No comments about Adams on Adams.

No comments about Martin Van Buren And The American Political System.

1 comments about Lincoln's Quest for Union.

1. This book is a wonder insight into the psyche of Abraham Lincoln. This book focuses on the history of Lincoln, not so much the history of his political terms as president, rather the history behind the morals and personality of the man himself. Charles Strozier does a wonderful job in piecing together the facts and fables in order to tell the tale of Lincoln. There are so many folk tales on Lincoln that it can be hard to figure out what really happened and what didn't. There are myriad sources used in order to give this book the depth needed to paint a lush illustration of such an interesting person.
   
   Abraham Lincoln is easily connected to the American Civil War. However in this book, not much of the war is really mentioned. Nor are detailed aspects of his political policies. The book traces the lifeline of Lincoln as child all the way to his death. Many psychological depictions are utilized in understanding the soul, mind, emotion and motivation behind the spirit of Abe Lincoln. I found it very interesting and satisfying to have such a blend of history and psychology, which is a wonderful way to do a case study on a person.

1 comments about Talking with Harry: Candid Conversations with President Harry S. Truman.

1. Reading this book offers you a unique experience: suddenly you begin to think you're like you're being in a room with Harry S. Truman, or like you're strolling through town with him. Of course, mr. Truman does most of the talking, accompanying with loud laughing, grinning and gesturing. He is outspoken in his likes and dislikes, in his judgements of people, places and events, and yet modest about his own important role in history.
   
   A delightful man, humourous, and sharp, but also a highly intelligent one, made all the more so by his down-to-earth ordinary-citizen-common ense. He really had that, it was not some gimmick or spin-doctored image-trick. In my opinion Harry S. Truman was the last American statesman of whom one could truthfully say: what you see (and what you hear) is what you get.
   And even such a statement, doesn't cover it, because Truman gave his country more than his farmer's wit, his snappy one-liners, and his plain-spoken common sense. He turned out to possess true and profound wisdom: he devised, shaped and carried out new foreign policies, new internal policies and proved to be a great and visionary president in a time when America and the world really needed one. He took some tough decisions which, in the end, all turned out to be the right ones (dropping the bomb on Japan, sacking MacArthur, getting involved in Korea, desegregating the armed forces).
   
   He truly was, from 1945 to 1952, the right man for the job, more than that, he was the best man for the job. In 1952 the best man of all possible candidates in the American politicial landscape did not win the presidency, but a far better man than many did lose it.
   Having lost, Truman did not fret, brood and rage, but with dignity handed the reins of power over to Eisenhower and simply went back to Missouri.
   
   Hearing mr. Truman, reading his words, one realizes people of his stature are sadly lacking in today's world. One can't help but shiver in pained horror thinking of those power-hungry intellectual and moral pygmies who govern your country now, or when thinking of the unprincpled and egotistical intellectual and moral pygmies who are trying to get to govern your country in two years time. Mr Bush and Mr Cheney, but also you Mrs Clinton: you're not even fit to wash Mr Truman's car, walk his dog, or shine his shoes.
   
   A great book about a truly great man. I raced through the book and at the end was left wishing it to be longer.
   So now I started in David McCullough's "Truman". A 1000 pages of Harry, his life and times. That should keep me a while.
   
   Buy "Talking with Harry"!! It's well worth the money, the time and the effort. Be educated, entertained and touched by the words of the 33rd President. Highly recommended.

No comments about Ronald Reagan's Crusade.

No comments about George Washington: An Illustrated Biography.

1 comments about Presidents at War: From Truman to Bush, The Gathering of Military Powers To Our Commanders in Chief.

1. This book should really be titled 'Presidents at UNDECLARED War.' During the years since the founding of the republic, the United States has only been in five declared wars. During those same years the United States military forces have engaged in more than two hundred armed conflicts. It is not a new thing, Wikipedia says: 'The first United States military action overseas, executed by the U.S. Marines and Navy, was the storming of Derna, Tripoli in 1805 in an effort to bolster diplomatic efforts in securing both the freedom of American prisoners and an end to piracy on the part of the Barbary state. The opening line of the Marine's Hymn, From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, refers to this action.'
   
   This is a very interesting book in how it looks at the conflicts fought since World War II. It covers not the conflict itself so much the interaction between the President and Congress. It further raises interesting questions about how Congress acts in these cases. For instance in the vote regarding Iraq, Congress voted 77 to 23 in favor of the Iraq war.
   
   With the current dissatisfaction regarding Iraq, it will be very interesting to see what happens, especially if the Democrats gain control of Congress.

No comments about The Quotable John Adams.

2 comments about Ronald Reagan and His Ranch: The Western White House, 1981-1989.

1. Hannaford's book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in knowing how the President lived (and worked) away from the White House. The pictures were also excellent.



2. Ronald Reagan And His Ranch: The Western White House 1981-1989 is a solidly written, vividly presented, behind-the-scenes insider look at the ranch owned by the Reagans during Ronald Reagan's tenure as President of the United States and which came to be nicknamed by the press as the "Western White House". From the security difficulties the ranch posed for the secret service, to humorous anecdotes, to visits by famous and powerful people, and enhanced with black-and-white as well as color photographs, Ronald Reagan And His Ranch is a unique contribution to school and community library American History, and a highly recommended study of the beloved personal retreat of one of America's most popular 20th Century presidents.

1 comments about Our Presidents: Their Lives And Stories.

1. I got this book because the author's book on the first ladies and their stories was so interesting. This one has a similar format with short historically accurate stories about Washington to Bush, each accompanied by a picture or two, most of which are in color. For a short review of the history of the United States, this is the ticket. Want to know about the XYZ affair, or Teapot Dome, the Fall guy, or President Wilson's wife running the government after his stroke? It's all here and more. And how about the interesting fact that three of the first five presidents died on the 4th of July (Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe.) Quite a coincidence, but interesting in view of the fact that recent medical research shows you are more likely to die on a day (like your birthday) that has real emotional significance for you. The sad fact is that our present president doesn't measure up in any manner, shape, or form to those who occupied the office before him. HL Mencken predicted that someday the American people would elect a moron president. That day appears to have arrived.