U. S. Presidents for Dummies®

Hail to the Chief! Get the lowdown on our nation' s leaders Packed with little-known facts and fascinating stories Get the scoop on America' s leaders from George Washington to George W. Bush Ever wonder how America' s presidents deal with the fame, stress, and criticism that come along with the most powerful position in the world? From their successes to their scandals, from their public personas to their private lives, this friendly guide follows the careers of the 42 men who have held the office - revealing intriguing details about their personalities, lifestyles, and the events that influenced their decisions. The Dummies Way Explanations in plain English " Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun Get smart! @www.dummies.com Find listings of all our books Create your own personalized book with Hungry Minds a la Carteâ„¢ Sign up for daily eTips at www.dummiesdaily.com

Marcus Stadelmann is the author of The Dependent Ally: German Foreign Policy 19491990 and a contributor to Political Leaders of Contemporary Western Europe.

Introduction

1

(6)

Part I: Examining the Office and the Officeholders

7

(22)

Presidents and the Presidency

9

(10)

Presidential Rankings and Evaluations

19

(10)

Part II: Starting with Known Quantities: Washington to John Quincy Adams

29

(48)

Starting Well with George Washington

31

(14)

The Authoritarian and the Philosopher: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

45

(16)

Prominent but Ineffective: Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams

61

(16)

Part III: Enduring the Best and the Worst: Jackson to Buchanan

77

(52)

Standing Firm: Andrew Jackson

79

(10)

Forgettable: Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, and Tyler

89

(16)

Dreaming of California: James K. Polk

105

(10)

Working Up to the Civil War: Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan

115

(14)

Part IV: Becoming a Force in the World: Lincoln to Hoover

129

(100)

Preserving the Union: Abraham Lincoln

131

(16)

Reconstructing the Country: Johnson, Grant, and Hayes

147

(16)

Closing Out the Century: Garfield, Arthur Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison

163

(18)

Influencing the World: McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Taft

181

(20)

Protecting Democracy: Woodrow Wilson

201

(14)

Roaring through the '20s with Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover

215

(14)

Part V: Instituting the Imperial Presidency: Franklin Roosevelt to Richard Nixon

229

(72)

Boosting the Country and Bringing Back Beer: Franklin D. Roosevelt

231

(14)

Stopping the Buck at Harry Truman

245

(14)

Liking Ike: Dwight David Eisenhower

259

(12)

Fulfilling Family Expectations: John Fitzgerald Kennedy

271

(10)

Fighting for Might and Right: Lyndon Johnson

281

(10)

Covering Up: Richard Nixon

291

(10)

Part VI: Changing the Dynamics: Gerald Ford to George W. Bush

301

(48)

The Career Politician and the Peanut Farmer: Ford and Carter

303

(12)

A Starring Role for Ronald Reagan

315

(10)

Acting Out: George Bush and Bill Clinton

325

(16)

Getting the Call: George W. Bush

341

(8)

Part VII: The Part of Tens

349

(14)

The Ten Best Presidents

351

(4)

The Ten Worst Presidents

355

(4)

Ten Presidential Libraries Worth Visiting

359

(4)

Appendix: Presidential Facts

363

(10)

Index

373

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U. S. Presidents for Dummies®

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials