for this book would be to grind it into pulp and recycle it into a collection of fairy tales,or maybe just a good old fashioned roll of toilet paper.
And I am no fan of Bush.

bush is a jerk
weird how the author dies after he finally gets the book published while the bush cartel did everything they could to stop this book, and nobody ever said anything about it, bush sucks. great book, great read.

Honest and Truthful
This book is honest. A sincere account of Bush Jr.'s life. I have to say, it's hard for me to believe Hatfield took his own life, despite the trouble he had getting this book published. This book is well documented and should be read by every good American.

Surprisingly, its not biased
I hate George Bush almost as much as I hate my ex wife, venereal disease, child rapists, Nazis, litterers, termites, cancer, real estate agents, collection agents, rich people, stupid people, dishonest people, and graffiti "artists".I always have since the first moment I ever saw him.I could tell this was a spoilt, rich brat that would never be asked to do anything at all difficult, yet would have all.My god, I cannot believe he became president.But of course, he had more than just a little bit of help.(thanks to Choicepoint, Diebold, and the US Surpremely stupid court - "but, if they have the recount and it shows more voters preferred Gore, it will be difficult for Bush to retain the presidency" - Scalia)

Anyway, I love to read anything that confirms my biases, just as everyone else who is a lazy reader/thinker (I am not always lazy, but I am sometimes).I did not find that to be the case for this book.I found that I was startingto like "W" as I read it.I was very surprised.He is a human, after all. This is not a book for the bush haters.

I would love to see a movie, or maybe a made for TV mini-series about the Bushes.People need to know in a way that will make them care and understand how we let this guy get away with everything, short of murder (that is if you exclude murder-by-proxy of millions of the poor and dark skinned, here and abroad).The financial stuff is really compelling.How did he invest $200K in the Texas Rangers, and take out $130M?Was that not really just a bribe?Just how stupid do you think we all are?How about his double insider trading with Harkin Oil?He scooped all the insiders by knowing that daddie was going to start his war and that the oil leases would be valuless, out he sold, not even any of the other insiders knew about.Man, you and I would be in prison still if we pulled those things off.Raiding the University of Texas trust for $400M.That is classic.A great crook to have working for you.To bad, he is not nor did he ever work for anyone except his own trifling self and his elite circle. America?Hah!Well, it is all clear to everyone now.Let's not make this mistake again.

Enough of that, this book will improve your opinion of Bush, no matter what you think.You will be surprised.Well written, we researched, well balanced.Now, where did I put my Molly Ivins book?

Surprisingly fair
I was impressed with the fact that this book reported positives as well as negatives.Although the forward was over the top, the actual book is pretty balanced and believable.A documentary about the author (who later committed suicide)quoted him as saying that Karl Rove was his major source.The fact that they managed to get this book not just taken off the market, but burned (!) shows the power of the machine that originally got Bush elected.Long may they stew. ... Read more

Product Description
A provocative reconsideration of a presidency on the brink of Civil War

Almost no president was as well trained and well prepared for the office as James Buchanan. He had served in the Pennsylvania state legislature, the U.S. House, and the U.S. Senate; he was Secretary of State and was even offered a seat on the Supreme Court. And yet, by every measure except his own, James Buchanan was a miserable failure as president, leaving office in disgrace. Virtually all of his intentions were thwarted by his own inability to compromise: he had been unable to resolve issues of slavery, caused his party to split-thereby ensuring the election of the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln-and made the Civil War all but inevitable.
Historian Jean H. Baker explains that we have rightly placed Buchanan at the end of the presidential rankings, but his poor presidency should not be an excuse to forget him. To study Buchanan is to consider the implications of weak leadership in a time of national crisis. Elegantly written, Baker's volume offers a balanced look at a crucial moment in our nation's history and explores a man who, when given the opportunity, failed to rise to the challenge.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Brigham Young and Buchanan
From what I know, this book is not reliable.It certainly presents Brigham Young in a false light.In the laziest possible way, the author uses stereotype and bald allegation, instead of facts, to depict Young.

For one example, the book accuses Young of murder!The author writes, "In 1855 [Young] masterminded the assassination of a federal surveyor."In actual fact it was 1853 when the surveyor, John W. Gunnison, and seven of his surveying team were killed--by Pahvant Indians (apparently as retaliation for when one of their chiefs was killed by federal agents).The tribe identified the guilty Indians, who were later convicted in a jury trial.I know of nothing connecting Young to the crime, and the author offers no such evidence beyond the mere allegation.

The author also falsely labels Young "treasonous."He did have differences with the Government, but disagreement is not treason.And he had reason to be disagreeable.The "Mormons" (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) had been violently forced from the United States (from Missouri and Illinois).They then labored more than a thousand miles to cross the continent and settle a desolate area of upper Mexico (Utah Territory)--and they wanted, finally, to live in peace.Once again, that was not to be, because Buchanan (for reasons of national politics) had now dispatched the U.S. Army to "subdue" the Mormons in Utah.Young had plenty of reasons to quarrel about things being done to the Mormons by federal officials, but he was not treasonous.

The author incorrectly says that under Young's direction "all outsiders were discouraged from even traveling through the [Utah] territory, much less settling" there.In fact, besides Native Americans, a substantial number of non-Mormons moved into and resided (and prospered) in Utah Territory, and others (going to or from California and Oregon) regularly traveled through Utah to take shortcuts, to rest, and to buy supplies.Naturally, as Buchanan's army approached Utah and war looked imminent, one thing changed: Young advised the Mormons not to sell supplies that they themselves would need to sustain themselves in a prolonged war--but, of course, that was a product of stresses the Government itself precipitated, and was not the Mormons' usual practice.

Without support, the author also states that Young "convinced" the Mormons to take him as their prophet--another allegation that disregards facts.Years before, by the Church's regular procedure, Young was appointed to the Church's governing body--by the express consent of Church members--and he eventually became that body's senior member and thereby came to preside over the Church.No "convincing" was necessary.(The people had already had years of direct experience with their "Brother Brigham" and knew him very well.)Besides being inaccurate, the author gives the further offense of implying that Young was some kind of con man and that the Mormons were simple dupes.

The authorcuts important intellectual corners in this book.Instead of facts, she presents allegations--and presents them as if they were proven fact.Without proof (indeed, without evenhanded discussion), she presents her allegations and then summarily decides every one of them against Young.She has done a disservice to her readers and to Young's reputation.

History books ought to be accurate.But, as to Brigham Young (at least), this book is not accurate or reliable.It makes me doubt the accuracy of the rest of the book also.

concise and informative
This biography of Buchanan provides a concise yet revealing view of one of our best-trained yet sadly underperforming presidents.Right down to the dark days leading up to the civil war, the last of Jackson's croneys is shown as forceful and authoritative but entirely wrongheaded.This is a great pocket-reader for anyone interested in the Civil War or the slew of obscure, ineffective presidents between Jackson and Lincoln (with the definite exception of Polk).

Another fine example from a great series
The president's series seems to be at its best when it profiles the lesser known presidents and Jean Baker continues that case with James Buchanan.As many have already noted he seemed an ideal choice as President due to his extensive experience in government.However his own biases and political machinations resulted in not only the Civil War, but in his rightfully being listed as among the worst Presidents ever.

Baker is unsparing as she describes his shortcomings, yet is also fair in describing why he was biased in the way he was.She also points out how even without the looming Civil War, Buchanan had a very corrupt administration that would have tarnished his reputation.This is a very interesting book and I strongly recommend it!

Unbalanced Biography
It's hard to understand why someone who so dislikes a person would write their biography or why the publishers of the American President series would commission her to do it.The American President series purports to present a balanced assessment of the presidencies of the United States but this book falls far short of that mark. Most historians agree that James Buchanan was not up to the challenges he faced during his tenure as president.However, Jean Baker goes over the top to present every action he took as a calculated attack on the "enlightened" abolitionist North in defense of the evil South.Yes, many in the North believed slavery was an abomination.But at the same time the, vast majority of Northerners were as adamantly opposed to negroes living amongst them as Southerners were and they were vehemently opposed to slave labor competing for jobs.Send them back to Africa was the universal response of the day.Buchanan was not as far out of the mainstream or such a social aberration in his prosouthern proclivities as Baker portrays him to be. Baker's assessment of Buchanan is clearly a liberal academician's view soundly grounded in today's social perspectives of the evils of slavery.She presents no historical context to measure his actions against.According to Baker, there is no nuance in his decisions or the political environment in which he operated. Just a black and white, good and evil.
For me, perhaps the most tellingly obvious liberal bias was her frequent reference to Richard Nixon as an equally malevolent president with no balancing reference to the many contributions he made - opening China, the negative income tax for the poor, creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, etc.Yes, he brought disgrace to the office of the presidency but there were also major liberal accomplishments.I was left to wonder if there weren't at least a few good things Buchanan accomplished.Any thoughtful and competent biography should present a balanced judgment of history not a one sided condemnation

Superb Look At the Treason of a President!
This is a superb study of the Presidency of Buchanan.The author shows that Old Buck, far from merely the befuddled old codger that history generally assumes to have fiddled while the Union burned, was, in actuality, downright complicit in aiding the Southern States in their secessionist maneuvers, thus branding himself an outright traitor to the Constitution he had sworn to "protect and defend."Until I read this study, I myself also had a limited, though just condescending view of Buchanan - merely thinking him to be a man out of his depth.Yet this book made me reassess that verdict, and realize that Buchanan was guilty not just of sins of omission, but sins of COMISSION as well.This bio is highly recommended to any Lincoln buff (like myself) or anyone interested in the mechanics and logistics of how the Civil War, politically, got started!! ... Read more

Product Description
James Monroe is remembered today primarily for two things: for being the last of the -Virginia Dynasty+-following George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison-and for issuing the Monroe Doctrine, his statement of principles in 1823 that the western hemisphere was to be considered closed to European intervention. But Gary Hart sees Monroe as a president ahead of his time, whose priorities and accomplishments in establishing America+s -national security+ have a great deal in common with chief executives of our own time.Unlike his predecessors Jefferson and Madison, Monroe was at his core a military man. He joined the Continental Army at the age of seventeen and served with distinction in many pivotal battles. (He is prominently featured at Washington+s side in the iconic painting Washington Crossing the Delaware.) And throughout his career as a senator, governor, ambassador, secretary of state, secretary of war, and president, he never lost sight of the fact that without secure borders and friendly relations with neighbors, the American people could never be truly safe in their independence. As president he embarked on an ambitious series of treaties, annexations, and military confrontations that would secure America+s homeland against foreign attack for nearly two hundred years. Hart details the accomplishments and priorities of this forward-looking president, whose security concerns clearly echo those we face in our time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Jumbled History
As many of the other reviewers note, Gary Hart's entry in the American Presidents series is a bit of a jumbled effort.In some ways, it almost feels as though each chapter is an essay written by someone else since they tend to repeat and jump through time.Still, there are good insights into Monroe's relationships with Washington (they hardly knew each other), Madison (competitors), Jefferson (Monroe considered himself a protege), and John Quincy Adams (an intellectual partner).There is also ample treatment given to the Monroe Doctrine (the Principles of 1823), including the acknowledgement that it was a reciprocal arrangement stating that not only would Europe stay out of the Western Hemisphere, but the US would stay out of European affairs.Of course, despite many people pledging support for the Monroe Doctrine it has not really held up in either direction.

As with the other books in this series, this is a quick and concise read giving you a quick overview of a president.If you are looking for depth, look elsewhere.

Short but Well Written
James Monroe is a short biography written by Gary Hart (US Senator, D - CO) about the fifth president of the United States.James Monroe, the last of the presidents who served in the American Revolutionary War, (he got wounded in the Battle of Trenton) is never ranked highly in his role as chief executive, especially when compared with big guns he had followed (fellow Virginians, Washington, Jefferson and Madison as well as Massachusetts native John Adams).

The theme the author chose to follow is that Monroe is the "first national security president".As a solider, like Washington, James Monroe saw the building of the nation through the eyes scarred from the battlefield, not through legislative eyes of Jefferson and Madison. Gary Hart does a masterful job in filling the gaps in the life of a president who played an important role in the building of these United States.

I find that true in today's world as well.Many soldiers and ex-soldiers view the world from a different perspective than those who have not worn a uniform.Maybe it is because we have seen human kind at its best and worst; we have seen people act in unbelievable kindness under the harshest circumstances as well as commit the crimes which we didn't think civilized human beings are capable of even imagining.

The first chapter gives the reader a background about Monroe's service in the Continental Army, a role which, as explained before, affects his policies and administration.After the revolution Monroe served in several political roles such as Governor of Virginia, Congress, an ambassador as well as the first person to hold duel offices of Secretary of State and Secretary of War during the tenure of James Madison.

Taking on the office of the president, Hart describes how Monroe differed from the Republican ideals of the time (those who studied and shaped their policy from the ancient Greek texts, not today's Republican Party), as well as the breakthrough act of installing John Quincy Adams, a northerner, to a position of power and influence in the administration.

At this point, Hart touches on the important part Monroe's successor John Quincy Adams played in the administration.As an experienced diplomat and Secretary of State Adams had large influence on the president's policies towards Europe and South America, as well as what we known today as the "Monroe Doctrine".To my disappointment the Missouri Compromise barley gets mentioned even though it was a defining moment in Monroe's administration in which he gambled many of his political chips.

Hart goes on to describe the post-presidency years of James Monroe.Unlike many of today's politicians, James Monroe did not line his pockets during his tenure because he felt it was unethical. When Monroe left politics he was in debt due to his out of pocket expenses during the years of his service.At the time, unless you were very rich (Washington, Jefferson) or had a steady source of income (Adams) public servant salaries, especially at the upper echelon of the government, did not pay a living wage.

Former president Monroe, bankrupt and out of assets, was forced to be Congress to reimburse him for his expenses overseas, representing the country he gave so much to help create.The embarrassing scenario was made even more humiliating when Congress ignores his requests and even the mighty Jefferson could not help.

James Monroe, wounded veteran of the Continental Army, Senator, Congressman, ambassador, president - died bankrupt.

In the last chapter, Hart tries to put Monroe's tenure and policies in context to today's world.The author does a fine job even though he could not resist taking a few cheap shots at the Bush (43) administration which I felt, right or wrong, were out of place in this book.

The book is a good discussion starter about President Monroe, it is by no means a complete biography, but it's not meant to be either.The narrow scope of the book is interesting, concise and well written; a welcomed introduction a president many have forgotten.

Good overview of James Monroe
Gary Hart has written a thoughtful biography of James Monroe, convincingly arguing that while Monroe was not the intellectual that Jefferson or Madison was, he was nevertheless an able member of the Virginia dynasty of American Presidents. Monroe was a soldier, and thus more like George Washington, whom he served in the Revolution, though they had a falling out while Washington was president over Monroe's service as minister to France. Hart states that Monroe was our first national security president, with the settlement of the Floridan issue with Spain and, more importantly, the seminal influence of the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 warning European powers against renewal colonialism in the Americas. While John Quincy Adams generally is given most of the credit for this doctrine, it could not have been issued without Monroe's full and active role. As a former Democrat politician though, Hart has to take the obligatory shot at President George Bush, who Hart feels corrupted the Monroe Doctrine from a defensive policy against any power (including the United States) achieving hegemony in the western hemisphere into a form of democratic imperialism to be imposed on the world.

Solid
I'm a bit surprised at the lukewarm reviews this book has gotten.Having now read the books in this series from Washington through Van Buren, I can say this book is a solid contribution.Granted, it's not as good as Remini's work on John Quincy Adams, but still, this book is an enjoyable and well written.

An Engaging Read
After reading the previous installment in The American Presidents series, on James Madison, I had begun to lose a little faith in this presidential journey that I had set out upon, as the content was so heavy and often very boring to wade through.This book, however, restored my confidence in the series going forward.

Basically, this James Monroe biography is much more engaging than the previous two books in the series.Whereas the Jefferson and Madison editions got bogged down in details at times, this one was much more straightforward and interesting.I learned a lot about our nation's fifth President, and wasn't bored to death in the process.

There were only two things that tempered the experience for me: First, was the over-harping on Monroe being the first "national security" President.It probably didn't need to be said or implied on seemingly every other page (!).Also, on one occasion, author Gary Hart completely breaks the character of the book and does a little George W. Bush-bashing, which was wholly un-called for.

Overall, this was a very interesting, engaging read and really re-establishes the series going forward. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Short, vivid overview of a failed President
William E. Leuchtenburg is a famous and well-regarded historian of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal.He is pro-FDR.In this short book, he gives us a biography of FDR's immediate predecessor in office, Herbert Hoover.Given Lechtenburg's viewpoint, you would expect this treatment of Hoover to be very negative.Given how short the book is, you would expect it to be light-weight and lacking in substance.

It is neither.Far from being a hacket job, it presents a nuanced portrait of Hoover as complicated man.And, despite being quite short, it is both substantive and well written.Leuchtenberg gives us an easy to read, vivid portrait of Hoover.

It is quite an interesting story.Born to a family of rigidly religious Quakers, in 19th century Iowa, Hoover was rapidly left an orphan in the care of an uncle who ignored him.After this very unpromising beginning, he was one of the first students at Stanford, which was then newly founded.Majoring in engineering and geology, Hoover then got a high-paying job as a mining engineer with a London-based firm what sent him, in his early 20s, to Australia.Using great talent at finding new mines, and total contempt for his workers, Hoover turned into a hard-driving, merciless and very successful mine manager.He was a millionaire before he was 30.Working all over the world, he ended up in England, when World War One broke out.Hoover then turned his management skills to charity.He first organized a rescue of American tourists stranded in Europe by the war.He then moved on to a large-scale humanitarian effort to provide food to Belgians caught between the two armies.This got him so much attention that, when Wilson took the US into the war, Hoover was called back to Washington to head up the national effort to conserve food.Always a very domineering and energetic man, Hoover rose rapidly in Washington.When Wilson was replaced by Harding, he became Secretary of Commerce.An energetic bureaucratic infighter, Hoover turned that formerly sleepy department into a juggernaut, with its tentacles everywhere.Among other things, he took over regulation of the radio airwaves.

When Coolidge became President, upon Harding's death, he kept Hoover on, even though Coolidge disliked him.Coolidge, of course, was a minimalist President, who believed in the government doing as little as possible.Hoover was a whirlwind of energy who always wanted the government to do more.His biggest triumph was heading up the relief efforts in the great Mississippi River flood of 1927.Coolidge referred to him as the "Wonder Boy," and was appalled when he became President in 1928. When Hoover was elected, expectations were very high for him.

He was, of course, hit by the stock market crash and the Great Depression.The ordinary view of Hoover is that he was a rigid believer in a do-noting government, who did nothing in response to the downturn.This view of Hoover is absurd and inaccurate.In fact, he responded with great energy to the Depression.Here is where I think Leuchtenberg's pro-FDR bias leads him to go off the rails.According to Leuchtenberg, Hoover did not cure the Depression, because he had a bias in favor of voluntary action.According to Leuchtenberg, while Hoover was an activist, his preferred way to be active was to have the government organize voluntary effort.He lacked the insight to see, as FDR saw, that only massive government action was going to solve the Depression.

Well, FDR's massive government action did not solve the Depression.The Depression lasted from Hoover to Truman.Nothing that either Hoover or FDR did solved the problem.In fact, a very good case can be made that what Hoover and FDR did CAUSED the problem.

That is not Leuchtenberg's point of view.In his view, FDR is the paragon of how government ought to be done.He likes Hoover more than you would expect, because he sees that Hoover was, in fact, far more like FDR than he was like Coolidge.But, in Leuchtenberg's view, only FDR is FDR, so Hoover fell tragically short of the ideal.

A good book
Hoover may be a very mis-understood President whose personal beliefs and concepts conflicted with the onslaught of the Great Depression. He might be considered a classic tragic character, since his internalized beliefs did not allow him to adapt to the changing needs and survival of the nation.

Surprisingly editorial, noticeably hostile, and sketchy
On the topic of Herbert Hoover, it's really hard to get straight information. Those who hate Roosevelt and the New Deal tend to think he was a golden martyr and paragon of good sense. Those who love Roosevelt and the New Deal tend to view him as a flint-hearted, stingy, evil man.

Now, this is not an outright "hit piece" -- many positive aspects of Hoover's career are included -- but nonetheless, I'm afraid William Leuchtenburg falls solidly into the latter camp.

Before I go on, I need to let you know where I'm coming from, because this is such an important question with Hoover stuff. My interest in the man centers on his work in famine relief, particularly the Commission for Relief in Belgium. This was all work he did before anyone knew what his politics were. Frankly, I don't care about the New Deal or the politics thereof, except to be really annoyed with the fact that as a result of his involvement in it, Hoover is known more as a political symbol than as a historical figure. And while certainly no angel, Hoover was quite a historical figure. No one in the history of the world has ever saved as many lives -- not even close. The way I see it, that really ought to count for something, whatever the guy's politics.

That said, here's my take on this book:

Touches of unprofessional editorial commentary and de-contexted quotes come up from the very beginning of the book. On Page 4, Hoover's uncle John Minthorn is described as "avaricious." This may be true, but no other source I have read has described him so, and Leuchtenburg provides no source notes beyond a general bibliography.On the next page, Hoover -- who was 13 at the time -- is described as a "full-time hustler," which is a startlingly editorial statement and, unless he's got a credible source I've never seen, an unsupported extrapolation.

By Page 7, he is on to outright misinformation: "On returning to campus in the fall, Hoover, who had been largely clueless about his career, switched his major to geology." (Emphasis mine.) Hoover was at Stanford, instead of some Quaker divinity school back east, specifically _because_ he was not clueless about his career.

I could go on. In the margins of my copy of the book, I did. Just a few highlights ... on 17, we have "he sang the praises of 'insiders' like himself while denigrating small-fry investors not in the know as 'idiots.'" If you've read this particular source text, you know what's wrong with this statement. It's simply not an accurate description of the communication, which was a criticism of mine hucksters. The next page says he "flew into rages" when he didn't get his way. No other source that I have seen describes Hoover having tantrums.

I also always find it annoying when scholars describe Hoover as emotionally detached, as Leuchtenburg does through a quote from one of Hoover's Washington, D.C. enemies saying "he seemed to regard human beings as so many numbers." Studying the man's early life makes it pretty clear he was socially inept and unexpressive. Extrapolating that to an assumption of lack of feeling is, again, profoundly editorial and logically unsupportable.

I was also flabbergasted to find Winston Churchill's famously calling Hoover an S.O.B. ascribed to "his (Hoover's) lack of sympathy" (page 27). The historical record is quite clear -- Churchill wanted the Belgian relief stopped in order to increase pressure on Germany to either feed them or suppress the resulting riots when they starved. From a military-strategy standpoint, this is not an unreasonable position, but it's hard to fathom how it can get spun into something that should command "sympathy."

My interest in Hoover ends when he became secretary of commerce, so I did not continue reading the book past Chapter 6, in which his presidency is described. I can't speak for the second half of this book. I will leave that for someone who knows about that part of Hoover's life.

Again, there are parts of this book that do present Hoover sympathetically. But they feel an awful lot like the kind of concessions that are made by someone arguing an opposite point, in order to bolster his/her appearance of fairness.

In conclusion: Hoover scholars who want to get a feel for how aficionados of the policies of FDR view his predecessor will find this a useful bit of gestalt, and a quick read. As a source of credible information, though, I would definitely steer clear of this work. Most of it is accurate, but much of it is transplanted into deceptively different contexts and a few things are flat-out wrong. If you're really interested in Hoover's early life, spend a bit of time with George Nash's books. Nash in person is actually a serious right-winger, but he wears his politics on his sleeve and I've never seen his personal views get in the way of his scholarship.

By the way, if you want to get a better idea of where I'm coming from, more info on my project is at [...]

Herbert Hoover in the American Presidents Series
The American Presidents Series, edited by Arthur Schlesinger and Sean Wilentz, offers an excellent way to learn about American history, the presidents, and the qualities of successful or unsuccessful leadership. Each of the short volumes is written by scholar with particular interest in the subject. Although the volumes are short and readable, they are not mere summaries but rather offer their own insight into the president and era they discuss.

William Leuchtenburg's study of Herbert Hoover (1874 - 1964) is one of the best in the series. Hoover served a single term as the 31st president (1929 - 1933). He will forever be remembered as the president who presided over the Great Depression.Leuchtenburg offers a nicely-written, even-handed and insightful evaluation of a complex, difficult individual and of his many strengths and weaknesses.Leuchtenburg is professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.He has been awarded both the Bancroft and the Parkman Prizes and is a scholar of the New Deal era. Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal: 1932-1940

Born to harsh circumstances in rural Iowa, Hoover was orphaned in 1884 at the age of ten. His youth was spent in a series of difficult, ill-paying jobs which suggested that the young man had little future ahead of him.Poorly educated but ambitious and intelligent, Hoover enrolled in and graduated from Stanford.While in his 20s, he drove himself and became a wealthy, successful mining engineer and financier who worked in Australia, China, and England, among other places. As a man, Hoover was dour and introverted.He became accustomed to having his own way with things.

At about the time he reached the age of 30, Hoover began to realize that there was more to life than making money.He became an author and something of a scholar, publishing a book called "Principles of Mining" in 1909 and "De Re Metallica" a translation from the Latin done in collaboration with his wife Lou, in 1912.Hoover became interested in public service.

Hoover became known as the "Great Humanitarian" for his efforts in delivering food to the starving multitudes of Europe during and after WW I. Leuchtenburg's book explores this part of Hoover's life and career in detail and gives him the praise for which he is due. During this time Hoover became committed to "voluntarism" in public affairs even though Hoover's relief efforts were overwhelmingly financed by the government and could not have succeeded without Federal action.

With the election of Harding to the presidency in 1920, Hoover became Secretary of Commerce.He served energetically and creatively in this capacity through the presidencies of Harding and Coolidge. His most widely-known activity in this role occurred in 1927 when he became responsible for the relief efforts for the victims of the Mississippi River flood, the first significant Federal relief effort for a natural disaster.

For all his accomplishments, Hoover will always be remembered for the Depression. Leuchtenburg takes a carefully critical view of Hoover's efforts. He finds that Hoover's withdrawn, cold, and uninspiring public figure, his difficulties in collaborating with others, and his apparent tendency to ignore the human element were not well-suited to combating the Depression. Most of Hoover's efforts centered around voluntarism and private action which proved insufficient and ill-suited to the crisis. Some of Hoover's efforts, such as supporting a high tariff and increased taxes, while undoubtedly well-meaning, were precisely the wrong courses of actions to take in resolving the crisis. Other actions were insufficient and were not followed-through. Hoover's aloofness during the Depression was also a source of major difficulty for his presidency. Thus, while admitting that Hoover had no role in causing the Depression and that his administration had certain bright spots, Leuchtenburg concludes that Hoover's presidency was a failure.A final chapter of the book discusses Hoover's long life following the presidency, and the attempts he made by his own lights to remain committed to a life of public service.

For all Hoover's faults, I came away from Leuchtenburg's book with a great deal of admiration for the man, his intelligence, his humanitarian achievements, and his early progressive tendencies. Hoover appears to me more sympathetic as a person than some of my fellow reviewers here on Amazon will allow. Leuchtenburg also makes a powerful case for the inadequacies of Hoover's presidency. He suggests how these inadequacies had their source in Hoover's own earlier accomplishments and in his narrowness of vision. The book concludes with an extensive biography for those readers wishing to explore Hoover's life in more detail. Leuchtenburg has written a thoughtful account of the life and accomplishments of Herbert Hoover.

Robin Friedman

A Mess of Contradictions
Having read many US President bios.,I feel safe in saying that Herbert Hoover`s story is the most extraordinary in terms of the wierd contradictions in his life actions and, in his latter years after his defeat in 1932, some of the most extraordinary quotes and statements he made, mainly in attacking the direction the New Deal was taking USA.The difference between his fantastic humanitarian efforts in Europe during and after WW1 and some of his attitudes and actions in USA both during and after the Depression make for the great enigma of his story. ... Read more

Product Description

The maverick politician from Georgia who rode the post- Watergate wave into office but whose term was consumed by economic and international crises 

A peanut farmer from Georgia, Jimmy Carter rose to national power through mastering the strategy of the maverick politician. As the face of the "New South," Carter's strongest support emanated from his ability to communicate directly to voters who were disaffected by corruption in politics.

But running as an outsider was easier than governing as one, as Princeton historian Julian E. Zelizer shows in this examination of Carter's presidency. Once in power, Carter faced challenges sustaining a strong political coalition, as he focused on policies that often antagonized key Democrats, whose support he desperately needed. By 1980, Carter stood alone in the Oval Office as he confronted a battered economy, soaring oil prices, American hostages in Iran, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Carter's unpopularity enabled Ronald Reagan to achieve a landslide victory, ushering in a conservative revolution. But during Carter's post-presidential career, he has emerged as an important voice for international diplomacy and negotiation, remaking his image as a statesman for our time.

Customer Reviews (2)

Very Brief but Fair
The American President Series intends to provide concise but useful biographies of American Presidents. In that sense, this particular volume is successful. There were certainly some aspects of President Carter's career that were glossed over such as his achievements in the Navy, some aspects of his family life and a number of events during his presidency. Curiously, the tone of the book also changes with the flow of the material. In the first half of the book, Carter is portrayed as being honest and refreshingly anti-establishment. In the second half, which documents his slide from popularity, the books tends to highlight his lack of flexibility in dealing with other power figures. In any case, this book is a pretty good overview of the main issues surrounding President Carter's life and career so far. He is probably one of the most harshly-judged political figures of recent times. This book can help readers see some of the nuances behind the man and give a bit better perspective on what he attempted to do beyond the stereotypical views of his shortcomings. Two of the lasting impressions one can take away from reading this book are first, that President Carter was one of the few presidents to make an honest and long-term attempt to improve the energy regime of the US, and second, that he he has maintained a strong dedication to human rights and diplomatic solutions to international relations. I do recommend this book, but anyone who has a serious interest in the Carter presidency will most likely want to go beyond the very concise coverage of it in this book.

Accessible biography of Jimmy Carter
A nice addition to this series of brief biographies of American presidents. The focus here is Jimmy Carter. The author has no reservations about being critical where such is appropriate, so the book has a bit of an edge (but not inappropriately so, in my judgment). The book begins by outlining Jimmy Carter's background, his first efforts at politics, his success as a candidate for governor, and his strategic approach to running for president.

Then, his presidency. From a promising beginning to more difficult sledding. Finally, the problems of the last part of his presidency, including the hostage crisis and the economic stagnation facing the country. Unlike many presidents, there has been an active, visible, and controversial post-presidential career.

The book, overall, does a good job of presenting Jimmy Carter, assessing his body of work, and doing so in rather brief fashion, making this accessible to people who do not want a one thousand page biography.
... Read more

Product Description
The first president born after America's independence ushers in a new era of no-holds-barred democracy

The first "professional politician" to become president, the slick and dandyish Martin Van Buren was to all appearances the opposite of his predecessor, the rugged general and Democratic champion Andrew Jackson. Van Buren, a native Dutch speaker, was America's first ethnic president as well as the first New Yorker to hold the office, at a time when Manhattan was bursting with new arrivals. A sharp and adroit political operator, he established himself as a powerhouse in New York, becoming a U.S. senator, secretary of state, and vice president under Jackson, whose election he managed. His ascendancy to the Oval Office was virtually a foregone conclusion.

Once he had the reins of power, however, Van Buren found the road quite a bit rougher. His attempts to find a middle ground on the most pressing issues of his day-such as the growing regional conflict over slavery-eroded his effectiveness. But it was his inability to prevent the great banking panic of 1837, and the ensuing depression, that all but ensured his fall from grace and made him the third president to be denied a second term. His many years of outfoxing his opponents finally caught up with him.

Ted Widmer, a veteran of the Clinton White House, vividly brings to life the chaos and contention that plagued Van Buren's presidency-and ultimately offered an early lesson in the power of democracy.
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Customer Reviews (17)

American Presidents
i am trying to read all the books in this series they are pretty good so far even though i don't like Vanburen as a president to much the book was well written.

Little Magic for the Little Magician
Martin Van Buren, known by several nicknames including the Little Magician, was a less than noteworthy president.The author's thesis seems to agree with this.In fact, the thesis seems to suggest that Van Buren's only significance is that he was president during a period of change and turmoil in the country.This is not the best way to sell a book as being interesting.Though his presidency did lack significant legislation, Van Buren left his mark on the American landscape.For that reason alone, his story is worth a look.

Up to his term in office, Van Buren was the least Anglo president.A native dutch speaker, the Van Burens kept their mingling and breeding in the Kinderhook area of New York among the Dutch.Rising from obscurity his small town, Van Buren modeled the professional politician as he made friends to pad his way to the top.

As he rose to the national level, Van Buren can be credited as the founder of the Democratic Party.In doing this, he gave rise to the presidency of Andrew Jackson.As Jackson transitioned out of the White House, Van Buren seemed a natural successor.Yet as a one term president, his presidency seemed empty.

To paraphrase the author, Van Buren's presidency seemed to be the point where it was apparent that America was not protected as God's chosen land.Days after taking office, the economy went into its worst decline up to that point in history.The issues of slavery continued to fester without resolve.And without answer to the country's problems, Van Buren's enemies were able to catch up with him.

Interesting point of the book include Van Buren heritage, Vice President Robert Johnson's choices of mates, and the meeting with a young Abraham Lincoln.The low point is with little dount the author's tacky and inappropriate attempts at humor.Obviously, this is not a thorough biogrpahy of Martin Van Buren.However, it is a good primer.

Exciting Writing Style
Starting with Martin Van Buren, the Presidential pantheon gets a bit slim (in terms of perceived popularity).Luckily, author Ted Widmer's exciting writing style makes this book the best in the series I've read so far.

This book covers all the important moments of Van Buren's political career, including his early years (crafting what would eventually morph into the current Democratic party), one presidential term (major issues: slavery, annexation of Texas, financial panic), and later years (late presidential run from entirely different party).Widmer also provides some color to Van Buren the person, letting the readers know what kind of man he was.

For some reason, Widmer's writing style is heavily criticized on this site, but I feel just the opposite.Whereas sometimes the earlier books in this series got bogged down in details, I like the effort here to lighten things up a bit and use current-world examples/terminology to explain the permutations of Van Buren's life and times.

Thus, please continue your trek through the Presidents here.Not too much information, but just enough to give you a portrait of our eighth commander in chief.

Fun read, but light on substance...
I can see why other reviewers would be put off by the somewhat colloquial language in the book. I actually found it to be very readable as a result of said language. But you still have to cover the historical aspects of the Presidency. Less than 50 of 172 pages cover the actual presidency, and you don't get there until page 93. If you're looking for a more historical work, see Major Wilson's book from the Kansas University series.

Excellent Overview of Martin Van Buren and his times
This is an excellent book - period.

I read dozens of presidential biographies per year, most of which are well over 500 pages.I like the long detailed biographies and do not generally like ones that are too short.I usually find them uninteresting and hurried.

This is a short biography; however, I really enjoyed.I found the writing style refreshing and, I believe, Widmer did an excellent job of hitting on the most important points about Van Buren and the Jacksonian period.Because Widmer is writing to the non-historian, he does a great job of explaining things that may be confusing or unfamiliar to the reader.He provides just enough information to explain it, tell why it is significant, and to make it interesting.

I believe that this is exactly what the historian and editor of the series, Arthur Schlesinger, had in mind when he started "The American Presidents series" - a short biography that explains 1) who the president was, 2) what were the times like when they served, and 3) why were they important to history.In these objectives, Ted Widmer succeeded beautifully and I strongly recommend this book as a starting point for Martin Van Buren, the Jacksonian Period, and the founding of the Democratic party.

I give Widmer and his book five stars because I think it did a masterful job of fulfilling its purpose - giving the reader an enjoyable introduction to an important person in history.

By the way, each of the books in this series has the same long intro from Arthur Schlesinger.It explains the importance of the presidents and the purpose for the series.If you, like one of the other reviewers does not like it, just skip it.Consider it an added bonus if you chose to read it. ... Read more

Product Description
The Everything American Presidents Book is an all-in-one guide to each of the forty-three men who have served as Chief Executive of the United States. This comprehensive resource provides you with all the fundamentals you need to know about this country's leaders plus fascinating little-known facts such as:

• George Washington never really cut down a cherry tree.
• John Adams spoke with a lisp after he lost most of his teeth.
• Chester Arthur loved clothes and changed several times a day.
• William Howard Taft was America's fattest president--he once got stuck in the White House bathtub.
• Herbert Hoover and his wife often spoke Mandarin Chinese when they didn't want to be overheard.
• A portrait of Ronald Reagan made from 10,000 jellybeans hangs in his Presidential Library.

Written in an entertaining style by two experienced educators, this fun and informative guide is packed with facts and details about the life and times of each president and the major events that shaped his term. The Everything American Presidents Book is the perfect reference book about the fascinating men who shaped U.S history and policy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A slight bias
I liked the concept and the format for a quick review.But as I read through the book and came to the chapters covering the years in which I was present, I noticed that events and circumstances described were not quite as "I" remembered them.By the time I finished I had noticed a distinct progressive tilt.If you start with the last chapter you will get a feeling for the tone of the book.

An elightened Brit
I'm British,but spend every vacation in the U.S. I thought it was about time I got to know as much as I possibly could of the country I visit so regularly. I decided to purchase Everything American Presidents Book: I found the book extremely interesting and informative and loved the little nuggets of revelatory facts that few people would know about. I have no hesitation in recommending this publication to anyone who wants to learn more about the men who have helped to shape the social and economic history of the greatest country on the planet.

Quick and easy review
After recently watching a wonderful 4 hour show on the Presidents on C-SPAN, I realized how much I had forgotten or never learned over the years. I was seeking a book that was interesting, quick and yet easy to carry for my bus ride to work.After looking at all the books available in Borders (ones that didn't have an obvious agenda), I would say this was a great choice. For me, I just wanted a review in chronological order that wasn't too elementary. ... Read more

Product Description
Now available in paperback-the lavishly illustrated, national bestselling companion volume to the acclaimed ten-part public television series.

"I absolutely loved reading this original and fascinating approach to the American presidency. The organizational structure is brilliant, the narrative is clear and thought-provoking, and the pictures are dazzling."-Doris Kearns Goodwin Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, author of No Ordinary Time

"Exceptional."-Publishers Weekly

"The Kunhardts have done a wonderful job giving us such a full sweep of the presidency."-Peter Jennings, co-author of The Century



"A Visual Mount Rushmore."-Kirkus ReviewsAmazon.com Review
The American President has the looks of a coffee-table book, the smarts of an academic tome, and the readability of a novel, full of interesting and little-known facts about the first 41 chief executives of the United States. (Bill Clinton is the 42nd president, but Grover Cleveland was elected president twice, before and after Benjamin Harrison, making him the 22nd and 24th president.) The Kunhardt family are producers of both historical books and documentaries, and their television background is evident in the visual emphasis within The American President--which, as it happens, is also being turned into a television documentary. Another thing that sets the book apart from countless others on the presidents is its unique organization. The presidents are not presented in chronological order, but grouped instead according to characteristics that personified them and their presidencies. For example, Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson are brought together in a chapter on professional politicians, John Adams and Jimmy Carter share space for their "Independent Cast of Mind," and Theodore Roosevelt and Richard Nixon are noted for "Expanding Power." For anyone interested in the presidency, politics, or history The American President is a wonderful library addition. --Linda Killian ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Wonderful book, but a bit biased
All presidential history buffs need this book.The authors humanized the men, with lots of back stories.They also give alot of space to the wives, after all, behind every great (and not so great) man is a woman!As others have said, the pictures are just wonderful.Abraham Lincoln is my favorite president, and there were new photographs of him, too.The reason I'm giving this only 4 stars is the obvious political bias of the authors. The worse thing they could say about Carter is that he was too detail-oriented, and, of course, Kennedy is treated as a saint.They give very little information about Kennedy's presidency other than a few sentences about the Bay of Pigs and a few paragraphs about the Cuban Missile Crisis. There's no mention of Vietnam at all.Having said all that, I still love this book and refer to it often.

Excellent Introduction To American Presidents
It is a massive task to present all of the presidents (unless we're dealing with a book written in the early 1800's).There are weaknesses inherent in the task -- for example spending equal space for the presidencies of William Harrison (one month) and Franklin Roosevelt (three plus terms), or the issue of bias which like it or not is an issue on any historical undertaking.This book still succeeds in helping you get to know more about each president.

Like the mini-series this is a companion to, this book introduces five major categories, divides each category into two chapters showing the two sides of the category and then place four or five presidents in each.Their objective was to include one early president and one recent president in each group of four (or five), which they basically succeed at:Each of the ten chapters feature one of the ten most recent presidents at the time of this book (2000), and only the chapter on the "compromise candidates" fails to include one of the first ten presidents (it starts with Franklin Pierce, the 14th president).

At the beginning of each chapter is an overview, which points out presidents besides the selected four that fit into the categories.After all, there are often more presidents that fit into a category -- Zachary Taylor could have been in the generals section easily, and the chapter with the most presidents, the accidental presidents, dealt with just over half of the presidents in that category -- as well as presidents that could be in multiple categories.

The biographies spend a lot of time dealing with the life of the president, so you know more about their influences than just what they did in office.As a result, you might get minimal information on the person's actual presidency -- FDR's is a prime example.

If one is trying to decide which one should get between this and the video series, there is no right answer because there are differences.The parts and chapters are in different order.The video has a presidential historian talk about each president, but the book contains written information and quotes of the presidents and glances at the first ladies that are not in the video.

I now feel I know a little about all the presidents we've had.In my case (and a large part thanks to the video series and this book), a lot of my favorite presidents are not the best known ones (in my case, including McKinley, Taft, Arthur, Garfield, Hayes, and Hoover).

Reader Was Disappointing
I found the reader in the CD/cassette versions difficult to listen to.His diction was mushy, almost slurred.Although I have some reservations about the book (such as its unconventional organization, which may be more confusing in the audio format), overall it was interesting and informative.But the reader really detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

AUDIO BOOK:Very good
This is a very well written and well read book on tape.The authors tell you a brief description of each of the American presidents from Washington to Clinton.Because there is a lot of material to cover in four cassette tapes, it is a BRIEF summary of each president's term in office.At the same time, it is a fascinating story that analyzes and draws parallels between presidents who served decades or centuries apart.Instead of going chronologically through each presidency, the authors have broken it down into several chapters.Each chapter has a theme such as accidental presidents - or vice-presidents who became president after an assassination or unexpected death.Then each of the presidents who fit in that category are described in that chapter.It was very easy to follow and very interesting to hear the parallels between presidents so many years apart.Because it is a brief history of each president, you will find many places where you can stop the tape and come back to it again later.It's not an action story though, so it might not keep you awake if you are driving late at night.I mostly listened to it during daylight driving hours when I didn't need the radio to help keep me awake.

A nice history filled with great art and photos
This book is a very nice historical piece for the curious and beginning researcher. It provides enough detail to get one started in a more thorough search of one or more of the men who became president. However, it is not a definitive history text.

The art and photos in this volume are its redeeming quality. One could look through this book for hours and never get bored with the pictures.

The only negative thing that stood out in my mind about this book was the fact that it was not organized in chronological order. In other words, the book does not begin with George Washington and move to each subsequent President. Instead, the book categorizes the presidents into 'types' (for lack of a better word). For example, the sections are titled "The Candidate," or "Executive Vision," or "Happenstance," etc. and a President is categorized into a section. Some of the Presidents often times don't seem to fit the category or type and it makes you wonder what the authors were thinking. Nonetheless, the only time the reader gets a chronological listing of the Presidents is in the back of the book. This, in my estimation was a big mistake.

Otherwise, the book, as a whole, is pretty good and enjoyable to read and merely browse through. ... Read more

Product Description
A bestselling historian and political commentator reconsiders McKinley's overshadowed legacy

By any serious measurement, bestselling historian Kevin Phillips argues, William McKinley was a major American president. It was during his administration that the United States made its diplomatic and military debut as a world power. McKinley was one of eight presidents who, either in the White House or on the battlefield, stood as principals in successful wars, and he was among the six or seven to take office in what became recognized as a major realignment of the U.S. party system.

Phillips, author of Wealth and Democracy and The Cousins' War, has long been fascinated with McKinley in the context of how the GOP began each of its cycles of power. He argues that McKinley's lackluster ratings have been sustained not by unjust biographers but by years of criticism about his personality, indirect methodologies, middle-class demeanor, and tactical inability to inspire the American public. In this powerful and persuasive biography, Phillips musters convincing evidence that McKinley's desire to heal, renew prosperity, and reunite the country qualify him for promotion into the ranks of the best chief executives.
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Customer Reviews (23)

William McKinley
a terrible biography.all we know is what the author thought he should have been given credit for. a huge disappointment.

More an argument than a biography
Kevin Phillips has, over the years, made some terrific contributions to the American political discourse. While there is something to be said in his approach to William McKinley, this offering is more of an attempt to raise our 25th president's stature in comparison to other presidents.

Ratings of U. S. presidents have more or less evened out over decades but William McKinley hasn't fared too well. Phillips tends to explain McKinley's kindness, piety and duty to his invalid wife as excuses for weakness as seen by others, meanwhile promoting the realignment of the political landscape of 1896 and the GOP successes that occurred in following years as a direct result of McKinley's skill and ingenuity. That's a stretch. While President McKinley had some notable successes he was also the product of a lot of luck. The depression of the 1890s and the highly unsuccessful candidacy of William Jennings Bryan created a perfect storm for his elevation to the presidency and the quick victory in the Spanish-American War helped promote his popularity.

A near great president as Phillips suggests? I don't think McKinley qualifies. However, he was a hinge president in the sense that American life began to turn towards prosperity in the industrial age during his tenure in the White House as Americans entered the twentieth century. That McKinley did not survive to see the end of his second term will always keep the door open on his legacy.

Missing McKinley Bio
This is the 24th Am President biography I have read so far and I found this one to be one of my least favorites. In a nutshell, this volume is more documentary and less bio. The chapters are full of good information but tends to be overly repetitive. Most disappointing for a biography is the fact that this president was ASSASSINATED!!! The author completely ignores this event. You would think one or two pages if not an entire chapter would be dedicated to this event. This was my first read about McKinley and while I am left feeling more impressed about the man and his time in office I would have liked to be better informed about the circumstances of his life, family and unfortunate death. Who shot the President and why?

Don't start here
The other books I read in The American Presidents series provide an overview of a president and their impact on history or the presidency.Generally they serve as a good starting point to novices of American history.This book is an exception and is not recommended for this purpose.

Like others pointed out, this is not a biography - it attempts to argue that McKinley deserves higher esteem and that McKinley was a greater progressive than T.R.In doing so, Phillips skips anything that does not support this argument (including McKinley's assassination.Worse, it references events and previous text without explanation for the reader.What is a Molly Maguire and a muckraker again?These are referenced but no explanation is provided.

In addition to the huge holes in the story of McKinley there are lots of things that few readers will care about.The most notable is the several pages dedicated to analyzing the electorate in McKinley's elections with discussions of the Germans in this state, the Catholics in that state, and past GOP failures in another state.BIG YAWN!

While failing as an introductory biography, it also failed to convince me of the importance of McKinley or his ranking above mediocrity.Even IF McKinley would have achieved great things had he survived, he did not survive and arguing what might have been is ultimately futile.Furthermore, by arguing McKinley's popularity it makes the accomplishments of T.R. all the more impressive - there have been few who have emerged from the shadow of a strong and popular president to claim their own place in history.

The one thing that I found this book useful for was the references to earlier important biographies of McKinley and these biographies are probably better starting points than this by Kevin Phillips.

A convincing brief
Theodore Roosevelt's celebrated reputation often obscures the major realignment sown by his predecessor. Major reforms in tariffs and trade, labor relations, international leadership, arbitration, executive power, currency, party prominence, and trust regulation can indeed be traced to the self-effacing William McKinley, the last Civil War veteran to serve as president.

McKinley's obscurity can be traced to his preference of engineering consensus affording others the claim of authorship, disinterest in adoration (as president he refused to consider the Army's offer of a Congressional Medal of Honor), genuine devotion to an afflicted wife, and by his untimely assassination. Yet the author makes a convincing case he was much more astute than afforded in subsequent history, tracing to him many issues for which TR is lionized.

This work includes a lucid 159-page text, two Appendices (Memorials, McKinleyites), Notes, Milestones, and a Bibliography. Through brief (series constraints?), it's a valuable contribution that effectively portrays a "near-great" president. My only complaint is it lacks any discussion of his assassin. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (13)

A Politician's Politician
This study is a nice biography of Abraham Lincoln designed for the general public.The author, George McGovern, bring some interesting credentials to this effort.A combat veteran of World War II, he earned a Ph.D. in history, but is better known for his political career.He served in the U.S. Senate for three terms and was the presidential nominee of the Democrats in 1972.

It is no surprise then that this book emphasizes things political.There are a couple of chuckle producing passages when it seems like McGovern is discussing the 1960s rather the 1860s.McGovern, though, is a professional historian and gives a good account of himself with this work.The study is more than acceptable.McGovern is familiar with all the new research and findings on Lincoln.Experts on the sixteenth presidentwill find nothing new in this biography, but it is a good place for most people to start.

No New Insights

This work is pedestrian at best.As a weak scholar of the Civil War, I had hoped to learn new nuggets of information to augment my basic American knowledge of Lincoln's actions (particularly in regards to the conduct of the War).They were not here.The length of the volume encouraged me to think it would be more philosophical,analitical, or political in nature but it was a quick study of all you learn in high school.D.K. Goodwin is safe in Fenway!

Our Greatest President
George McGovern is a decorated B-24 bomber pilot in WW II, received a Ph.D. in American history, was elected Senator from South Dakota (1962-1980), and ran for President in 1972. [As a history professor in the 1950s he organized the Democratic Party in South Dakota.] The `Prologue' gives a short history of Lincoln's life. Lincoln was a "self-made man" (p.2) with one year of formal education. He suffered from melancholy all his life, which may have resulted from heredity, deaths in the family, election defeats, or perhaps disease (p.4). His opposition to the extension of slavery brought him national attention (p.5), a split among the majority Democratic party allowed his election to preserve the Union. [McGovern criticizes Lincoln for suspending `habeas corpus' (p.8) but Article I Section 9 allows it in case of Rebellion or Invasion.]

Chapter 1 tells of Lincoln's early life. He learned to work hard, but never learned to love it (p.17). He never joined any religion and did not fight, gamble, swear, or use tobacco, hunt or fish. Young Lincoln worked at many jobs (p.18). He was popular with the people (p.19) in part due to his honesty. He was elected Captain of the militia in the Black Hawk war (p.21). After being elected to the Illinois legislature he studied to become a lawyer (p.24). Then he moved to Springfield and practiced law (p.75) with a reputation for honesty (p.26). [Was there some hidden problem in their marriage (p.29)?]

Lincoln organized the Whig party and established a state convention system (Chapter 2). He served one term as Congressman, then became a respected attorney in Illinois (p.35). Would slavery expand to the free states (p.36)? Lincoln became the leader of the anti-slavery faction (p.37). The emerging Republican Party was against the extension of slavery, a coalition of former Whiges, Free-Soilers, abolitionists, and anti-slavery Democrats (p.39). The `Dred Scott' decision allowed slavery in the territories. Slavery was wrong because it exploited the labor of others (p.43). Lincoln was against secession (p.44) or the extension of slavery (p.45). Newcomer Lincoln had few political enemies, his friends made deals to win the nomination.

Southern states threatened secession since the 1820s (Chapter 3). [The South earned income from foreign trade in cotton and tobacco to Europe, their imports paid the tariffs that supported the Federal governments. Their business allies were the Bankers, Shippers, and Insurance companies. Many Presidents were from the South.] Lincoln would not allow slavery to be extended or states to secede (p.54). Lincoln ordered a blockade of Southern ports, ordered the purchase and production of weapons, and controlled and censored newspapers (p.61). Lincoln was not an abolitionist until war-time conditions required it (Chapter 4). The Emancipation Proclamation applied to the states in rebellion (p.70).

The Union had an advantage in population and production (Chapter 5). Lincoln became more involved in managing the war (p.83). U.S. Grant's victories ensured his promotion (p.87). Lincoln was the best speech-writer of the Presidents (p.91). Lincoln was the first President to win a second term since Andrew Jackson. Chapter 6 explains the `Politics in Wartime'. Chapter 7 describes the changes in Lincoln's second term. Many new laws had long-lasting consequences (pp.119-121). The XIII Amendment passed (p.128). Chapter 8 tells of Lincoln's last year. He saw the end of the war on April 9. The `Epilogue' describes the mourning, and has the author's comments. Liberty was no longer the absence of government restraint but something government provided (p.152). New Constitutional amendments expanded the powers of the national government (p.153).

Lincoln would have bought this book & voted for McGovern
My family and I met Senator McGovern at Mt. Rushmore earlier this month (8/09).He was more interested in us and our travels (we were on vacation from WI to CA via SD) than he was in his past accomplishments or current ambitions.I read this book after reading more about him - subsequent to meeting him.I unconditionally, categorically, and unequivocally recommend this book, not simply because he was genuinely interested in our family (although that demonstrates character beyond that which occasionally makes it to the White House - a subtle knock to Nixon, but he had it coming), but because it is truly a reflection of a great man by a great man.Senator McGovern mentioned that perhaps, someday President Obama would share a place at Mt. Rushmore -I share that desire with my friend (I could be stretching with "friend" but he made my family feel like friends so friend it is) to see Barack Obama as worthy of that distinction.Thank you, Senator, for the book - for talking with my family and for making our country great.Our world is much better off because of you George McGovern - If that sounds like "George Bailey" it should - Thanks Senator.

A great book about Lincoln.
So much has been written about Abe Lincoln.Another book might have been wasted effort.However George McGovern does a superb job of detailing the strengths and weaknesses of our 16th President.I do not support McGovern's politics but I think he did a great job of detailing his respect of Lincoln the politician.Lincoln made a few mistakes in his governing (habeus corpus) but overwhelmlingly his judgement on governmental/military matters were sound.McGovern does a great job of summarizing the greatness of our 16th President.

I think this is by far the best of the American Presidents series.I have read most of them, but McGovern has done the best job so far of any one President.A great read. ... Read more

Product Description
John Nance Garner once colorfully described the office of vice president of the United States as not worth “a pitcher of warm piss,” and no doubt many of the 45 men elected to it would agree. Though it is the second highest elective office in the United States, there is but one constitutional duty: to preside over the Senate. Historically, vice presidents have often been relegated to attending state funerals and heading mostly ceremonial committees. Unless, of course, the president dies or resigns; they are then thrust into the presidency, often with little or no preparation. From John Adams to Albert Gore, Jr., this reference work provides biographies of the 45 vice presidents of the United States. Despite the fact that many think of the office as a stepping stone to the White House, only 14 have actually served as president. Outside the public spotlight, many vice presidents led fascinating lives and served their country with distinction, though little has been written about them. The biographies herein focus on their work as vice president, their relationship with the president under whom they served, and their role in the White house. Their lives after the end of their terms are also examined fully. A bibliography follows each biography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

handy, but dangerous
It's hard to find good, thorough and easy-to-use reference works on VPs, and this book fills a needed gap--however...Any reference work is valuable only to the extent that it is accurate, and some big blunders make me nervous here. Andrew Johnson is inexplicably given the middle name Jackson. Has anyone ever heard of Andrew Jackson Johnson? I've done some published work on the Presidency myself, and I can find absolutely no corroboration for this moniker. The author certainly doesn't bother to source it, or much else unfortunately. There was a story, evidently contemporary with Johnson's career, that he was named Andrew after Jackson, but scholarly consensus is that this tale is wholly apocryphal, easily invented for a 19th century Tennessee politician. Since Johnson was born in 1808, in North Carolina, andbefore Jackson had risen to any particualr prominence, the likelihood that a he was named after the General is slight. Unless she had new info that would be quite w! ! orth sourcing, Waldrup just seems overly willing to repeat a good story as if it were fact. Of course this is unacceptable for a reference work.Then there is the matter of the near-full page portrait of William Henry Harrison (who was only briefly a president, and never a vice)which the book tells the reader is in fact John Tyler. Again, very bad for any work, let alone a reference. Who's on a $20 dollar bill, Martin Van Buren? Don't they have editors in these houses? ... Read more

Product Description
A bestselling historian examines the life of a Founding Father.

Renowned historian and social commentator Garry Wills takes a fresh look at the life of James Madison, from his rise to prominence in the colonies through his role in the creation of the Articles of Confederation and the first Constitutional Congress.
Madison oversaw the first foreign war under the constitution, and was forced to adjust some expectations he had formed while drafting that document. Not temperamentally suited to be a wartime President, Madison nonetheless confronted issues such as public morale, internal security, relations with Congress, and the independence of the military. Wills traces Madison's later life during which, like many recent Presidents, he enjoyed greater popularity than while in office.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Hardly impartial...
I'll admit I couldn't stomach finishing this book. I greatly admire Jefferson, and Wills' narrative gives such cursory treatment of Jefferson and Madison's motivations in the context of the events of the day, that it hardly comes across as impartial. Denouncing Jefferson and Madison's principled and active stand against the Alien and Sedition Act, and jumping to a 21st century perspective to offer a defense of the Act - really! And to say that Jefferson and Madison were obsessed with attacking Hamilton, while Hamilton was indifferent or friendly to them? Even a little reading of history would throw that claim into doubt.

Short and Concise
This short biography of James Madison focuses on his time as president of the United States - imagine a biography of Miguel de Cervantes focusing on his time as a soldier in a Spanish Navy infantry regiment.

James Madison was a great theorist, extraordinary writer, cunning politician and an effective legislator - but as president he was simply "good".Madison was never counted as one of the great presidents and author Garry Wills acknowledges as such in the opening of the book.As a matter of a complete biography this approach, in my mind, is the opposite of what it should be.Wills points this out and follows with a clear, clean and interesting biography focusing on Madison's administration.

The book is divided into five parts:
- Introduction
- Pre-Presidential Years(1751 -1809)
- The Presidency: First Term (1809-1813)
- The Presidency: Second Term (1813-1817)
- Epilogue: The Legacy

Wills hits the highlights and lowlights of Madison's time in office.The author lauds the president for trying extremely hard, and succeeding, in not to abusing the Constitution during the War of 1812 (something which could not be said for his successors such as Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and others) but balances those with such behavior as Madison's quixotic paranoia about such people as Alexander Hamilton.

James Madison, even though short, is written in an academic style.Information is being sent at the reader fast as if you were reading a textbook - just data without the spicy anecdotes which make a biography worth reading.I still don't feel I know Madison's personality or what, if anything, did the lively Dolly Madison saw in him (besides some rich guy from Virginia).I'd rather read the long, more paced biographies that give me a complete picture of the person.

Adequate, but not Wills' Best
Wills has written a balanced overview of Madison's career, striving to put the presidential years in proper perspective with his earlier legislative career. However, this is not Wills' best effort as he displays an ambivalence regarding Madison throughout the text that leaves readers somewhat unsatisfied.

An OK addition to the American Presidents series.
I had a hard time getting interested in this book.Although well written, Wills could have made the subject more interesting.Madison after all did have a variety of experiences in his long life with the United States.Not only was he a war leader, but he was one of the chief framers of the Constitution.

Generally the American Presidents series are nicely written books and the authors make the subjects interesting.I guess I am not a fan of Wills writing after this book, although I do have a few of his books on Nixon and Reagan in my library.

An OK book about an interesting figure in history.McGovern's Lincoln stands out as the best of the American Presidents series books.

Lame..
Why in a book about Madison does the author feel the need to bring up the Vietnam War?
Why in a book about Madison does the author feel the need to bring up how wonderful FDR was?

Why in a book about Madison does the author feel the need to bash Republicans on every page while the Federalist come off as Saints descended from heaven.

Can you possibly guess what political affiliations this authorbelongs too???

I was jarring on every page to have this idiot pontificating on things that have NOTHING TO DO WITH MADISON!!!!
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Product Description
A protean figure and a man of massive achievement, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only man to be elected to the presidency more than twice. In a ranking of chief executives, no more than three of his predecessors could truly be placed in contention with his standing, and of his successors, there are so far none.In acute, stylish prose, Roy Jenkins tackles all of the nuances and intricacies of FDR's character. He was a skilled politician with astounding flexibility; he oversaw an incomparable mobilization of American industrial and military effort; and, all the while, he aroused great loyalty and dazzled those around him with his personal charm. Despite several setbacks and one apparent catastrophe, his life was buoyed by the influence of Eleanor, who was not only a wife but an adviser and one of the twentieth century's greatest political reformers. Nearly complete before Jenkins's death in January 2003, this volume was finished by historian Richard Neustadt. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Concise biography of FDR
The American Presidents Series features a series of bios of American Presidents (as one might guess!). Each is brief, providing enough information for those who want to get quickly acquainted with a President--without reading a lengthy work. Personally, I prefer the massive biographies, but these brief volumes serve a useful purpose of making some degree of knowledge of presidents available to a larger public. The focus of this book? FDR, the man who served longest of all presidents, being elected to four terms.

The book, as a subtheme, weaves together the story of the cousins (distant)--Theodore Roosevelt and FDR. Indeed, they did interact with one another and had respect for one another. Interesting parallels--both served administrations in the Navy Department; both had careers as elected politicians early on.

The book begins with the family background of Roosevelt, including his marriage to Eleanor Roosevelt (another distant relative). Theirs was scarcely a passionate love, and the book candidly notes FDR's affair with Lucy Mercer, which--as one would guess--caused her considerable pain. There is also the story of his affliction with polio, which left hem affected for the remainder of his life. Despite the handicap, he continued his political rise.
After serving as Governor of New York, he had his chance to run for President. Given the economic troubles of the Great Depression, his win was almost certain.

The book then chronicles his first hundred days, the litany of policies that he and Congress worked to enact. By his second term, some of the steam went out of his efforts, but--nonetheless--many significant pieces of legislation were put into effect. As war loomed, Roosevelt decided on an unprecedented third term. After Pearl Harbor, he became a war president, and the book outlines his role there.

All in all, a good brief biography of one of the major American presidents. If you like a short bio, this should satisfy.

"The world we live is still Franklin Roosevelt's world...."

I have read and reviewed most of the volumes in The American Presidents Series for which the late Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. served as editor-in-chief at the time when Roy Jenkins' brief biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 - April 12, 1945) when it was first published (2003). In the "Editor's Note," Schlesinger explains that the aim of the series is "to present the grand panorama of our chief executives in volumes compact enough for the busy reader, lucid enough for the student, authoritative enough for the scholar. Each volume offers a distillation of character and career." Regrettably, Jenkins suffered a sudden and fatal heart attack while at work on the final chapter of this book. His friend and fellow presidential scholar, Richard Neustadt, then agreed to complete it.

As is also true of the other volumes, this brief biography examines the essential events and meaning of Roosevelt's life without oversimplification or generalization. As Jenkins notes, "He was more tested in peace and war than any president other than Lincoln." He was inaugurated in the midst of the Great Depression, was re-elected three times, and then died while in office near the end of World War Two.Jenkins organizes his material within eight chapters, devoting the first three to Roosevelt's life prior to the first term. The remaining five chapters examine "the exciting ambiguities of the first term," the nation's political and economic setbacks to which he and his cabinet struggled to respond, the nation's "backing into war," the "hard-fought years" of WW2 (i.e. December 1941-July 1944), and Roosevelt's death "on the verge of victory."

Along the way, he focuses special attention on those who seem to have had the greatest influence on Roosevelt throughout his life and career. They include his "Uncle Ted" during the first 38 years of his life as well as his parents (especially his mother Sara), wife Eleanor, and a succession of political advisors, notably Louis Howe and Harry Hopkins, and an extended (and complicated) relationship with Winston Churchill. Jenkins also devotes brief but sufficient attention to Lucy Mercer Rutherford with whom Roosevelt had an extended and episodic affair. There were at least three major developments that were also of significant influence: becoming permanently paralyzed from the waist down (in August of 1921) by what was diagnosed years later as Guillain-Barré syndrome, not poliomyelitis; his election to serve two terms as governor of New York (1924-1932); his election in 1932 as the 32nd President of the United States; and the attack of Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941, that plunged the United States into WW2.

Here in Dallas, we have a Farmer's Market near downtown at which several merchants offer a complimentary slice of fresh fruit as a "sample." In that same spirit, I now offer a few brief excerpts that are representative of the thrust of Jenkins' thinking and flavor of his writing style.

Upon becoming a junior Cabinet officer in early 1913: "Franklin bounded into his new responsibilities with all the enthusiasm of a large, well-bred, full-grown, but only half-trained puppy."

On inauguration day in 1932: "It was part of Roosevelt's genius that - much more than the rector of Groton [the private and prestigious boarding school that he attended]-- he cut through the gloom of a harsh March day...like a sunbeam through a lowering sky...his greatest single attribute - his confidence-giving confidence - shone through."

Once in office: "Under the shadow of the financial crisis, with runs on banks across the country and failures every day, the presidency began in a swirl of activity. There may be room fir dispute as to the extent to which the White House circle knew what they were doing. But there can be no doubt about the pace of activity."

After receiving a letter from Churchill in December of 1940, requesting greater American assistance: "The president received the communication when on a ten-day Caribbean cruise, accompanied, apart from his immediate staff, only by Harry Hopkins. It aroused no immediate reaction. Then, a couple of evenings later, according to Hopkins, `he suddenly came out with it -the whole program.' Thus was Lend-Lease born." Years later, James MacGregor Burns described it as "perhaps the most important letter of[Churchill's] life."

On "concessions" to the Soviets at Yalta: "FDR and Churchill `gave' Stalin nothing that he did not actually possess already by military occupation, something they regretted, Churchill especially, but as a practical matter could not reverse.... [Roosevelt was acutely conscious of Yalta as a sort of test, and quite aware that if the Soviets failed it he would have to face the prospect of something very like the Cold War that actually transpired."

Concluding comments: "The world we live in is not Churchill's, with its vanished British Empire, and not Stalin's, with his Soviet Union but a memory, his tyranny fully exposed, and Communist parties dethroned save in Cuba, or immensely reshaped as in China. The world we live is still Franklin Roosevelt's world, more fragmented yet with population doubled, weapons and communications revolutionized, dangerous in new way, but essentially recognizable. For good or ill, the United States is at its center, as it came to be in his time, and the presidency is at the center of its government, a position he restored and fostered. His story and he remain vital to the darkened future."

Congratulations to Roy Jenkins on a brilliant achievement, offered with a nod of recognition and appreciation to Richard Neustadt.

A good short biography of one of our greatest Presidents.
This is a great short biography of FDR.I actually learned something from Jenkins book.I also liked Jenkins comments on his actually meeting some of the officials of FDR's Presidency.Jenkins sadly died before actually completing this book, but this is a nice memorial to a famous politician and historian.Jenkins sheds some light on FDR's early life.The beginning chapter shows The differences between the Hyde Park and Oyster Bay Roosevelts.When FDR married Eleanor, he united the family.as TR said, lets keep the name in the family.

I thought this a very interesting short summary of our great President.This is a very readable book.I found Jenkins focus good on so complex and historic a man as FDR.

Franklin Roosevelt review
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (The American Presidents)

This book arrived just three days after I ordered it in excellent condition.Since I have been reading the American Presidents I was anxious to receive this book promptly.I would highly recommend this vendor and have no problem purchasing books from him in the future.

Not a whole lot new, butRoy Jenkins writes so well.
This abridged version isread by Richard Rohan & he even tries his hand at FDR inflections. This is a pretty good overview of FDR's life,but you wouldn't expect much depth with 3.5 hrs. running time on a CD. Roy Jenkins died shortly after or maybe a little before this was completed. Arthur Schlesinger jr. edited. But the tone gets more reveverential towards the end. Not really Jenkins style so maybe Mr. Schlesinger finished. But there is no doubt that FDR was the most influential president of the 20th century. His impact is still very much with us. ... Read more

Product Description
President Nixon’s former counsel illuminates another presidency marked by scandal

Warren G. Harding may be best known as America’s worst president. Scandals plagued him: the Teapot Dome affair, corruption in the Veterans Bureau and the Justice Department, and the posthumous revelation of an extramarital affair.

Raised in Marion, Ohio, Harding took hold of the small town’s newspaper and turned it into a success. Showing a talent for local politics, he rose quickly to the U.S. Senate. His presidential campaign slogan, “America’s present need is not heroics but healing, not nostrums but normalcy,” gave voice to a public exhausted by the intense politics following World War I. Once elected, he pushed for legislation limiting the number of immigrants; set high tariffs to relieve the farm crisis after the war; persuaded Congress to adopt unified federal budget creation; and reduced income taxes and the national debt, before dying unexpectedly in 1923.

In this wise and compelling biography, John W. Dean—no stranger to controversy himself—recovers the truths and explodes the myths surrounding our twenty-ninth president’s tarnished legacy.
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Customer Reviews (34)

A competent biography of a competent but unfinished President
This is a short biography of President Warren Harding, written by John Dean, the disgraced counselor for the disgraced President Richard Nixon.Having this author write this book has some drama.Harding is viewed by most historians as having been the most disgraceful President, prior to Nixon, due to the Teapot Dome scandal involving the corrupt sale of public lands.In this book, Dean is trying to rehabilitate Harding.Having an adviser to a disgraced Republican President try to rescue the reputation of another disgraced Republican President gives the book its initial interest.

Which is not why I read the book.I read it, because I wanted to know more about Harding's presidency, specifically I wanted to know about the policy response to the economic downturn of 1921.I, frankly, had not heard much about Harding's scandals and was not very interested in that issue.

What this book gives is a workmanlike account of Harding's life.The tone is supportive of Harding.As it sets out, Harding was from Ohio.He was a successful publisher of a newspaper in Marion, Ohio. He had a style of not making enemies.He slowly climbed up the ranks of the Republican party in Ohio.He was ultimately nominated for President, in 1920, in large part because the more flashy and famous front-runners had deadlocked each other.He was a relatively well-known, well-liked guy who nobody in the party objected to very much.

His presidency was quite short.He died after two years in office. The theme of his campaign in 1920 was to return the country to normal after all of the radical actions and controversies of Woodrow Wilson's presidency and of World War One.He certainly followed through on the promise to return things to normal.One of his most memorable acts as President was to pardon Eugene Debs, the Socialist candidate for President who Woodrow Wilson-- in a shameful act of vindictiveness -- had thrown into federal prison.Harding also introduced some relatively modest but useful changes.He created the Bureau of the Budget; previously, every department got its own money and no agency coordinated the overall federal budget.He was the first President to hold a press conference.

He was overly earnest as President, however.He took the job very seriously, did not delegate enough and worked himself to death.He literally did things like answering all of his own mail. He worked 15 hour days.You get the impression that he was a serious and well-meaning man, who had no idea how to manage his time and little understanding of what the President really needs to do.Dean argues that he learned to be a better executive as time went on, but, by that time, he had destroyed his health and he died.

By the way, this book has relatively little on the recession of 1921.It has a bit, but economics is not this book's focus.

Warren Harding our worst president?I think that honor belongs to James
Buchanan or George W. Bush in a race to the bottom. John Dean gives us a credible & positiveview of our First post World War I president. Given the fact that Mr. Dean is a convicted felon & is from Marion, Ohio the hometown of President Harding, he is still a fine writer. In this biography he is advancing the rehabilitation of Harding's career & character. Nobody has ever accused Harding of being particularly bright. Smart enough to be a senator, but not to take that big step to the presidency. He was overwhelmed. He was a micro-manager, to the point of perfection, too loyal to those not deserving & very diligent. His health suffered as a result. His downfall in popularity started after his death. Everybody believed that his wife Florence burned all his presidential papers immediately after his death. Without those papers, historians would not attempt a biography. Popular writers did not have such scruples & did not look for proof of anything. Great writers, such as H.L. Meneken, William Allen White & others, who did not like him in life, savaged him in death & it stuck. Allies such as his Vice President, Calvin Coolidge, Commerce Secretary, Herbert Hoover & Supreme court Judge William Taft deserted him fearful of the taint that was engulfing his administration. It was prohibition & Harding did havedrinks & cigars with cronies at poker games in theWhite House. A drink. he was allergic to alcohol & his health would not permit more than one. Second, there is no proof that he ever had an affair while president. He had an indiscretion or two earlier in his career. The assertion that he had a child out of wedlock has never been proved. He confessed himself that he was sterile. Finally he died of a massive stroke in San Francisco while in bed with his wife reading to him. As for his administration he was ill-served. While he was pro-business he was not anti-labor but did not like unions. He vetoed the veteran's bonus bill supported higher tariffs & lower taxes. He was friend to the farmer, & although didn't do much, was sympathetic to blacks in the south. He made a major speech in Birmingham, AL., angering the white crowd that had assembled to hear him speak. He conndemned lynchings that were pretty much the norm in the south. He also hosted the Naval Disarmament Convention of 1921-22. He had some really great appointments to his cabinent, such as, secretaries Mellon, Hoover & Hughes. Many of the rest were criminals. The biggest scandals were in the Veteran's Administration & of course, Teapot Dome. These had not been fully exposed by his death but soon unvolved numerous high ranking members of his administration. These destroyed his legacy forever. Several decades later, it was discovered that his wife had not destroyed his presidential papers. They were found, some 900 boxes of them. Dean contends that Harding was naive & totally unprepared to be president. But above all he was personally honest. Dean has contibuted greatly to his redemption with this book.

Barely a Biography
When I open a book, I look first at who wrote it. I read the dust jacket to look at his or her credentials, especially if I am not familiar with them. In this case, the author is John Dean, the indicted Counsel to the President, Richard Nixon.

When interviewed by CSpan Book Notes on March 14, 2004, concerning his book on Harding, Dean indicated that his only connection to Harding was that he once lived as a kid in Marion, Ohio, for about five years. He also told the interviewer that he believed, but could not prove, that Harding was sterile, and could not have fathered children; and, although he felt that there was some substance to the claims of Harding's relationships with other women,a DNA test would prove or disprove the issue. Unfortunately, Dean's book does not cover all the women courted and/or seduced by Harding.It is barely a biography.

He mentioned that he knew where Nan Brittan's child and offspring were living, but that he didn't want to pursue a DNA test. Of course, the many Harding relatives still living, would probably object to the testing in court, as they did when they suppressed the love letters between Harding and Carrie Phillips, but are due out from court-ordered sequester in 2014.

Dean even claims, but does not prove, that Carrie Phillips and Nan Britton were such close friends, that Nan saw the Harding love letters to Carrie, and then dreamed up the idea of having letters to herself. Well....unfortunately those small blue page letters that were sent by Harding to Britton are available. I know one competent historian who has traced Nan Britton and Warren Harding's movements in detail.

Here are the facts: Harding's child, Elizabeth Ann Christian (alias Harding; alias Emma Eloise Britton) was born at Asbury Park, N.J., 22 October 1919. She was adopted by her mother's brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Scott A. Willits on 15 March 1921. Nanmarried Henry El Blaesing on 18 September 1921. Henry was an office building manager in Glendale, California, and they had children (any of whom could supply the DNA test data): Warren Blaesing born in 1940, followed by James Blaesing and Thomas Blaesing. Dean claims that he gave up trying to track down Nan Britton's grandchildren, even though it's public knowledge and they're not hard to find. Dean also stated that he hoped the children would come forward on their own; that's fantasy.

John Dean is an amateur historian with no academic credentials in the history field of training, to bring to the table. How he came to write the book is interesting in itself: it was a chance meeting with Arthur Schlesinger in Florida, and his later reading that Arthur was doing the 42 Presidential Book Series, he called Arthur and offering his services. I fault Schlesinger for not vetting Dean as a competent author.

Dean's own rehabilitated reputation is tied to his journalistic connection with the Finlaw website, and regular appearances on MSNBC, where he touts his own books written against George Bush.

Bottom line: his own reputation was tainted by Watergate, and he revealed nothing new in this book that was not already alluded to or known, about Harding's failed presidency, except he got some of his facts wrong.

I classify John Dean, Phillip Payne, and a few others, including some amateur Amazon book reviewers, who are from Ohio, have close connections to the Ohio Historical Society or have worked as docents at the Harding home, as reputational entrepreneurs; who should be on an "academic amateur hour." Dean has tried to see if there is some myth of misbehavior in Warren's past.But, Warren Harding's bad behavior speaks for itself.

basically OK- sometimes too detailed, sometimes not detailed enough
This little book seeks to defend President Harding, and does a fair-to-middling job of it.

By focusing on Harding's pre-presidential life, Dean paints a reasonably interesting portrait of Harding's personality: genial, a bit pompous, smarter than generally believed.However, Dean's use of detail is uneven.Sometimes he provides an almost tedious level of detail; other times, his discussion is so sketchy that it reads like a few sentences are missing.

In particular, Dean's portrait of Harding's presidency is a little scattershot.By devoting a page here and there to lots of issues, Dean misses the opportunity to focus more on Harding's major achievements (healing the economy, balancing the budget, liberating political prisoners, partially desegregating the federal workforce).To be sure, he mentions all these things- but a more detailed discussion of each issue and a more liberal use of statistics would have sharpened his defense of the Harding Administration. Instead Dean wastes space focusing on the minutiae of railroad strikes and other ephemeral issues.

On the other hand, there are some things I really liked about this book.His discussion of the 1920 Republican convention is mostly excellent.I had always thought that Harding sat passively by while a few bosses nominated him in a smoke-filled room.In fact, Harding's strategy was quite ingenious: he knew that most delegates were committed to three major candidates whose supporters hated each other.So his campaign contacted delegates asking them to consider Harding if their first choice faltered in the early ballots.After the convention appeared deadlocked, these delegates turned to Harding (a choice facilitated by the delegates' lack of desire to pay for an extra day in hotels; the final ballot ended early in the evening).However, Dean's discussion of Harding's vice presidential choice could have used more detail.He writes that Harding preferred Sen. Irvine Lenroot to Calvin Coolidge, and writes: "Before Lenroot could inform Chairman Lodge that he did not want to be nominated, his name had been offered."Does that mean Lenroot declined the nomination?That delegates rejected him?Surely, Dean could have explained a bit more.

Dean's discussion of the general election campaign also contains some surprises. Just as today's smearers accuse Barack Obama of being a secret Muslim, some Democrats accused Harding of having African-American blood.One key difference between now and then: the Internet allows smears to be spread more easily.By contrast in 1920 the mainstream media's refusal to print such rumors may have kept them out of public view.

Dean also has a good discussion of Harding's civil rights record: I was surprised to learn that in addition to hiring African-Americans for federal jobs, he went to Birmingham, Alabama to speak on civil rights, calling for "economic equality between the races" and "equal educational opportunities."

Of course, all of this begs the question: why does Harding have such a bad reputation?Partially because some of his appointees were corrupt (though others were excellent, including future Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes at State).Also, his widow's decision to destroy many of his papers allowed scurrilous rumors to pass without rebuttal.

Warren G. Harding--Not so bad after all?
Interesting factors.John Dean (of Watergate note) authors this biography of Warren G. Harding in The American Presidents series.And he grew up in Marion, Ohio, where Harding lived for many years. And, against all odds, Dean makes Harding seem much less the failure that he has been branded over time.Does the author succeed fully? Each reader will have to judge for himself or herself, but I did come away from this book with a different impression of Harding than the one I brought with me as I sat down to begin reading this volume. One thing to Dean's advantage--access to Harding's papers which were not available to many earlier biographers.

Dean makes his view plain at the outset (Page 1): "Warren G. Harding is best known as America's worst president.A compelling case can be made, however, that to reach such a judgment one must ignore much of the relevant information about Harding and his presidency." As with all books in this series, we begin with a brief introduction to the character's life, in this case starting with his birth in Ohio in 1865. He tried studying law and selling insurance, but only came into his own when he managed to purchase the Marion Star, a daily newspaper. He appears to have been good at managing the paper and serving as a reporter in addition.

He began to be active in Republican politics in Ohio and, down the road, with the help of some political pros, he was elected as a state senator. Shortly thereafter, he became one of Ohio's two Senators in Washington, D. C.He came to national attention with a speech at the 1916 Republican convention.Some even thought of him as a dark horse candidate to get the nomination, but he chose to bide his time. His career in the Senate was not characterized with any major legislation bearing his name (and he often "missed" roll call votes on divisive issues, thus not offending either wing of the Republican Party). He decided to run a low key campaign to be the Presidential nominee of his party, surmising that no single leading candidate could gain enough votes to clinch the nomination.His suspicion turned out to be correct.He received the nomination and won the election.

His presidency, as described by Dean, is an interesting mix of positive steps, such as his effort to undo some of Woodrow Wilson's racist policies, his foreign policy, and even his choices for the Cabinet (most were very fine, although Albert Fall, of course, represented a major exception!), but not a presidency where major accomplishments emerged that caught historians' eyes later on.

One will have to evaluate the extent to which Dean makes Harding appear to be something more than the worst president in American history.I think he has made a case that the reader must confront, however, and that itself is something of an accomplishment.
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Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Not for children
While this book is full of interesting information it is not for 9-12 year olds. It's more like Grades 9-12. Roe v Wade? Margaret Sanger and birth control? I'm glad to see these issues covered but not in elementary school. Either the person who wrote the blurb for the publisher didn't read the book or doesn't have children.

presidents book
nice book for school-agers, probably best for 3rd grade and up, interesting facts about each US president

Five star.
I purchased this book for a teenager hoping to increase his interest in learning more about our presidents.The book has fostered his interest in reading more regarding the presidents and United States history in general. Even the adults that have looked at the book have commented "I would like to have one of these too."The offering of information and the lay-outs of each page make the book very interesting.I plan to purchase more copies as gift occasions present.

Perfect book
I purchased this book for my three year old as I have her understanding and identifying each president. I felt the book would be perfect for her to assocaite who the presidents are by face. It's working great. Each photos is perfect. This book is good for the younger children who dont learn much about presidents in school, the pictures are great along with their summary bio's. Pefect for all ages.

U.S. Presidents
Very informative. I am having a lot of fun with it... trying to memorize all of the presidents in order! ... Read more