U.S. Presidents For Dummies with Online Practice

Marcus A. Stadelmann

John Wiley & Sons, Jun 30, 2020 - Biography & Autobiography - 480 pages

Discover how the Oval Office’s occupants have made and make history

Which one was the tallest? Which one fought a duel? Which had liquor smuggled into the White House during Prohibition? And why is the president even called the president in the first place? From periwigs and knee breeches to the 24-hour news cycle and presidential Tweets, the fascinating and colorful stories of the 45 incumbents are a powerful lens through which to view U.S. history and get insight into the present.

Taking readers on a fact-filled journey through two centuries, this book examines how each individual obtained their dream (or nightmare) position, what they stood for (or against), achieved (or didn’t), and how their actions affected the country—for better or worse. And—remembering that presidents are people too—it shows how the personal really can be political, exploring how each president’s vision, strengths, and foibles helped or hindered them in building the country and their own legacy.

• Accessible biographies of all presidents
• Sidebars, timelines, and photos
• Lists of best and worst administrations
• Bonus online content, including quizzes galore to help build retention

Whether you’re a student, a history buff—or are even interested in becoming president yourself one day—U. S. Presidents For Dummies is the perfect guide to what it takes to be leader of the free world, who has stepped up to that challenge, and how those personal histories can help us understand yesterday’s, today’s, and even tomorrow’s union.

Contents

• INTRODUCTION 1: 3
• Presidential Rankings and Evaluations: 19
• The Authoritarian and the Philosopher: 45
• Prominent but Ineffective Madison: 63
• ENDURING THE BEST AND THE WORST: 81
• Forgettable Van Buren William Henry: 95
• Working Up to the Civil War Taylor: 121
• BECOMING A FORCE IN THE WORLD: 137
• Reconstructing the Country Johnson: 155
• Closing Out the Century Garfield Arthur: 173
• Influencing the World McKinley Theodore: 191
• Protecting Democracy Woodrow Wilson: 213
• through the 20s with Harding: 227
• INSTITUTING THE IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY: 243
• Liking Ike Dwight David Eisenhower: 277
• Fulfilling Family Expectations: 291
• Fighting for Might and Right Lyndon Johnson: 303
• Covering Up Richard Nixon: 315
• CHANGING THE DYNAMICS GERALD: 327
• xiv: 341
• Acting Out George H W Bush: 355
• Getting the Call George W Bush: 373
• Breaking Tradition Barack H Obama: 387
• A Billionaire in the White House: 401
• THE PART OF TENS: 413
• The Ten Worst Presidents: 421
• Presidential Libraries Worth Visiting: 427
• PRESIDENTIAL FACTS: 433
• U S Presidents For Dummies: 434
• INDEX: 443

About the author

Marcus A. Stadelmann, PhD, is a Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science and History at the University of Texas at Tyler. He received his PhD from the University of California at Riverside and has subsequently taught at universities in California, Utah, and Texas.

Bibliographic information

• Title: U.S. Presidents For Dummies with Online Practice
• Author: Marcus A. Stadelmann
• Edition: 2
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2020
• ISBN: 111965453X, 9781119654537
• Length: 480 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Presidents & Heads of State; Education / History; History / General