Summer Reading for Potus Geeks: Presidents' Autobiographies
Autobiographies can often make for dull reading. Frequently they are self-serving attempts for the author to portray himself or herself in the best possible light, glossing over any failings or shortcomings. Sometimes the author ignores controversial subjects altogether, or sanitizes them to the point where their version of the facts barely resemble reality. This has often been the case of presidential autobiographies, with the most glaring example likely being James Buchanan's version of how history would come to vindicate him. (So far that hasn't happened yet.)
There are some autobiographies that are a pleasure to read because of the author's candor and honest self-appraisal. The autobiographies of Frederick Douglass and Benjamin Franklin come to mind in this category. If autobiography is one of the genres that you like to read, here are a few suggestions of those of former presidents:
1. The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses Grant: Hands down, this is the best autobiography of a former president ever written. One caveat though, Grant writes of his life only up to his time as a General in the Civil War. He does not write about his time in the White House. These memoirs were written at the end of Grant's life at a time when he was battling the throat cancer that would claim his life. Grant's writing has been praised for its conciseness and clarity, a nice change from many Civil War memoirs, which tended to reflect the Victorian fondness for elaborate (and sometimes overblown) language. When it was published, the book received universal critical praise. Mark Twain, who convinced Grant to write the story of his life, compared the Memoirs to Julius Caesar's Commentaries. Gertrude Stein also praised the book, saying she could not think of Grant without weeping. The Memoirs quickly became a best seller, allowing Grant to meet his goal of providing for his family after he was gone. If you have never read these memoirs, I highly recommend them, they are a classic and a pleasant read, that seem to transcend the time of their composition.
2. The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge: This autobiography is probably written the way that political figures wrote their memoirs in the 1920s: it is brief, simple, guarded and idealistic. Coolidge's life story has several moralistic themes running through it: (1) have a strong work ethic, (2) as far as possible be on good terms with everyone, even your political opponents, (3) don't expect government to solve your problems, you've got to work hard and make a better life for yourself. As an example of the type of platitude that is plentiful in this book, Coolidge writes "There is only one form of political strategy in which I have any confidence, and that is to try to do the right thing and sometimes be able to succeed" or "Any reward worth having only comes to the industrious." Coolidge tells us his life-story in a modest, self-effacing manner beginning with an idyllic description of his country upbringing and the strong work ethic that was instilled in him by his father. He describes how he became a lawyer and learned the law, rising to some prominence in the legal community once again by hard work, a strong sense of ethics and learning from the example of the best lawyers around. He describes how he climbed the political ladder, first in municipal politics, then at the state and national level. His star rose rapidly as a mayor, state senator, lieutenant governor and then governor of Massachusetts for two years before being drafted as Vice-President on the Republican ticket with Warren Harding in 1920. At each rung of this ladder, Coolidge would have the reader believe that he had no strong political ambitions, but it was at the urging of the electorate and his peers that he rose to the next level. This book does not give any details or inside accounts of any major political occurrences. For example, Coolidge only mentions the scandals of the Harding administration in a sentence, commenting on how they must have aged Harding and accelerated his death. Of Harding himself, Coolidge is loyal and speaks warmly of his boss, without any mention of Harding's personal character defects. At one point in his book, Coolidge admits that he has always been loyal and supportive of his political superiors. The chapter of the book on his own Presidency does not discuss any of the issue of the day. Instead he writes about the mundane routine of his presidential duties as well as some of the protocol involved in the office. About the only time that Coolidge talks about a political issue is his account of the Boston Police strike of 1919 during his term as Governor of Massachusetts. He admits that it was likely his handling of that issue that led to his being chosen as the Republican nominee for the Vice-Presidency in 1920. But on one issue Coolidge lets down his guard somewhat and gives us some insight into his innermost thought, that being on the death of his son Calvin.
This is an effortless read, pleasant and not mentally taxing. What it lacks in detail and revelation, it makes up in simple philosophy and takes the reader back to a more innocent time, whether real or imagined.
3. RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon: No, Nixon does not admit that he did anything deserving of impeachment. Nixon narrates his career from its earliest beginning in Yorba Linda, California, to his election and ultimate resignation as President in 1974. Key sections of the book include his coming to national prominence during the trial of Alger Hiss, and the elections of 1952, 1960, 1968 and 1972. He discusses his time President between '68 and his work with National Security Advisor, later Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, and their strategy on the Sino-Soviet rift, the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, and the success of détente over the objections of both liberal and conservative critics. Nixon also chronicles the events surrounding Watergate in detail, though he contends that he never authorized the break-in at Democratic Headquarters and had no knowledge of it in advance. He states flatly his principal accuser, John Dean, was lying when he stated otherwise. He also says he was effectively tried by a hostile press based on leaks of "secret" material from "informed sources" whose objectivity and integrity was highly suspect.
4. The Vantage Point: Perspectives of the Presidency by Lyndon Johnson: This is an interesting firsthand account of the considerations, assumptions, and goals that guided President Johnson in many of the important decisions made during his president. Much of the book is devoted to the war in Vietnam, and Johnson makes many justifications of his foreign policy. He also discusses the accomplishments and triumphs that were closest to his heart, domestic achievements like his civil rights legislation, and his other war, the war on poverty. He gives the reader an impression of himself as a tireless worker with good intentions who did the best he could.
I've limited this list to four that stand out, but if you're curious as to which presidents have written autobiographies or memoirs, following is a list of the others not previously mentioned:
The Autobiography of Martin Van Buren: This book was published in 1920, over fifty years after Van Buren's death. It is over 700 pages long, and remarkably, Van Buren never mentions his wife Hannah once.
Mr. Buchanan's Administration on the Eve of Rebellion: Published in 1866, James Buchanan tries to explain why the Civil War really wasn't his fault, and how all of his critics are wrong and how history would someday vindicate him. It is difficult to read because of its tortured language and long running paragraphs.
Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography Published in 1913, the first half of the book is a chronological account of Roosevelt's life. But when TR gets to his presidency, he changes style, writing by subject, with chapters on conservation, trust busting and other industrial issues, and two chapters on international affairs. The book ends with his presidency and does not go into his world travels or his comeback bid in 1912. TR's dislike for his hand picked successor, President Taft, permeates the presidency chapters
The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover: These memoirs are published in three volumes: Volume 1: Years of Adventure 1874-1920; Volume 2: The Cabinet and the Presidency 1920-1933; and Volume 3: The Great Depression 1929-1941.
Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Published in two volumes: Year of Decisions (published in 1955) and Years of Trial and Hope (published in 1956)
At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends by Dwight D. Eisenhower: Eisenhower here tells a number of stories about his life, his acquaintances both celebrated and unknown, and the history that unfolded before his eyes.
A Time To Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford: The story of Ford's life, and of the major decisions of his presidency, including his decision to pardon Richard Nixon.
Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President by Jimmy Carter: Carter’s account of his presidency and of crises that confronted him during his term in office.
An American Life by Ronald Reagan: The Great Communicator tells his life story from birth to the end of his presidency.
My Life by Bill Clinton: Described by Publisher's Weekly as "a 957-page doorstop of a memoir is much like its author-charismatic, longwinded, and, many might say, deeply flawed". His involvement with Monica Lewinsky does not undergo any meaningful scrutiny.
Decision Points by George W. Bush: Bush focuses on a number of critical decisions which shaped his personal and professional life. These are:
1. His decision to quit drinking and the journey that led him to his Christian faith
2. The selection of the vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of state, Supreme Court justices, and other key officials
3. His relationships with his wife, daughters, and parents, including letters between Bush and his father on the eve of the Iraq War
4. His administration's counterterrorism programs, including the CIA's enhanced interrogations and the Terrorist Surveillance Program
5. Why the worst moment of the presidency was hearing accusations that race played a role in the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina, and a critical assessment of what he would have done differently during the crisis
6. His concern that Iraq could turn into a defeat costlier than Vietnam, and why he ordered the troop surge
7. His legislative achievements, including tax cuts and reforming education and Medicare, as well as his setbacks, including Social Security and immigration reform
8. The relationships he forged with other world leaders, including an honest assessment of those he did and didn’t trust
9. Why the failure to bring Osama bin Laden to justice ranks as his biggest disappointment and why his success in denying the terrorists their fondest wish—attacking America again—is among his proudest achievements
Barack Obama has written two autobiographical works: Dreams From My Father, and The Audacity of Hope. Both precede his presidency, and his post-presidential autobiography is anticipated.
There are some autobiographies that are a pleasure to read because of the author's candor and honest self-appraisal. The autobiographies of Frederick Douglass and Benjamin Franklin come to mind in this category. If autobiography is one of the genres that you like to read, here are a few suggestions of those of former presidents:
1. The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses Grant: Hands down, this is the best autobiography of a former president ever written. One caveat though, Grant writes of his life only up to his time as a General in the Civil War. He does not write about his time in the White House. These memoirs were written at the end of Grant's life at a time when he was battling the throat cancer that would claim his life. Grant's writing has been praised for its conciseness and clarity, a nice change from many Civil War memoirs, which tended to reflect the Victorian fondness for elaborate (and sometimes overblown) language. When it was published, the book received universal critical praise. Mark Twain, who convinced Grant to write the story of his life, compared the Memoirs to Julius Caesar's Commentaries. Gertrude Stein also praised the book, saying she could not think of Grant without weeping. The Memoirs quickly became a best seller, allowing Grant to meet his goal of providing for his family after he was gone. If you have never read these memoirs, I highly recommend them, they are a classic and a pleasant read, that seem to transcend the time of their composition.
2. The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge: This autobiography is probably written the way that political figures wrote their memoirs in the 1920s: it is brief, simple, guarded and idealistic. Coolidge's life story has several moralistic themes running through it: (1) have a strong work ethic, (2) as far as possible be on good terms with everyone, even your political opponents, (3) don't expect government to solve your problems, you've got to work hard and make a better life for yourself. As an example of the type of platitude that is plentiful in this book, Coolidge writes "There is only one form of political strategy in which I have any confidence, and that is to try to do the right thing and sometimes be able to succeed" or "Any reward worth having only comes to the industrious." Coolidge tells us his life-story in a modest, self-effacing manner beginning with an idyllic description of his country upbringing and the strong work ethic that was instilled in him by his father. He describes how he became a lawyer and learned the law, rising to some prominence in the legal community once again by hard work, a strong sense of ethics and learning from the example of the best lawyers around. He describes how he climbed the political ladder, first in municipal politics, then at the state and national level. His star rose rapidly as a mayor, state senator, lieutenant governor and then governor of Massachusetts for two years before being drafted as Vice-President on the Republican ticket with Warren Harding in 1920. At each rung of this ladder, Coolidge would have the reader believe that he had no strong political ambitions, but it was at the urging of the electorate and his peers that he rose to the next level. This book does not give any details or inside accounts of any major political occurrences. For example, Coolidge only mentions the scandals of the Harding administration in a sentence, commenting on how they must have aged Harding and accelerated his death. Of Harding himself, Coolidge is loyal and speaks warmly of his boss, without any mention of Harding's personal character defects. At one point in his book, Coolidge admits that he has always been loyal and supportive of his political superiors. The chapter of the book on his own Presidency does not discuss any of the issue of the day. Instead he writes about the mundane routine of his presidential duties as well as some of the protocol involved in the office. About the only time that Coolidge talks about a political issue is his account of the Boston Police strike of 1919 during his term as Governor of Massachusetts. He admits that it was likely his handling of that issue that led to his being chosen as the Republican nominee for the Vice-Presidency in 1920. But on one issue Coolidge lets down his guard somewhat and gives us some insight into his innermost thought, that being on the death of his son Calvin.
This is an effortless read, pleasant and not mentally taxing. What it lacks in detail and revelation, it makes up in simple philosophy and takes the reader back to a more innocent time, whether real or imagined.
3. RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon: No, Nixon does not admit that he did anything deserving of impeachment. Nixon narrates his career from its earliest beginning in Yorba Linda, California, to his election and ultimate resignation as President in 1974. Key sections of the book include his coming to national prominence during the trial of Alger Hiss, and the elections of 1952, 1960, 1968 and 1972. He discusses his time President between '68 and his work with National Security Advisor, later Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, and their strategy on the Sino-Soviet rift, the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, and the success of détente over the objections of both liberal and conservative critics. Nixon also chronicles the events surrounding Watergate in detail, though he contends that he never authorized the break-in at Democratic Headquarters and had no knowledge of it in advance. He states flatly his principal accuser, John Dean, was lying when he stated otherwise. He also says he was effectively tried by a hostile press based on leaks of "secret" material from "informed sources" whose objectivity and integrity was highly suspect.
4. The Vantage Point: Perspectives of the Presidency by Lyndon Johnson: This is an interesting firsthand account of the considerations, assumptions, and goals that guided President Johnson in many of the important decisions made during his president. Much of the book is devoted to the war in Vietnam, and Johnson makes many justifications of his foreign policy. He also discusses the accomplishments and triumphs that were closest to his heart, domestic achievements like his civil rights legislation, and his other war, the war on poverty. He gives the reader an impression of himself as a tireless worker with good intentions who did the best he could.
I've limited this list to four that stand out, but if you're curious as to which presidents have written autobiographies or memoirs, following is a list of the others not previously mentioned:
The Autobiography of Martin Van Buren: This book was published in 1920, over fifty years after Van Buren's death. It is over 700 pages long, and remarkably, Van Buren never mentions his wife Hannah once.
Mr. Buchanan's Administration on the Eve of Rebellion: Published in 1866, James Buchanan tries to explain why the Civil War really wasn't his fault, and how all of his critics are wrong and how history would someday vindicate him. It is difficult to read because of its tortured language and long running paragraphs.
Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography Published in 1913, the first half of the book is a chronological account of Roosevelt's life. But when TR gets to his presidency, he changes style, writing by subject, with chapters on conservation, trust busting and other industrial issues, and two chapters on international affairs. The book ends with his presidency and does not go into his world travels or his comeback bid in 1912. TR's dislike for his hand picked successor, President Taft, permeates the presidency chapters
The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover: These memoirs are published in three volumes: Volume 1: Years of Adventure 1874-1920; Volume 2: The Cabinet and the Presidency 1920-1933; and Volume 3: The Great Depression 1929-1941.
Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Published in two volumes: Year of Decisions (published in 1955) and Years of Trial and Hope (published in 1956)
At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends by Dwight D. Eisenhower: Eisenhower here tells a number of stories about his life, his acquaintances both celebrated and unknown, and the history that unfolded before his eyes.
A Time To Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford: The story of Ford's life, and of the major decisions of his presidency, including his decision to pardon Richard Nixon.
Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President by Jimmy Carter: Carter’s account of his presidency and of crises that confronted him during his term in office.
An American Life by Ronald Reagan: The Great Communicator tells his life story from birth to the end of his presidency.
My Life by Bill Clinton: Described by Publisher's Weekly as "a 957-page doorstop of a memoir is much like its author-charismatic, longwinded, and, many might say, deeply flawed". His involvement with Monica Lewinsky does not undergo any meaningful scrutiny.
Decision Points by George W. Bush: Bush focuses on a number of critical decisions which shaped his personal and professional life. These are:
1. His decision to quit drinking and the journey that led him to his Christian faith
2. The selection of the vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of state, Supreme Court justices, and other key officials
3. His relationships with his wife, daughters, and parents, including letters between Bush and his father on the eve of the Iraq War
4. His administration's counterterrorism programs, including the CIA's enhanced interrogations and the Terrorist Surveillance Program
5. Why the worst moment of the presidency was hearing accusations that race played a role in the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina, and a critical assessment of what he would have done differently during the crisis
6. His concern that Iraq could turn into a defeat costlier than Vietnam, and why he ordered the troop surge
7. His legislative achievements, including tax cuts and reforming education and Medicare, as well as his setbacks, including Social Security and immigration reform
8. The relationships he forged with other world leaders, including an honest assessment of those he did and didn’t trust
9. Why the failure to bring Osama bin Laden to justice ranks as his biggest disappointment and why his success in denying the terrorists their fondest wish—attacking America again—is among his proudest achievements
Barack Obama has written two autobiographical works: Dreams From My Father, and The Audacity of Hope. Both precede his presidency, and his post-presidential autobiography is anticipated.