Book

Complete Book of U.S. Presidents

by William A. DeGregorio, Sandra Lee Stuart

📖 Overview

The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents provides biographical information and historical analysis of every American president from George Washington through Joe Biden. This reference work contains detailed accounts of each president's personal life, political career, and time in office. The book presents facts about presidential elections, cabinet appointments, major policy decisions, and defining moments of each administration. Statistical data, quotes, and contemporary assessments supplement the main biographical narratives. Each presidential profile follows a consistent format, covering childhood, education, pre-presidential career, family life, path to the presidency, and post-presidential years. The work includes photographs, election results tables, and sidebars with additional historical context. This comprehensive volume serves as both a historical record and an examination of how the American presidency has evolved over more than two centuries. The parallel structure of the profiles allows readers to track changes in the office and compare different presidential administrations across time.

👀 Reviews

Readers value this book as a comprehensive reference guide for basic facts about U.S. presidents. Several reviewers mention using it frequently to look up specific details about presidents' terms, families, and careers. Positive feedback: - Strong factual accuracy - Clear organization by presidency - Includes lesser-known details about each president's personality and private life - Regular updates with new editions Common criticisms: - Some editions contain typos and formatting issues - Political bias perceived by some readers in coverage of recent presidents - Limited analysis of historical context - Index could be more detailed Ratings: Amazon: 4.5/5 (237 reviews) Goodreads: 4.1/5 (156 ratings) One reader noted: "Best presidential reference book available. Have worn out three copies." Another criticized: "Good facts but needed better editing - found several obvious errors in dates." The book remains in active use by students, teachers, and history enthusiasts as a quick-reference resource.

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How to Get Rid of a President: History's Guide to Removing Unpopular, Unable, or Unfit Chief Executives by David Priess This examination covers the various constitutional, electoral, and informal methods that have been used or attempted to remove presidents throughout U.S. history.

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🤔 Interesting facts

🔹 The book has been regularly updated since its first publication in 1984, chronicling every U.S. president through Joe Biden, making it one of the longest-running presidential reference guides still in print. 🔹 William A. DeGregorio spent over 30 years researching presidential history and interviewed numerous presidential descendants and White House staff members while compiling information for the book. 🔹 Beyond standard biographical information, the book includes unique details about each president's pets, favorite foods, and personal habits - including John Quincy Adams' daily ritual of skinny-dipping in the Potomac River. 🔹 Sandra Lee Stuart joined as co-author in later editions, adding extensive new research on modern presidents and updating earlier entries with newly discovered historical documents and records. 🔹 The book includes comprehensive election results for every presidential race in U.S. history, including popular votes, electoral votes, and third-party candidates' performances.