The 10 Best Books of 2016 for Potus Geeks
This past year we reviewed 21 books in this community of which 12 were published in 2016 (and I'm currently in the middle of one more), 2 were published late in 2015 (but I didn't get around to reading and reviewing them until 2016) and 7 were from previous years, but still worth reading. Every year I try to post a list of the 10 best books about presidents that I've read and reviewed (or will soon be reviewing) in the past year. Here's this year's offering, along with links to each book on Amazon, as well as a link to the review. They are listed in descending order. I hope you see something in here that might interest you.
10. Worst. President. Ever.: James Buchanan, the POTUS Ratings Game, and the Legacy of the Least of the Lesser Presidents by Robert Strauss (reviewed here): This book was disappointing for its sloppy editing (there are a number of statements in the book that are historically in error) and for the fact that it doesn't really tell us anything new about it's subject, President James Buchanan. But it still makes the top 10 list for a couple of reasons, firstly because of the way that the author snatches history from the clutches of hardcore academics and reminds us amateur historians that history belongs to all of us; secondly, the author serves up an excellent discussion of the folly of ranking presidents, especially those who served more recently. For author Robert Strauss, this book really is a labor of love, and he has a very readable and conversational literary style that makes the story of James Buchanan fun.
9. Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick (reviewed here): This is a fascinating tale of the American Revolution told not with a president (George Washington), but with the infamous Benedict Arnold at the center of the story. Philbrick tells the story of how Arnold changed from a steadfast patriot into a selfish, greedy and resentful traitor, willing to sacrifice the lives of his countrymen for personal gain. It is also the story how Washington also evolved from a someone who, the author asserts, was in over his head as a military commander, into the leader that he is known to be today. Philbrick also describes the political climate of the Revolutionary era, filled with tension between loyalists and revolutionaries, as well as the political dysfunction that resulted from a legislative body that was supposed to be united, but was really just a collection of thirteen self-interested regions, many clamoring for war, but unwilling to pay for it. He shows us that political interference in military matters is not a recent phenomenon, with generals in this era selected and promoted based on political connection rather than merit, and how generals postured and jostled for position to receive glory whether earned or not. The first half may have too much military detail for some, but the second half is a real page turner.
8. Madam President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson by William Hazelgrove: I'm only 100 pages into this book, so I haven't written a review yet, but from what I've read so far, I know it will deserve a spot in the top 10 of 2016. The story of how first lady Edith Wilson covered up her husband's incapacity has always been a fascinating one, and I'm glad that someone has finally told the story in more detail. After President Woodrow Wilson suffered a paralyzing stroke in the fall of 1919, his wife, First Lady Edith Wilson, began to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the Executive Office, even though she had little formal education and had only been married to Wilson for four years. In the tenuous peace following the end of World War I, Mrs. Wilson covertly took on the role of managing the office of the President, reading all correspondence intended for her bedridden husband. Hazelgrove puts the story in perspective, both to Wilson's life and to the awesome responsibility of the presidency.
7. The First Modern Clash Over Federal Power: Wilson Versus Hughes in the Presidential Election of 1916 by Lewis Gould (reviewed here): This book is part of the presidential elections series published by University of Kansas Press. In a concise but very efficient 135 pages, Professor Gould ably analyzes the 1916 election in its centennial year. Though not remembered as one of history's most exciting contest, this was in fact a fascinating race, one in which the Republicans were expected to take back the White House, but ending in a scenario comparable to "Dewey Defeats Truman". In 1914 war had begun in Europe and America was divided about whether or not to remain neutral or to join the conflict on the side of the Allies. President Woodrow Wilson sought to maintain a delicate political balance, keeping his nation neutral in the conflict, while maintaining preparedness in the event that American involvement in the conflict became later a necessity. Republican ex-president Theodore Roosevelt beat the drum for his nation to join the fight on the side of the allies, while former Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan preached a message of neutrality. German- and Irish-American immigrant populations maintained political sway as both parties considered the political calculus necessary to win the next election. Professor Gould explains how the Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes became the only real option that a divided Republican Party had for its presidential nomination. He also provides an interesting comparison of the well-funded Republican campaign, and the more spartan Democratic campaign, and how the latter was better managed than the former, despite its financial disadvantage. He sets out the real reasons why Hughes snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the closest election since 1876.
6. American Maelstrom: The 1968 Election and the Politics of Division by Michael A Cohen (reviewed here): Michael Cohen reviews the 1968 presidential election, but the book's message goes much deeper, as the author makes the case that the 1968 presidential election "fundamentally altered America's political trajectory" and was a pivotal event which changed political and voting trends that would affect the nation in all subsequent elections to come. 1968 was truly an interesting time. Lyndon Johnson was just completing the presidential term that he had earned following his 1964 landslide victory over the arch-conservative Republican Barry Goldwater. Johnson had quarterbacked many significant domestic legislative accomplishments in the field of civil rights as well as in medicare and medicaid and in other aspects of his "Great Society". But he was now struggling with the Vietnam War, a war that was not going as predicted by his military advisors. The war was now losing public support, causing Johnson's personal popularity to plummet. As Johnson realized that he could not win re-election in 1968, the political landscape changed remarkably, as politicians from all parties and ideologies struggled not only with how to confront the many problems facing the nation, but also with the riddle of how best to reach the enigmatic electorate. Cohen dissects both parties' nomination contests superbly. His account of the general election campaign is equally fascinating, but the icing on the cake is Cohen's post-mortem analysis of how the campaign of 1968 transformed both parties and how it influenced how subsequent campaigns were conducted. He details the lessons learned (and not learned in some cases) by the two major parties about how to best appeal to voters on core issues such as crime and personal security, how to make subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) racist appeals, and how to appeal to or frighten the public on the subject of social engineering. In reading this chapter, one can hear echoes of the 1968 campaign throughout all subsequent presidential elections and indeed in much of the rhetoric in this year's election campaign.
5. Cold Fire: Kennedy's Northern Front by John Boyko (reviewed here): Perhaps the greatest contemporaty author of Canadian history, John Boyko has once again written a well-researched and enlightening history that goes beyond superficiality, and that unveils much of the hidden negotiation and conflict that was kept out of the headlines during the Kennedy administration. The 60s were a time of significant world tension as the Cold War heated up. Winning election to the presidency on the myth that the United States was falling behind in a missile gap with the Soviet Union, President John F. Kennedy took office at a time when the threat of nuclear war was at the heart of many North Americans' fears. The newly elected president stumbled out of the gate on the international affairs front, approving the disastrous Bay of Pigs fiasco and finding himself schooled at a meeting with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna. As the potential for a nuclear confrontation between the two great powers increased, Kennedy counted on Canadian cooperation in his nation's defense, viewing the Canadian government as a compliant subordinate, rather than as a sovereign and independent nation. John Boyko presents a fair picture of the main protagonists of this story (Kennedy and Canadian Prime Ministers John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson), fairly analyzing their strengths and their weaknesses. This book is an excellent account of its times, the personalities involved and of the issues confronting the two nations at the time. It is a fascinating read for anyone interested in Canada-US relations, in the Kennedy administration, in Canadian politics in the 60s, in Cold War North America or in the political climate of the 1960s. Boyko has a gift for being able to present history as if it is occurring as current events, to distill and clearly explain complex issues and to present an enjoyable read in the process. It was a great pleasure to read this book and I recommend it highly.
4. Herbert Hoover in the White House: The Ordeal of the Presidency by Charles Rappleye (reviewed here): Charles Rappleye does an outstanding job of capturing and presenting the complexities of character of this very private and enigmatic president, while at the same time walking the reader through the experiences of the great depression as it unfolded on Hoover's watch. As the title of the book suggests, this is mainly a chronicle of Hoover's presidency, though his antecedents and post-presidency are both touched on. Rappleye draws from a variety of interesting sources, including the diaries of a number of Hoover contemporaries and subordinates, as well as letters from Hoover and his wife Lou to their children. He gives the reader a fascinating perspective of what it must have been like in the White House for Hoover and his inner circle as he began and continued his presidency besieged with an unrelenting and incessant series of financial bad news, commencing with a stock market bubble that Hoover recognizes, but whose significance he is unable to get others to appreciate until it is too late. This is followed by the great stock market crash of 1929, the politically sensitive issue of European reparation loans, bank collapses and closings at home and in Europe, rampant unemployment, and falling crop and commodity prices so low that they make production a losing proposition. This book will likely be of special interest to those with a fascination for economics and with an interest into how the great depression came to be. Rappleye is talented at explaining these matters in a language that the rest of us are able to understand, while not making it too simplistic or dumbing it down too much.
3. The Carnival Campaign: How the Rollicking 1840 Campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" Changed Presidential Elections Forever by Ronald G. Shafer (reviewed in the previous post): Ronald Shafer tells the story of the presidential election campaign that meets the expectations of those superlatives and really did change presidential politics forever. As the 1840 election campaign approached, Democratic Party President and political genius Martin Van Buren ran for re-election, in the wake of the "Panic of 1837", one of the worst economic catastrophes ever to occur in the history of the sixty-four year old nation, caused by the failed policies of Van Buren's predecessor and political mentor, Andrew Jackson. When the fledgling Whig Party nominated 67 year-old General William Henry Harrison as their candidate for president, Van Buren and the Democrats thought that they had a chance to hold on to the reigns of power as they mocked the elderly "Granny Harrison" as a dottering old imbecile from the backwoods who lived in a log cabin and sipped hard cider. Little did they know that their doing so would lead to one of the most epic political spin battles ever, and a presidential campaign with many firsts, one that would change the way that election campaigns would be fought from then on. In a concise but efficient 237 pages, Shafer describes the backgrounds of the candidates, how the Whigs' "Log Cabin and Hard Cider" campaign turned the Democratic Party attacks on their candidate into a very successful appeal to populist sentiments. Shafer explains how this winning campaign strategy originated, how it changed the way elections were fought, and how the two campaigns battled it out in the news media, in fundraising and in getting out the vote. Shafer has produced an excellent book about a presidential election campaign, choc full of interesting detail, and never too wordy or verbose. He has selected one of the most interesting election campaigns ever to write about. The combination of efficient, entertaining and informative writing coupled with interesting subject matter and interesting times make this one of the best books written about presidential election history, not only of this year, but in recent memory.
2. American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses Grant by Ronald C. White (reviewed here): Lincoln biographer Ronald White presents a complete portrait of the life of Ulysses Grant, telling us about Grant's antecedents, including his Puritan ancestry, his boyhood, his time as a cadet at West Point, his service in the Mexican War, his peace time military career, his lost years between his two periods of military service, his fascinating careers as the most prominent and most successful Union general, his service during Reconstruction, his two terms as President, and his eventful life after the White House. Ulysses Grant led a life like no other American, and while it takes the author 657 pages to tell Grant's life story, the book never lags. White does not avoid the controversial aspects of Grant's life: the accusations of drunkenness, his being known as "Grant the butcher" because of the high casualties that accumulated during his military campaigns, the many scandals during his administration and the corrupt men that Grant appointed to important government positions, and the losses suffered by investors in the firm operated by Grant's son after Grant's presidency. White relies on a variety of contemporary sources to defend Grant's reputation and his character in each of these instances, ably making the case that Grant remained principled and honest throughout. The author present a compelling testimony to Grant's principled character that has been overlooked by many of his earlier biographers. White also provides an excellent account of Grant's round-the-world tour that followed his presidency, as well as his final battle, a race against the throat cancer that would ultimately take his life, as he worked to complete his memoirs in order to leave his family financially secure. The story of Grant, the devoted and loving husband and father, is also another aspect of Grant's life that White describes so well. White provides a strong case for placing Grant on an equal footing with Lincoln as a remarkable and admirable historic personality (which would explain why biographies of Grant are more common in recent years). Whether one's interest is in the civil war, the presidency or the study of leadership during the most trying of times, this book will provide great satisfaction to the reader.
1. The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War by H. W. Brands (reviewed here): Brands tells the fascinating story of the conflict between President Harry Truman and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur which led to MacArthur's controversial removal as commander of American and United Nations forces in Korea during the Korean conflict. It was not only a conflict between two strong-willed leaders, but a classic struggle between the democratically elected civilian leader of a nation and a popular and powerful military general, as well as a struggle over who would control ultimate decision making and ultimate power regarding the nation's military and foreign policy. But as Brands points out, it was even much more than this. It was a struggle over whether or not the United States would embark on a course of action that may well have led to the third world war and the first in which both sides had nuclear capability. H. W. Brands once again demonstrates his skill and ability as an outstanding historian and author in clearly explaining all of the important details and nuances of this fascinating chapter in American political and military history. He also ably makes the case for why this was such an important chapter in the nation's history and how the facts in this story assist in the rehabilitation of Truman's legacy. Most importantly, he explains how more timid or deferential action on Truman's part may have led to nuclear catastrophe. This is an interesting book for the story it tells. It is an enjoyable book for the author's talent as a story-teller. It is an important book for the lesson it imparts.
There were a few books written in 2016 that were reviewed and failed to make the cut:
Most Blessed of the Patriarchs: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination by Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter Onuf (reviewed here) is what I describe as "a book that is likely to be endured rather than enjoyed." It is a book written by intellectuals for intellectuals about an intellectual and it is not an easy read. It is certainly not a page-turner and can be a laborious read because of the attention required to grasp what the authors are trying to convey and because of the authors' frequent lapses into pedantry. Before picking up this book, the reader should examine his or her expectations. If one is looking for a biography of Thomas Jefferson or a history of his presidency, this is not a good selection. But for those readers interested into looking into the mind of a deep thinker with a tremendous imagination, for those readers who are wondering just what made Jefferson tick, these authors offer up just such a menu.
Another disappointment was The American Presidents Series new volume on Ronald Reagan by Jacob Weisberg (reviewed here). This book demonstrates the problems with writing a history of a recent presidency. Weiserg is no fan of Ronald Reagan and does little to hide his dislike for his subject. For example, almost every chapter ends with some disparagement of the book's subject. The line between politics and history can sometimes blur, and in this volume the author takes great license in substituting his opinions for any sort of objective historical account. Reagan had his imperfections, and he certainly deserves to be called out of his failure to reign in the size of government and of the debt and deficit after promising fiscal responsibility. But he also deserves credit for easing and ultimately ending cold war tensions, and for transforming a nation that had low morale and high inflation and interest rates at the commencement of his term into one of greater economic security. It is disappointing to see such an esteemed institution like the American Presidents Series produce such a skewed account of the life and record of one of its subjects. Its reputation for fairness and historical objectivity has been tarnished in the process.
Let me finish with two other honorable mentions, one a work of fiction, the other a "true crime" work, tangentially connected to the Presidential election of 1876. The former is Alan Trock's fantasy tale 36 Hours to Save the President (reviewed here), and the latter is Justice and Vengeance: Scandal, Honor and Murder in 1872 Virginia by Arwen Bicknell (reviewed here). Both are excellent!
I will post a separate post about what's on the horizon for presidential history reading in 2017. This past year was a very good one for presidential bibliophiles, but so far it's looking like 2017 will be even better! Stay tuned.
10. Worst. President. Ever.: James Buchanan, the POTUS Ratings Game, and the Legacy of the Least of the Lesser Presidents by Robert Strauss (reviewed here): This book was disappointing for its sloppy editing (there are a number of statements in the book that are historically in error) and for the fact that it doesn't really tell us anything new about it's subject, President James Buchanan. But it still makes the top 10 list for a couple of reasons, firstly because of the way that the author snatches history from the clutches of hardcore academics and reminds us amateur historians that history belongs to all of us; secondly, the author serves up an excellent discussion of the folly of ranking presidents, especially those who served more recently. For author Robert Strauss, this book really is a labor of love, and he has a very readable and conversational literary style that makes the story of James Buchanan fun.
9. Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick (reviewed here): This is a fascinating tale of the American Revolution told not with a president (George Washington), but with the infamous Benedict Arnold at the center of the story. Philbrick tells the story of how Arnold changed from a steadfast patriot into a selfish, greedy and resentful traitor, willing to sacrifice the lives of his countrymen for personal gain. It is also the story how Washington also evolved from a someone who, the author asserts, was in over his head as a military commander, into the leader that he is known to be today. Philbrick also describes the political climate of the Revolutionary era, filled with tension between loyalists and revolutionaries, as well as the political dysfunction that resulted from a legislative body that was supposed to be united, but was really just a collection of thirteen self-interested regions, many clamoring for war, but unwilling to pay for it. He shows us that political interference in military matters is not a recent phenomenon, with generals in this era selected and promoted based on political connection rather than merit, and how generals postured and jostled for position to receive glory whether earned or not. The first half may have too much military detail for some, but the second half is a real page turner.
8. Madam President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson by William Hazelgrove: I'm only 100 pages into this book, so I haven't written a review yet, but from what I've read so far, I know it will deserve a spot in the top 10 of 2016. The story of how first lady Edith Wilson covered up her husband's incapacity has always been a fascinating one, and I'm glad that someone has finally told the story in more detail. After President Woodrow Wilson suffered a paralyzing stroke in the fall of 1919, his wife, First Lady Edith Wilson, began to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the Executive Office, even though she had little formal education and had only been married to Wilson for four years. In the tenuous peace following the end of World War I, Mrs. Wilson covertly took on the role of managing the office of the President, reading all correspondence intended for her bedridden husband. Hazelgrove puts the story in perspective, both to Wilson's life and to the awesome responsibility of the presidency.
7. The First Modern Clash Over Federal Power: Wilson Versus Hughes in the Presidential Election of 1916 by Lewis Gould (reviewed here): This book is part of the presidential elections series published by University of Kansas Press. In a concise but very efficient 135 pages, Professor Gould ably analyzes the 1916 election in its centennial year. Though not remembered as one of history's most exciting contest, this was in fact a fascinating race, one in which the Republicans were expected to take back the White House, but ending in a scenario comparable to "Dewey Defeats Truman". In 1914 war had begun in Europe and America was divided about whether or not to remain neutral or to join the conflict on the side of the Allies. President Woodrow Wilson sought to maintain a delicate political balance, keeping his nation neutral in the conflict, while maintaining preparedness in the event that American involvement in the conflict became later a necessity. Republican ex-president Theodore Roosevelt beat the drum for his nation to join the fight on the side of the allies, while former Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan preached a message of neutrality. German- and Irish-American immigrant populations maintained political sway as both parties considered the political calculus necessary to win the next election. Professor Gould explains how the Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes became the only real option that a divided Republican Party had for its presidential nomination. He also provides an interesting comparison of the well-funded Republican campaign, and the more spartan Democratic campaign, and how the latter was better managed than the former, despite its financial disadvantage. He sets out the real reasons why Hughes snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the closest election since 1876.
6. American Maelstrom: The 1968 Election and the Politics of Division by Michael A Cohen (reviewed here): Michael Cohen reviews the 1968 presidential election, but the book's message goes much deeper, as the author makes the case that the 1968 presidential election "fundamentally altered America's political trajectory" and was a pivotal event which changed political and voting trends that would affect the nation in all subsequent elections to come. 1968 was truly an interesting time. Lyndon Johnson was just completing the presidential term that he had earned following his 1964 landslide victory over the arch-conservative Republican Barry Goldwater. Johnson had quarterbacked many significant domestic legislative accomplishments in the field of civil rights as well as in medicare and medicaid and in other aspects of his "Great Society". But he was now struggling with the Vietnam War, a war that was not going as predicted by his military advisors. The war was now losing public support, causing Johnson's personal popularity to plummet. As Johnson realized that he could not win re-election in 1968, the political landscape changed remarkably, as politicians from all parties and ideologies struggled not only with how to confront the many problems facing the nation, but also with the riddle of how best to reach the enigmatic electorate. Cohen dissects both parties' nomination contests superbly. His account of the general election campaign is equally fascinating, but the icing on the cake is Cohen's post-mortem analysis of how the campaign of 1968 transformed both parties and how it influenced how subsequent campaigns were conducted. He details the lessons learned (and not learned in some cases) by the two major parties about how to best appeal to voters on core issues such as crime and personal security, how to make subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) racist appeals, and how to appeal to or frighten the public on the subject of social engineering. In reading this chapter, one can hear echoes of the 1968 campaign throughout all subsequent presidential elections and indeed in much of the rhetoric in this year's election campaign.
5. Cold Fire: Kennedy's Northern Front by John Boyko (reviewed here): Perhaps the greatest contemporaty author of Canadian history, John Boyko has once again written a well-researched and enlightening history that goes beyond superficiality, and that unveils much of the hidden negotiation and conflict that was kept out of the headlines during the Kennedy administration. The 60s were a time of significant world tension as the Cold War heated up. Winning election to the presidency on the myth that the United States was falling behind in a missile gap with the Soviet Union, President John F. Kennedy took office at a time when the threat of nuclear war was at the heart of many North Americans' fears. The newly elected president stumbled out of the gate on the international affairs front, approving the disastrous Bay of Pigs fiasco and finding himself schooled at a meeting with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna. As the potential for a nuclear confrontation between the two great powers increased, Kennedy counted on Canadian cooperation in his nation's defense, viewing the Canadian government as a compliant subordinate, rather than as a sovereign and independent nation. John Boyko presents a fair picture of the main protagonists of this story (Kennedy and Canadian Prime Ministers John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson), fairly analyzing their strengths and their weaknesses. This book is an excellent account of its times, the personalities involved and of the issues confronting the two nations at the time. It is a fascinating read for anyone interested in Canada-US relations, in the Kennedy administration, in Canadian politics in the 60s, in Cold War North America or in the political climate of the 1960s. Boyko has a gift for being able to present history as if it is occurring as current events, to distill and clearly explain complex issues and to present an enjoyable read in the process. It was a great pleasure to read this book and I recommend it highly.
4. Herbert Hoover in the White House: The Ordeal of the Presidency by Charles Rappleye (reviewed here): Charles Rappleye does an outstanding job of capturing and presenting the complexities of character of this very private and enigmatic president, while at the same time walking the reader through the experiences of the great depression as it unfolded on Hoover's watch. As the title of the book suggests, this is mainly a chronicle of Hoover's presidency, though his antecedents and post-presidency are both touched on. Rappleye draws from a variety of interesting sources, including the diaries of a number of Hoover contemporaries and subordinates, as well as letters from Hoover and his wife Lou to their children. He gives the reader a fascinating perspective of what it must have been like in the White House for Hoover and his inner circle as he began and continued his presidency besieged with an unrelenting and incessant series of financial bad news, commencing with a stock market bubble that Hoover recognizes, but whose significance he is unable to get others to appreciate until it is too late. This is followed by the great stock market crash of 1929, the politically sensitive issue of European reparation loans, bank collapses and closings at home and in Europe, rampant unemployment, and falling crop and commodity prices so low that they make production a losing proposition. This book will likely be of special interest to those with a fascination for economics and with an interest into how the great depression came to be. Rappleye is talented at explaining these matters in a language that the rest of us are able to understand, while not making it too simplistic or dumbing it down too much.
3. The Carnival Campaign: How the Rollicking 1840 Campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" Changed Presidential Elections Forever by Ronald G. Shafer (reviewed in the previous post): Ronald Shafer tells the story of the presidential election campaign that meets the expectations of those superlatives and really did change presidential politics forever. As the 1840 election campaign approached, Democratic Party President and political genius Martin Van Buren ran for re-election, in the wake of the "Panic of 1837", one of the worst economic catastrophes ever to occur in the history of the sixty-four year old nation, caused by the failed policies of Van Buren's predecessor and political mentor, Andrew Jackson. When the fledgling Whig Party nominated 67 year-old General William Henry Harrison as their candidate for president, Van Buren and the Democrats thought that they had a chance to hold on to the reigns of power as they mocked the elderly "Granny Harrison" as a dottering old imbecile from the backwoods who lived in a log cabin and sipped hard cider. Little did they know that their doing so would lead to one of the most epic political spin battles ever, and a presidential campaign with many firsts, one that would change the way that election campaigns would be fought from then on. In a concise but efficient 237 pages, Shafer describes the backgrounds of the candidates, how the Whigs' "Log Cabin and Hard Cider" campaign turned the Democratic Party attacks on their candidate into a very successful appeal to populist sentiments. Shafer explains how this winning campaign strategy originated, how it changed the way elections were fought, and how the two campaigns battled it out in the news media, in fundraising and in getting out the vote. Shafer has produced an excellent book about a presidential election campaign, choc full of interesting detail, and never too wordy or verbose. He has selected one of the most interesting election campaigns ever to write about. The combination of efficient, entertaining and informative writing coupled with interesting subject matter and interesting times make this one of the best books written about presidential election history, not only of this year, but in recent memory.
2. American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses Grant by Ronald C. White (reviewed here): Lincoln biographer Ronald White presents a complete portrait of the life of Ulysses Grant, telling us about Grant's antecedents, including his Puritan ancestry, his boyhood, his time as a cadet at West Point, his service in the Mexican War, his peace time military career, his lost years between his two periods of military service, his fascinating careers as the most prominent and most successful Union general, his service during Reconstruction, his two terms as President, and his eventful life after the White House. Ulysses Grant led a life like no other American, and while it takes the author 657 pages to tell Grant's life story, the book never lags. White does not avoid the controversial aspects of Grant's life: the accusations of drunkenness, his being known as "Grant the butcher" because of the high casualties that accumulated during his military campaigns, the many scandals during his administration and the corrupt men that Grant appointed to important government positions, and the losses suffered by investors in the firm operated by Grant's son after Grant's presidency. White relies on a variety of contemporary sources to defend Grant's reputation and his character in each of these instances, ably making the case that Grant remained principled and honest throughout. The author present a compelling testimony to Grant's principled character that has been overlooked by many of his earlier biographers. White also provides an excellent account of Grant's round-the-world tour that followed his presidency, as well as his final battle, a race against the throat cancer that would ultimately take his life, as he worked to complete his memoirs in order to leave his family financially secure. The story of Grant, the devoted and loving husband and father, is also another aspect of Grant's life that White describes so well. White provides a strong case for placing Grant on an equal footing with Lincoln as a remarkable and admirable historic personality (which would explain why biographies of Grant are more common in recent years). Whether one's interest is in the civil war, the presidency or the study of leadership during the most trying of times, this book will provide great satisfaction to the reader.
1. The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War by H. W. Brands (reviewed here): Brands tells the fascinating story of the conflict between President Harry Truman and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur which led to MacArthur's controversial removal as commander of American and United Nations forces in Korea during the Korean conflict. It was not only a conflict between two strong-willed leaders, but a classic struggle between the democratically elected civilian leader of a nation and a popular and powerful military general, as well as a struggle over who would control ultimate decision making and ultimate power regarding the nation's military and foreign policy. But as Brands points out, it was even much more than this. It was a struggle over whether or not the United States would embark on a course of action that may well have led to the third world war and the first in which both sides had nuclear capability. H. W. Brands once again demonstrates his skill and ability as an outstanding historian and author in clearly explaining all of the important details and nuances of this fascinating chapter in American political and military history. He also ably makes the case for why this was such an important chapter in the nation's history and how the facts in this story assist in the rehabilitation of Truman's legacy. Most importantly, he explains how more timid or deferential action on Truman's part may have led to nuclear catastrophe. This is an interesting book for the story it tells. It is an enjoyable book for the author's talent as a story-teller. It is an important book for the lesson it imparts.
There were a few books written in 2016 that were reviewed and failed to make the cut:
Most Blessed of the Patriarchs: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination by Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter Onuf (reviewed here) is what I describe as "a book that is likely to be endured rather than enjoyed." It is a book written by intellectuals for intellectuals about an intellectual and it is not an easy read. It is certainly not a page-turner and can be a laborious read because of the attention required to grasp what the authors are trying to convey and because of the authors' frequent lapses into pedantry. Before picking up this book, the reader should examine his or her expectations. If one is looking for a biography of Thomas Jefferson or a history of his presidency, this is not a good selection. But for those readers interested into looking into the mind of a deep thinker with a tremendous imagination, for those readers who are wondering just what made Jefferson tick, these authors offer up just such a menu.
Another disappointment was The American Presidents Series new volume on Ronald Reagan by Jacob Weisberg (reviewed here). This book demonstrates the problems with writing a history of a recent presidency. Weiserg is no fan of Ronald Reagan and does little to hide his dislike for his subject. For example, almost every chapter ends with some disparagement of the book's subject. The line between politics and history can sometimes blur, and in this volume the author takes great license in substituting his opinions for any sort of objective historical account. Reagan had his imperfections, and he certainly deserves to be called out of his failure to reign in the size of government and of the debt and deficit after promising fiscal responsibility. But he also deserves credit for easing and ultimately ending cold war tensions, and for transforming a nation that had low morale and high inflation and interest rates at the commencement of his term into one of greater economic security. It is disappointing to see such an esteemed institution like the American Presidents Series produce such a skewed account of the life and record of one of its subjects. Its reputation for fairness and historical objectivity has been tarnished in the process.
Let me finish with two other honorable mentions, one a work of fiction, the other a "true crime" work, tangentially connected to the Presidential election of 1876. The former is Alan Trock's fantasy tale 36 Hours to Save the President (reviewed here), and the latter is Justice and Vengeance: Scandal, Honor and Murder in 1872 Virginia by Arwen Bicknell (reviewed here). Both are excellent!
I will post a separate post about what's on the horizon for presidential history reading in 2017. This past year was a very good one for presidential bibliophiles, but so far it's looking like 2017 will be even better! Stay tuned.