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 Carte™ Sign up for daily eTips at www.dummiesdaily.com

Introduction. Part I: Examining the Office and the Officeholders. Chapter 1: Presidents and the Presidency. Chapter 2: Presidential Rankings and Evaluations. Part II: Starting with Known Quantities: Washington to John Quincy Adams. Chapter 3: Starting Well with George Washington. Chapter 4: The Authoritarian and the Philosopher: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Chapter 5: Prominent but Ineffective: Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams. Part III: Enduring the Best and the Worst: Jackson to Buchanan. Chapter 6: Standing Firm: Andrew Jackson. Chapter 7: Forgettable: Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, and Tyler. Chapter 8: Dreaming of California: James K. Polk. Chapter 9: Working Up to the Civil War: Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan. Part IV: Becoming a Force in the World: Lincoln to Hoover. Chapter 10: Preserving the Union: Abraham Lincoln. Chapter 11: Reconstructing the Country: Johnson, Grant, and Hayes. Chapter 12: Closing Out the Century: Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison. Chapter 13: Influencing the World: McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Taft. Chapter 14: Protecting Democracy: Woodrow Wilson. Chapter 15: Roaring through the ′20s with Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover. Part V: Instituting the Imperial Presidency: Franklin Roosevelt to Richard Nixon. Chapter 16: Boosting the Country and Bringing Back Beer: Franklin D. Roosevelt. Chapter 17: Stopping the Buck at Harry Truman. Chapter 18: Liking Ike: Dwight David Eisenhower. Chapter 19: Fulfilling Family Expectations: John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Chapter 20: Fighting for Might and Right: Lyndon Johnson. Chapter 21: Covering Up: Richard Nixon. Part VI: Changing the Dynamics: Gerald Ford to George W. Bush. Chapter 22: The Career Politician and the Peanut Farmer: Ford and Carter. Chapter 23: A Starring Role for Ronald Reagan. Chapter 24: Acting Out: George Bush and Bill Clinton. Chapter 25: Getting the Call: George W. Bush. Part VII: The Part of Tens. Chapter 26: The Ten Best Presidents. Chapter 27: The Ten Worst Presidents. Chapter 28: Ten Presidential Libraries Worth Visiting. Appendix: Presidential Facts. Index.

Marcus Stadelmann is the author of The Dependent Ally: German Foreign Policy 1949––1990 and a contributor to Political Leaders of Contemporary Western Europe.