Presidential People Reads

His Excellency George Washington by Joseph Ellis | Read in 2023

I read this book in 2023 as the first of my endeavor to read a biography of every president of the United States of America. I quickly realized several things. The first is that history is extremely complicated and not what any one person wants it to be. Second, the founding fathers were not nearly as "Christian" as many had made them out to be. Thirdly, not much has changed in politics in the last 250 years. Finally, even people as "great" as George Washington have their faults and can have legacies tainted by things they or others have done. He tried to work with slaves, free blacks, and natives often by signing treaties and legislation. However, it was always undone by congress or some other body.

John Adams by David McCullough | Read in 2023

This one was much longer, and much more detailed. Some of which I enjoyed when it talked about his family, how he did things, and politics. However, There were some times when I felt the detail to be much too tiresome and I found myself skimming over from boredom. I'm sure some of it may have been of interest to other people but it did not interest me as much. I really liked the character of John Adams. After reading this I felt I understood George Washington and Thomas Jefferson better as well. Adams lived a very long life into his 90s getting to see his son become President. This book was made into an HBO mini series which I also recommend. Adams was not a great President, in fact he was pretty bad, but he was a good politician and more importantly a good person. He is one of two, the other being his son, Presidents of the first 13 to never own a slave. He was a devout Christian and believed all people to be equal in the eyes of God.

Thomas Jefferson President and Philosopher by Jon Meacham | Read in 2023

This one was much shorter than the previous two. However, after reading John Adams I felt I already had a good knowledge base on Jefferson because of how much McCullough included about him in the biography. Adams and Jefferson were rivals politically and friends openly. They would argue about slavery and religion on many occasions. At the end of their lives they began writing letters to each other again and Adams inquired of Jefferson to answer him some of the more questionable things he had done and said. Jefferson did not reply with an answer. He owned over 6000 books, which he gave to congress after the British fires during Madison's administration. Jefferson was a great President, doing many things that were great for the country and the people of the country. However, he was not a great person, and his life will always be tainted by the things he said and did concerning slavery.

James Madison A Life Reconsidered by Lynne Cheney | Read in 2023

After the powerhouses of the first three Presidents I didn't feel as many memorable moments from this book. Also the first part told a lot of the same stories that previous books did about the wars and Constitution. Well known for his writing, he was a primary source for the Constitution and then wrote the Federalist papers under a pseudonym, which was instrumental in pushing the ratification of the Constitution. Of course Madison oversaw the country during the time of the British attacking on American soil and burning the capital. His wife famously saved the Declaration of Independence and a portrait of George Washington. He also made Andrew Jackson a general after William Harrison stepped down, catapulting Jackson's career.

James Monroe by Gary Hart | Read in 2023

Monroe was an interesting character for several reasons. I am surprised he is not as popular as some of the other of the first four Presidents. He is a kind of last of the founding fathers and of the Virginian dynasty that people thought was going on. The famous painting of Washington crossing the Delaware included Monroe. He was promoted by Washington in the Revolution and his father was friends with Washington. He also famously voted against the Constitution because he thought it took too much from the states. Washington received unanimous electoral votes to become President, while Monroe received all but one. The one said that only Washington should have that honor. I think it speaks to Washington's lore and also Monroe's popularity that many forget. Then of course there is the famous Monroe doctrine.

John Quincy Adams by Harlow Giles Unger | Read in 2023

Quincy Adams was an interesting character like his father. A devout Christian, good politician, long storied career, but not a great president. While young he traveled with his father often oversees learning languages and the ways of politics. He served as minister to four countries under three Presidents, on the senate and as Secretary of State under Monroe. This was seen as the stepping stone to the Presidency. He is often credited with writing the Monroe Doctrine. After his presidency he became a member of Congress. He lost both of his parents during his presidency.

Andrew Jackson His Life and Times by H. W. Brands | Read in 2023

Andrew Jackson was the thrilling answer of the people to the boring establishment. Even though Quincy Adams was technically not a founding father, he was the son of one and very much in the same line of politics as them. Him and Jackson differed on practically everything. Adams was the educated, sophisticated, well mannered man while Jackson was the rough and tumble shoot from the hip soldier. Made famous for doing things as general without Presidential or congressional approval, the people wanted Jackson but little did they know he was corrupt too. Then of course there is the trail of tears.

Martin Van Buren: The Romantic Age of American Politics by John Niven | Read in 2024

Martin Van Buren was one of the first truly party politicians. A Jacksonian and a Democrat he spent his life trying to further the Democrat agendas and subsequently Andrew Jackson's agendas. A New Yorker he was very prominent throughout his career in New York politics and later National politics. Working his way into Secretary of State, which was the spring board of the time to the Presidency. Under Jackson's Presidency he was instrumental in almost every decision the President made. Not much happened that he did not have a hand in. Fun fact is that he is the only President that did not speak English as his first language. His first language was Dutch. His presidency was marred by economic trouble and failed Jacksonian principles. Which caused him to only be elected for one term.

William Henry Harrison by Gail Collins | Read in 2024

Harrison was the first Whig President. He was selected because of his status as a successful General. However, most of his life was not successful at all. He seemed to happen into things and get lucky more often than not. He had a way of using unsuccessful things to his advantage. Many battles he narrowly escaped by a stroke of luck because of something else unfortunate that had happened. Some said he was responsible for killing Tecumseh, however, he was not near him when it happened. He moved a lot always trying to be a politician among other things, often unsuccessfully. Him and Van Buren are the first Presidents to really campaign. During their election year they went around making speeches. Many thought he was too old for the Presidency. He gave the longest inaugural address in history to prove he was not too old. Then was seen walking around the capital streets the entire month of his Presidency. He was the first President to die in office.

John Tyler The Accidental President by Edward P. Crapol | Read in 2024

Considered the accidental president because of how he came into office, Tyler's life was filled with controversy. As Harrison died only 30 days into his administration Tyler was the clear succession because of the Constitution. However, his duties and abilities were unclear, at least that's what people made it seem like. Many didn't want him to be President and fought him every step of the way trying to undermine his authority. He had changed his party affiliation to gain the nomination for Vice President, however the Whigs quickly realized he was far from a practicing Whig. He went against party norms. However, he didn't necessarily side with the opposing party either. He found his own way often and angered both parties. He's also the only President that basically committed treason and died not a citizen of the United States. This is because of his involvement with the Confederates during the Civil War. Also as of 2024 he still has a living grandson.

Polk The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Walter Borneman | Read in 2024

Polk has recently become considered one of the top ten Presidents by many historians. Considered a dark horse candidate by many, he in many ways was also an accidental President. He was only nominated after many other of the nominations failed and different factions were unable to find a candidate to put them over the edge. Part of his nomination was contingent on his promise to only serve one term. It was less of the admirable thing many people make it out to be and more of a political ploy. Interestingly enough if he would have served a second term he would have died in office since he died shortly after leaving office. This book was not a bad book and was relatively interesting. In some ways his life was uneventful but he was able to use what he knew and some of his partisan history to help get things done.

Zachary Taylor by John Eisenhower | Read in 2024

Zachary Taylor is probably one of the least known Presidents in American history. Mainly due to his inaction during his presidency and somewhat lackluster life before hand. In the military he did have some well known battles, at the time, during the Mexican-American War. However, they were usually overshadowed by politics and were in no means great feats of leadership. After the death of Harrison, accidental Presidency of Tyler and the change of Polk, the Whigs wanted another military man like Harrison to try to gain back the White House. Taylor, who had been active during the Polk administration was for some reason the best choice. He was in many ways a tough person and unassuming. His inaction during the Presidency however, led to more problems over slavery as both the north and the south thought he was helping the "other side." He ended up dying of an unknown illness which was some form of stomach issue during his presidency. The second President in four to die in office.