The Annual Potus Geeks Book Reviews of 2015
Once again, this past year brought many great presents for potus_geeks who love to read. For me it was especially a treat because three of my favorite authors (David Pietrusa, Sarah Vowell and H. W. Brands) produced eagerly anticipated works of brilliance, and all lived up to (and surpassed) my expectations. I was also very pleasantly surprised by authors such as Steve Inskeep, Jay Winik and Matthew Moten, as well as by one former president turned author. Many of the books reviewed were ones that I didn't get to in 2014 (and in some cases, from earlier than that). Here's a list of the books we reviewed in potus_geeks this year (in chronological order), followed by my top 10 list.
1. 41: A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush: Inspired by a suggestion made by esteemed author David McCulloch, the 43rd President writes a biography of his father, the 43rd President, a man with a varied and interesting resume with everything on it from war hero to CIA director, to Ambassador to China, to the man who asked Nixon to resign, to President and more beyond that. The story of a man with such a fascinating set of experiences, which include skydiving on his 75th, 80th, 85th and 90th birthday, and such a wonderful outlook on life, is too good to pass up on. That it is told from a loving perspective makes it all the more interesting. George H. W. Bush's life is a wonderful example of how to age with dignity, grace and with a marvelous attitude and for that reason alone it is a pleasure to read.
2. Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis as Commander In Chief by James McPherson: McPherson is clearly in the uppermost echelon of Civil War historians. In addressing the abilities of Jefferson Davis as commander in chief, he tackles a very controversial subject. Even a century and a half after the end of the conflict, Davis continues to evoke strong visceral and emotional responses from people. It takes a historian of McPherson's stature and gravitas to examine such a sensitive topic, and in this book he does so with all the professionalism and academic integrity that readers and students of history have come to expect from him.
3. Unreasonable Men: Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican Rebels Who Created Progressive Politics by Michael Wolraich: The story centers around six men who were the political movers and shakers of their era. Three were Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson. Three were congressmen: Senator Nelson Aldrich was the wealthy patrician Republican leader of the conservative faction that controlled the senate. Joseph "Uncle Joe" Cannon was the venerable Speaker of the House of Representatives who also exerted control aligned with the conservatives and who rewarded his friends and marginalized those who disagreed with him. Finally, there was Robert "Fighting Bob" LaFollette, the Moses of the progressive movement, who rose from a minor voice of dissent to become the most prominent progressive. Wolraich is a very able writer who manages to explain topics like tariff reform, central banking and other technical topics into an interesting and engaging way. It is his insight into human nature however that makes this an especially good read. He excels both as a policy analyst and as someone who can derive and communicate the motives of his central characters. He does so in a Goldilocks fashion: not too wordy, not too superficial, just the right amount of words too.
4. James Buchanan and the Coming of the Civil War edited by John W. Quist and Michael J. Birkner: In September of 2008, an all-star team of Buchanan scholars gathered at Buchanan's estate (and now his Presidential museum) called Wheatland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for a symposium on the Buchanan Presidency. This delightful nerdfest of Buchanan historians produced this work, a collection of essays on various aspects of the Buchanan Presidency leading up to the civil war, written by the great minds on the subject of all things James Buchanan. The book covers many of the most interesting aspects of Buchanan's presidency, including the Dred Scott decision, the "Utah War" with Mormon leader Brigham Young, a comparison of the reactions of Andrew Jackson and Buchanan to the threat of southern secession, Buchanan's foreign policy, the Kansas Constitutional Crisis, a contrasting of Buchanan with contemporary political figures, and a look at Buchanan in retirement during the Civil War. My favorite chapter of the book is a verbatim transcript of a Q & A session with eminent historians William Freehling and Michael Holt, full of what ifs and Monday morning quarterbacking of the Buchanan Presidency.
5. Whistle Stop: How 31,000 Miles of Train Travel, 352 Speeches, and a Little Midwest Gumption Saved the Presidency of Harry Truman by Philip White: This is not so much an analysis of the 1948 Presidential election as it is an in-depth profile of Truman's campaign (and more specifically, his campaigning) from June to November of 1948. This book is excellent for its focus on the inner workings of the Truman campaign: what went on inside the campaign train, and what Truman's daily habits were. While it does not provide a complete look at the uber-interesting 1948 presidential election, this book is terrific for the part of the story that it does provide the reader with. It is always fascinating to look at what winning campaigns did right, especially when the winner is an underdog, and this book strongly delivers in this area. This is a great read for anyone with an interest or experience in working on political campaigns.
6. George W. Bush (American Presidents Series) by James Mann: I question why the American Presidents Series published a biography of the 43rd President so early after the end of his presidency, when the story of his post-presidency is unfolding and before publishing bios of former presidents Taft, Reagan, and Clinton (the Reagan bio is due next year). And while it is difficult to write a balanced biography of a contemporary figure (and difficult to read such a biography without being affected by one's own opinions and beliefs), James Mann takes on this daunting challenge. He fairly touches on all of the issues of the Bush presidency and presents all of the relevant facts, including the difficult choices that President Bush faced. He courageously offers his own opinion and assessment, even though in doing so he opens himself up to accusations of bias. He does so without any pressure on the reader to necessarily agree with his conclusions. It should be noted however that unlike his subject, Mann has the benefit of hindsight in coming to his conclusions. In so far as one can meet the challenges faced in his assigned task, Mann deserves a great deal of credit for the book he had produced.
7. Presidents and Their Generals: An American History of Command in War by Matthew Moten: This is a book that I had hoped someone would write and Moten did not disappoint. It is a thoughtful and considered review of the relationship between the Executive Branch and the US Military throughout the history of the United States, from the time of George Washington to the present. Moten explores the concept of civilian control of the military in all of its facets: what the relationship should look like in theory, how the relationship has evolved over time, times when the concept has operated effectively, and times when it has not. The product is a well articulated and well reasoned treatise that is informative, that seeks to educate the reader, and that is a pleasure to read for anyone with an interest in US history.
8. The Great Divide: The Conflict Between Washington and Jefferson That Divided a Nation by Thomas Fleming: The author shows no love for Thomas Jefferson as he explores the relationship between the first and third presidents. The strength of this book however is in its skillful analysis of the ongoing conflict between the office of the presidency and the institution of Congress, an issue that has continued to vex the nation throughout its history. Washington's vision of a strong presidency has been of primary importance in times of national crisis (as demonstrated by Lincoln and FDR) and has been abused at other times. Conversely, the author argues that an imbalance in favor of the power of Congress has caused problems such as the watering down of any meaningful reconstruction following the end of the Civil War, and the rampant rise of debt and deficits. It is in the author's description of the contributions of Washington and Jefferson in shaping the roles of the Presidency and of Congress that is most intellectually engaging in this book. Fleming argues that a study of the presidencies of Washington and Jefferson is essential today because it provides an understanding of why a strong presidency is essential, and why a disproportionate devolution of power in favor of Congress can result in a loss of accountability, and a loss of any central focus in favor of multiple self-interests.
9. Crucible of Command: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee - The War They Fought, The Peace They Forged by William C. Davis: From cradle to grave, Davis examines the lives of Grant and Lee, alternating between each of his two subjects, examining their childhood, their military education at West Point, their early military careers (including their service during the Mexican-American War), their lives during the lull between the Mexican War and the Civil War, their career advancement and military successes and failures during the Civil War, their historic meeting at Appomattox Court House that ended the war, and their post war careers and lives. The scholarship in this book is outstanding. Davis promises in his preface that this work will not simply be a regurgitation of what others have written about Grant and Lee; wherever possible, the author undertakes to seek out source material, even refusing to place much reliance on Grant's acclaimed memoirs because of the lapse of time between their composition and the events they discuss. He neither fawns over his subjects nor makes shallow judgements about them, and he notes both their strengths and weaknesses in his analysis, but he does provide his own assessment of each man's character and ability.
10. Reagan: The Life by H. W. Brands: Brands brings the same honest professionalism, meticulous research and significant detail in chronicling the life of the 40th President that he did previously in his wonderful biographies of Andrew Jackson, both Roosevelts and Ulysses Grant. Brands ably makes the case that Reagan was not what he is often held out to be: an iconic conservative, but rather a pragmatic one. As Reagan once said to his Chief of Staff James Baker, "I'd rather get 80% of what I want, than go over the cliff with my flags flying." Brands makes the case for showing how Reagan's focus on his main goals are what had made his legacy so timeless. Brands is neither obsequious nor insolent in his analysis of Reagan's personality and presidency. He gives Reagan credit when it is due, and also notes Reagan's failings, weaknesses and management flaws. He addresses Reagan's determination, ambition, timing, luck, and his successes and failures. For example, Brands addresses Reagan's successes in reducing taxes, in restoring public confidence, and in bringing about the diminishing of the influence of communism, as well as his failures in bringing about rapid growth in debt and deficits, his unwillingness to fire those who were deserving of it, and his lack of oversight over rogue subordinates.
11. Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, Cherokee Chief John Ross and a Great American Land Grab by Steve Inskeep: This book tells the story of the intersecting lives of Andrew Jackson and John Ross, and how the historically shameful Indian Removal Act came about. Inskeep follows the lives of Jackson, of whom we know much about, and Ross, a little known but equally fascinating historic figure. There is much more to the story of the forced removal of Native American who lived in the American southeast than we are told about in history texts. Inskeep gives an interesting account of the nations who lived in this region in the first part of the 19th century prior to their forced removal, most of which one is never told about in standard history fare. The Cherokee Nation, led by John Ross, took steps on their own to assimilate into American culture, lived peaceably among their neighbors, had a comparable system of government and even had a constitution that sounded very similar to the one Andrew Jackson was supposed to follow. In a very engaging style, Inskeep explains how southerners' coveting of Cherokee land (and land belonging to other First Nations) evolved, how greedy land speculators and politicians (Andrew Jackson falling in both categories) sacrificed principle in their unscrupulous land grab, and how John Ross bravely struggled in vain for a peaceful resolution to the problem. While Inskeep is obviously passionate about his subject (as is apparent when, in the book's epilogue he describes his visit to the locations where many of the book's events took place), his criticisms of Jackson are not bald opinions, but are supported by contemporary documents that demonstrate Jackson's duplicity and dishonesty. Conversely, the author also fairly acknowledges that Ross and others on the side of the Cherokee had their own imperfections. If the story appears skewed on the side of the Cherokee, Inskeep ably makes the case that this is because history supports this vantage, not because it is the product of the author's bias.
12. Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose: Rose writes a well researched and well sourced account of how George Washington utilized a network of covert espionage to his army's advantage during the Revolutionary war. He describes what contemporary conditions were like, the Whig vs. Tory dynamic in colonial America, the obstacles involved in getting a message from an operative to the General, what type of information was useful, the use of 18th century spy tactics such as invisible ink, the economics of espionage, the hazards of wartime travel, kidnappings and prisoner exchanges and generally the fascinating details of how loyalists and patriots, American and British soldiers, all managed to inhabit the New York area in such close proximity, while at war. Alexander Rose presents and preserves a history of Revolutionary War espionage while humanizing the story by allowing us to get to know the principal cast. He reminds us that these secret agents were not suave and cool James Bond types, but were men and women possessed of assorted strengths and weaknesses, coping as best they could under trying circumstances. In the process he has produced a very good book.
13. One Man Against the World: The Tragedy of Richard Nixon by Tim Weiner: The author admits and defends his strong contempt for the 37th President of the United States, making the argument that Nixon tried to place himself above the law, much like a king, rather than the leader of a democratic nation of laws. He goes farther however in suggesting that Nixon not only saw himself as above the law, but that he was also a drunk, paranoid and (despite Nixon's vocal denial to the contrary) a crook. Weiner quotes from the recently released Nixon tapes to show that his subject was often petty, vindictive, profane and branded every critic as the enemy. Weiner also relies heavily on an oral history of the State Department, as well as memoirs from some of the contemporary players, and here he is perhaps more slanted in his selection of sources and recollections unfriendly to Nixon. By the end however, it becomes apparent that Nixon has much to answer for, and that what at first appears to be an author's bias is more likely his strong sense of outrage over one of American history's greatest assaults on the rule of law, and his passion to see that this type of history never repeats itself.
14. Roosevelt's Second Act by Richard Moe: The author describes how FDR kept his cards close to his vest in making his last minute decision to seek a third term in office and how he made his precedent setting choice, balancing a desire to return to private life as an elder statesman with his concern over developments in Europe as the Second World War began. Moe tells us who the other potential candidates were, which were acceptable to Roosevelt and which weren't. He also ably describes the political landscape at the time, a time when the President's popularity was in the ascendancy following his failed court-packing plan and his equally unsuccessful effort to replace members of his own party who did not support his New Deal policies, as well as the hangover from the so-called Roosevelt Recession of 1937-38. Moe also captures the mood of the times with the political and emotional conflict between internationalists, like FDR, who favored aid to those threatened by Hitler and the isolationists led by Charles Lindbergh, Robert Taft and others in and out of FDR's party, who wanted the United States to keep out of the conflict on the other side of the Atlantic. There were also those Democrats on both sides of this question who were firmly opposed to a third term for any president, while others believed that no one but Roosevelt could lead the nature at a time of such unprecedented conflict. It was a most interesting time in American history, a time when an incumbent president faced difficult choices and perplexing, seemingly insurmountable problems. Richard Moe does a terrific job of helping to understand those times and those problems and of explaining how a brilliant political thinker was able to confront them.
15. The Remarkable Millard Fillmore: The Unbelievable Life of a Forgotten President by George Pendle: In a style reminiscent of the late Douglas Adams, Pendle writes a hilarious faux biography of the 13th President. Pendle's gullible narrator describes the amazing discovery of a heretofore unknown set of Fillmore diaries in which the former president sets about retelling much of his remarkable life story. Though considered by most historians to be a hoax, the narrator is convinced that the diary is real, ascribing the reason that much of it is written in ballpoint pen (an invention which came over 60 years after Fillmore's death) to the fact that Fillmore must have also invented the writing instrument, but was too modest to brag about it. Pendle's Fillmore is a likeable and naive dullard, part Baron Munchhausen and part Forest Gump, who turns up unexpectedly at many strange places and times in history. These include a stint as a sumo wrestler in Japan, finding the source of the Nile, dueling Andrew Jackson, tightrope walking across Niagara Falls and being in the President's box at Ford's Theatre on the night of the Lincoln Assassination. He rubs shoulders with the likes of Edgar Allen Poe, Nat Turner, Chief Osceola, John Brown, and Dr. Henry Livingstone among many others. Don't look these events up in the history books, you probably won't find them. Pendle also incorporates the real details of Fillmore's life, though likely not precisely as they occurred. Serious historians lacking in a sense of humor seem to take great offense to this book, so if you're one of those, you might want to give this book a miss. But if you're a history geek looking for a break from the serious (or from those who take themselves too seriously) or if you just enjoy this kind of fun fiction, this is a quick and easy read that will insert some laughs and smiles into your reading, while you marvel at how the author manages to weave in the historic events of the time.
16. The Bloviator by Jim Yoakum: This is a wonderfully written fictional account of the last days of President Warren Harding. Faced with impending scandals within his administration that were about to explode, corrupt advisors, failing health made worse by a quack of a physician, blackmailers attempting to exploit his numerous affairs, and an ambitious domineering wife, the President of the United States embarked on a cross-country train trip from Washington D.C. to Alaska in an effort to rehabilitate his chances for re-election. Yoakum stays true to the known history, and wonderfully embellishes the unknown, decorating the already colorful characters with the stuff of Dashell Hamett (who makes a cameo in the book). He has ably researched his characters and tries not to deviate from what is known about them in composing his fiction. As the author notes, the strengths and weaknesses of the real-life characters are spectacular in themselves, almost unbelievably so. The crooked and vain are extraordinarily so, and so are the virtuous. Yoakum exploits this brilliantly. We know what's coming, that is, we know that Harding dies in San Francisco, and yet the novel never loses its sense of mystery.
17. Buchanan Dying by James Updike: In this three act play, Updike presents a fictional account of the final days of James Buchanan. In a well researched work, Updike explores almost every controversial aspect of Buchanan's life, as well as Buchanan's unsympathetic attitude towards slavery and his influences on the outcome of the famed Dred Scott decision. The second act of the play is a series of reminiscences of Buchanan during his presidency, but with overlapping incidents from other periods of his life which insinuate themselves and merge together. In the last act, Buchanan attempts to justify some of the more controversial aspects of his presidency. In addition to the three acts of the play, Updike writes a very detailed summary of his research, demonstrating a thorough study of a great deal of biographies of Buchanan and his times. In doing so, he shows that most of his fiction has a foundation of fact. But he also attempts to come to Buchanan's defense and even makes the case for why Buchanan was not such a terrible president, but rather was confronted by times so difficult that they would have perplexed any president. Not all will agree with him, probably most would disagree, but to his credit, a considerable amount of study and research has gone into Updike's opinion.
18. Alternate Presidents edited by Mike Resnick: a collection of 28 short stories edited by Mike Resnick, speculating on what history might have been like if the outcome of 28 presidential elections would have been different. Resnick, a Hugo Award winning science fiction writer, also contributes one of the stories (about what would have happened if Theodore Roosevelt had won the 1912 election) as does his daughter Laura (who pens one of my favorites in the book so far, a story told in a series of letters from Queen Victoria, complaining about the effects of a fictional administration and policies of President Victoria Woodhull).
19. Washington's Circle: The Creation of the President by David and Jeanne Heidler: Historians and life partners David and Jeanne Heidler explore what it must have been like for George Washington to form the first national government. Central to their analysis is an intimate examination of the many relationships between the reserved and poker-faced first President and the men (and women) that he came to rely on as cabinet members, friends and confidants. The authors explore both the relationships between Washington and his "circle" and how Washington weathered political storms, challenges, betrayals and public criticisms as he steered the ship of state through uncharted waters. They show a sincere desire to understand the man, both in their capacity as scholars and as persons whose gratitude for all that Washington was able to accomplish is apparent. Their passion never seems to overcome their sense of fairness and objectivity and they succeed as best as 21st century historians can in showing us what it must have been like to be around George Washington and to be George Washington as he guided a new nation through unprecedented and dangerous times.
20. 1932: The Rise of Hitler and FDR by David Pietrusza: The great thing about reading history written in the exceptionally enjoyable style of author David Pietrusza is that we the readers learn so many things that we didn't know before. This is certainly the case with this book in which the author traces the background of the two men who would be most prominent during the second world war, culminating in an in depth accounting of the year 1932, one which would lead to both men attaining the presidency (in Hitler's case the Reich Chancellery) of their respective nations. It was a time when, as reporter Dorothy Thompson had observed, "post-war Europe was finished and pre-war Europe had begun." Ditto for America, Pietrusza adds. Pietrusza generally has a remarkable ability to provide the reader with an understanding of complicated historical situations, and he very capably explains how Adolph Hitler, an Austrian-born misfit came to become a powerful Svengali-like figure to the masses and ultimately one of history's greatest monsters. Normally Pietrusza is able to ingest a fair amount of levity and amusement into his books, but this task is much more challenging, given the subject matter of this book. It must have been a mentally exhaustive exercise for the author to research and write this book, especially given the volume of treachery and human misery that is part and parcel of the Nazi rise to power, not to mention the struggle for those living through the depression. The author continues to draw from his well-stocked cupboards of things most people didn't know before and many of these are strewn throughout this book. Pietrusza yet again displays his ability to analyze, distill, explain and supplement history's most fascinating years and its most fascinating personalities, and in the process he gives those of us who love to read history another excellent and enjoyable literary experience.
21. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell: The always entertaining Ms. Vowell takes a fresh look at the 18th century French teenager who left his home in France like a grounded kid breaking curfew and traveled to the United States to become George Washington's most trusted officer and surrogate son. It is a remarkable story that Vowell intersperses with vignettes of her own experiences researching the book, and in the process she explains to the reader the importance of the amazing young Frenchman in today's world, both in how he has been remembered and how he has been forgotten. The book chronicles Lafayette's amazing life, but it is much more than just a linear biography. It explains what was happening in the United States from the beginning to the end of the Revolution, it introduces the reader to the leading figures of the revolution, it explains some of the war's more prominent battles, and it brilliantly explores the roller-coaster like relationship between the United States and France. The book contains a myriad of interesting digressions, including the author's meeting with a Lafayette reenactor and Bruce Springsteen's connection to the Revolutionary war. Do not mistake this book for history lite. History fun, yes. History lite, no. If you like to read history, like intelligent writing, but also like your reading to be fun, Sarah Vowell hits the trifecta with her latest book.
22. 1944: FDR and the Year That Changed History by Jay Winik: The author critically examines the actions and inaction of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as the world witnessed the second world war and the horrendous occurrence of Adolph Hitler's "final solution" which led to the killing of approximately six million European Jews. This book is not, as its title might suggest, a biography of President Franklin Roosevelt, nor a study of how Roosevelt engineered his fourth consecutive electoral victory. At its essence, this is the story of the Holocaust. It is also a damning indictment of how the inaction of Roosevelt's State Department ignored (and by doing so enabled) the Nazi atrocities to continue. This book is not for the faint of heart or for the squeamish. Winik is quite graphic in his description of what took place in camps like Auschwitz and Dachau. He does so, not for shock value, but because of the importance for mankind to never forget what took place, and hopefully to learn from the lessons of what happened to millions of Jews during Adolph Hitler's horrific tenure.
23. The Triumph of William McKinley: Why The Election of 1896 Still Matters by Karl Rove: I've almost finished this and will post a review before the end of the year. Rove explores the election of 1896 which pitted William McKinley against William Jennings Bryan in a battle over protectionism and currency. What is fascinating about this book is seeing the election campaign analyzed by a modern-day master political tactician. In this enjoyable examination of the life of an overlooked and under-rated president, Rove shatters the myth that McKinley was merely the puppet of politico Mark Hanna, and shows how McKinley was and sometimes wasn't able to read the political issues of his day.
That's what potus_geeks was reading in the past year. Next up will be The Peace That Almost Was: The Forgotten Story of the 1861 Washington Peace Conference and the Final Attempt to Avert the Civil War by Mark Tooley and The Bank War: Andrew Jackson, Nicholas Biddle and the Fight for American Finance by Paul Kahan.
But first, our top 10 list from 2015:
1. 1932: The Rise of Hitler and FDR by David Pietrusza
2. Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, Cherokee Chief John Ross and a Great American Land Grab by Steve Inskeep
3. 1944: FDR and the Year That Changed History by Jay Winik
4. Reagan: The Life by H. W. Brands
5. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell
6. Presidents and Their Generals: An American History of Command in War by Matthew Moten
7. One Man Against the World: The Tragedy of Richard Nixon by Tim Weiner
8. Washington's Circle: The Creation of the President by David and Jeanne Heidler
9. The Triumph of William McKinley: Why The Election of 1896 Still Matters by Karl Rove
10. Crucible of Command: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee - The War They Fought, The Peace They Forged by William C. Davis
Here's to another year of good reading. Once again, so many good books, so little time. Thank you to all of the amazing authors whose labors of love produce such wonderful works.
1. 41: A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush: Inspired by a suggestion made by esteemed author David McCulloch, the 43rd President writes a biography of his father, the 43rd President, a man with a varied and interesting resume with everything on it from war hero to CIA director, to Ambassador to China, to the man who asked Nixon to resign, to President and more beyond that. The story of a man with such a fascinating set of experiences, which include skydiving on his 75th, 80th, 85th and 90th birthday, and such a wonderful outlook on life, is too good to pass up on. That it is told from a loving perspective makes it all the more interesting. George H. W. Bush's life is a wonderful example of how to age with dignity, grace and with a marvelous attitude and for that reason alone it is a pleasure to read.
2. Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis as Commander In Chief by James McPherson: McPherson is clearly in the uppermost echelon of Civil War historians. In addressing the abilities of Jefferson Davis as commander in chief, he tackles a very controversial subject. Even a century and a half after the end of the conflict, Davis continues to evoke strong visceral and emotional responses from people. It takes a historian of McPherson's stature and gravitas to examine such a sensitive topic, and in this book he does so with all the professionalism and academic integrity that readers and students of history have come to expect from him.
3. Unreasonable Men: Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican Rebels Who Created Progressive Politics by Michael Wolraich: The story centers around six men who were the political movers and shakers of their era. Three were Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson. Three were congressmen: Senator Nelson Aldrich was the wealthy patrician Republican leader of the conservative faction that controlled the senate. Joseph "Uncle Joe" Cannon was the venerable Speaker of the House of Representatives who also exerted control aligned with the conservatives and who rewarded his friends and marginalized those who disagreed with him. Finally, there was Robert "Fighting Bob" LaFollette, the Moses of the progressive movement, who rose from a minor voice of dissent to become the most prominent progressive. Wolraich is a very able writer who manages to explain topics like tariff reform, central banking and other technical topics into an interesting and engaging way. It is his insight into human nature however that makes this an especially good read. He excels both as a policy analyst and as someone who can derive and communicate the motives of his central characters. He does so in a Goldilocks fashion: not too wordy, not too superficial, just the right amount of words too.
4. James Buchanan and the Coming of the Civil War edited by John W. Quist and Michael J. Birkner: In September of 2008, an all-star team of Buchanan scholars gathered at Buchanan's estate (and now his Presidential museum) called Wheatland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for a symposium on the Buchanan Presidency. This delightful nerdfest of Buchanan historians produced this work, a collection of essays on various aspects of the Buchanan Presidency leading up to the civil war, written by the great minds on the subject of all things James Buchanan. The book covers many of the most interesting aspects of Buchanan's presidency, including the Dred Scott decision, the "Utah War" with Mormon leader Brigham Young, a comparison of the reactions of Andrew Jackson and Buchanan to the threat of southern secession, Buchanan's foreign policy, the Kansas Constitutional Crisis, a contrasting of Buchanan with contemporary political figures, and a look at Buchanan in retirement during the Civil War. My favorite chapter of the book is a verbatim transcript of a Q & A session with eminent historians William Freehling and Michael Holt, full of what ifs and Monday morning quarterbacking of the Buchanan Presidency.
5. Whistle Stop: How 31,000 Miles of Train Travel, 352 Speeches, and a Little Midwest Gumption Saved the Presidency of Harry Truman by Philip White: This is not so much an analysis of the 1948 Presidential election as it is an in-depth profile of Truman's campaign (and more specifically, his campaigning) from June to November of 1948. This book is excellent for its focus on the inner workings of the Truman campaign: what went on inside the campaign train, and what Truman's daily habits were. While it does not provide a complete look at the uber-interesting 1948 presidential election, this book is terrific for the part of the story that it does provide the reader with. It is always fascinating to look at what winning campaigns did right, especially when the winner is an underdog, and this book strongly delivers in this area. This is a great read for anyone with an interest or experience in working on political campaigns.
6. George W. Bush (American Presidents Series) by James Mann: I question why the American Presidents Series published a biography of the 43rd President so early after the end of his presidency, when the story of his post-presidency is unfolding and before publishing bios of former presidents Taft, Reagan, and Clinton (the Reagan bio is due next year). And while it is difficult to write a balanced biography of a contemporary figure (and difficult to read such a biography without being affected by one's own opinions and beliefs), James Mann takes on this daunting challenge. He fairly touches on all of the issues of the Bush presidency and presents all of the relevant facts, including the difficult choices that President Bush faced. He courageously offers his own opinion and assessment, even though in doing so he opens himself up to accusations of bias. He does so without any pressure on the reader to necessarily agree with his conclusions. It should be noted however that unlike his subject, Mann has the benefit of hindsight in coming to his conclusions. In so far as one can meet the challenges faced in his assigned task, Mann deserves a great deal of credit for the book he had produced.
7. Presidents and Their Generals: An American History of Command in War by Matthew Moten: This is a book that I had hoped someone would write and Moten did not disappoint. It is a thoughtful and considered review of the relationship between the Executive Branch and the US Military throughout the history of the United States, from the time of George Washington to the present. Moten explores the concept of civilian control of the military in all of its facets: what the relationship should look like in theory, how the relationship has evolved over time, times when the concept has operated effectively, and times when it has not. The product is a well articulated and well reasoned treatise that is informative, that seeks to educate the reader, and that is a pleasure to read for anyone with an interest in US history.
8. The Great Divide: The Conflict Between Washington and Jefferson That Divided a Nation by Thomas Fleming: The author shows no love for Thomas Jefferson as he explores the relationship between the first and third presidents. The strength of this book however is in its skillful analysis of the ongoing conflict between the office of the presidency and the institution of Congress, an issue that has continued to vex the nation throughout its history. Washington's vision of a strong presidency has been of primary importance in times of national crisis (as demonstrated by Lincoln and FDR) and has been abused at other times. Conversely, the author argues that an imbalance in favor of the power of Congress has caused problems such as the watering down of any meaningful reconstruction following the end of the Civil War, and the rampant rise of debt and deficits. It is in the author's description of the contributions of Washington and Jefferson in shaping the roles of the Presidency and of Congress that is most intellectually engaging in this book. Fleming argues that a study of the presidencies of Washington and Jefferson is essential today because it provides an understanding of why a strong presidency is essential, and why a disproportionate devolution of power in favor of Congress can result in a loss of accountability, and a loss of any central focus in favor of multiple self-interests.
9. Crucible of Command: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee - The War They Fought, The Peace They Forged by William C. Davis: From cradle to grave, Davis examines the lives of Grant and Lee, alternating between each of his two subjects, examining their childhood, their military education at West Point, their early military careers (including their service during the Mexican-American War), their lives during the lull between the Mexican War and the Civil War, their career advancement and military successes and failures during the Civil War, their historic meeting at Appomattox Court House that ended the war, and their post war careers and lives. The scholarship in this book is outstanding. Davis promises in his preface that this work will not simply be a regurgitation of what others have written about Grant and Lee; wherever possible, the author undertakes to seek out source material, even refusing to place much reliance on Grant's acclaimed memoirs because of the lapse of time between their composition and the events they discuss. He neither fawns over his subjects nor makes shallow judgements about them, and he notes both their strengths and weaknesses in his analysis, but he does provide his own assessment of each man's character and ability.
10. Reagan: The Life by H. W. Brands: Brands brings the same honest professionalism, meticulous research and significant detail in chronicling the life of the 40th President that he did previously in his wonderful biographies of Andrew Jackson, both Roosevelts and Ulysses Grant. Brands ably makes the case that Reagan was not what he is often held out to be: an iconic conservative, but rather a pragmatic one. As Reagan once said to his Chief of Staff James Baker, "I'd rather get 80% of what I want, than go over the cliff with my flags flying." Brands makes the case for showing how Reagan's focus on his main goals are what had made his legacy so timeless. Brands is neither obsequious nor insolent in his analysis of Reagan's personality and presidency. He gives Reagan credit when it is due, and also notes Reagan's failings, weaknesses and management flaws. He addresses Reagan's determination, ambition, timing, luck, and his successes and failures. For example, Brands addresses Reagan's successes in reducing taxes, in restoring public confidence, and in bringing about the diminishing of the influence of communism, as well as his failures in bringing about rapid growth in debt and deficits, his unwillingness to fire those who were deserving of it, and his lack of oversight over rogue subordinates.
11. Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, Cherokee Chief John Ross and a Great American Land Grab by Steve Inskeep: This book tells the story of the intersecting lives of Andrew Jackson and John Ross, and how the historically shameful Indian Removal Act came about. Inskeep follows the lives of Jackson, of whom we know much about, and Ross, a little known but equally fascinating historic figure. There is much more to the story of the forced removal of Native American who lived in the American southeast than we are told about in history texts. Inskeep gives an interesting account of the nations who lived in this region in the first part of the 19th century prior to their forced removal, most of which one is never told about in standard history fare. The Cherokee Nation, led by John Ross, took steps on their own to assimilate into American culture, lived peaceably among their neighbors, had a comparable system of government and even had a constitution that sounded very similar to the one Andrew Jackson was supposed to follow. In a very engaging style, Inskeep explains how southerners' coveting of Cherokee land (and land belonging to other First Nations) evolved, how greedy land speculators and politicians (Andrew Jackson falling in both categories) sacrificed principle in their unscrupulous land grab, and how John Ross bravely struggled in vain for a peaceful resolution to the problem. While Inskeep is obviously passionate about his subject (as is apparent when, in the book's epilogue he describes his visit to the locations where many of the book's events took place), his criticisms of Jackson are not bald opinions, but are supported by contemporary documents that demonstrate Jackson's duplicity and dishonesty. Conversely, the author also fairly acknowledges that Ross and others on the side of the Cherokee had their own imperfections. If the story appears skewed on the side of the Cherokee, Inskeep ably makes the case that this is because history supports this vantage, not because it is the product of the author's bias.
12. Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose: Rose writes a well researched and well sourced account of how George Washington utilized a network of covert espionage to his army's advantage during the Revolutionary war. He describes what contemporary conditions were like, the Whig vs. Tory dynamic in colonial America, the obstacles involved in getting a message from an operative to the General, what type of information was useful, the use of 18th century spy tactics such as invisible ink, the economics of espionage, the hazards of wartime travel, kidnappings and prisoner exchanges and generally the fascinating details of how loyalists and patriots, American and British soldiers, all managed to inhabit the New York area in such close proximity, while at war. Alexander Rose presents and preserves a history of Revolutionary War espionage while humanizing the story by allowing us to get to know the principal cast. He reminds us that these secret agents were not suave and cool James Bond types, but were men and women possessed of assorted strengths and weaknesses, coping as best they could under trying circumstances. In the process he has produced a very good book.
13. One Man Against the World: The Tragedy of Richard Nixon by Tim Weiner: The author admits and defends his strong contempt for the 37th President of the United States, making the argument that Nixon tried to place himself above the law, much like a king, rather than the leader of a democratic nation of laws. He goes farther however in suggesting that Nixon not only saw himself as above the law, but that he was also a drunk, paranoid and (despite Nixon's vocal denial to the contrary) a crook. Weiner quotes from the recently released Nixon tapes to show that his subject was often petty, vindictive, profane and branded every critic as the enemy. Weiner also relies heavily on an oral history of the State Department, as well as memoirs from some of the contemporary players, and here he is perhaps more slanted in his selection of sources and recollections unfriendly to Nixon. By the end however, it becomes apparent that Nixon has much to answer for, and that what at first appears to be an author's bias is more likely his strong sense of outrage over one of American history's greatest assaults on the rule of law, and his passion to see that this type of history never repeats itself.
14. Roosevelt's Second Act by Richard Moe: The author describes how FDR kept his cards close to his vest in making his last minute decision to seek a third term in office and how he made his precedent setting choice, balancing a desire to return to private life as an elder statesman with his concern over developments in Europe as the Second World War began. Moe tells us who the other potential candidates were, which were acceptable to Roosevelt and which weren't. He also ably describes the political landscape at the time, a time when the President's popularity was in the ascendancy following his failed court-packing plan and his equally unsuccessful effort to replace members of his own party who did not support his New Deal policies, as well as the hangover from the so-called Roosevelt Recession of 1937-38. Moe also captures the mood of the times with the political and emotional conflict between internationalists, like FDR, who favored aid to those threatened by Hitler and the isolationists led by Charles Lindbergh, Robert Taft and others in and out of FDR's party, who wanted the United States to keep out of the conflict on the other side of the Atlantic. There were also those Democrats on both sides of this question who were firmly opposed to a third term for any president, while others believed that no one but Roosevelt could lead the nature at a time of such unprecedented conflict. It was a most interesting time in American history, a time when an incumbent president faced difficult choices and perplexing, seemingly insurmountable problems. Richard Moe does a terrific job of helping to understand those times and those problems and of explaining how a brilliant political thinker was able to confront them.
15. The Remarkable Millard Fillmore: The Unbelievable Life of a Forgotten President by George Pendle: In a style reminiscent of the late Douglas Adams, Pendle writes a hilarious faux biography of the 13th President. Pendle's gullible narrator describes the amazing discovery of a heretofore unknown set of Fillmore diaries in which the former president sets about retelling much of his remarkable life story. Though considered by most historians to be a hoax, the narrator is convinced that the diary is real, ascribing the reason that much of it is written in ballpoint pen (an invention which came over 60 years after Fillmore's death) to the fact that Fillmore must have also invented the writing instrument, but was too modest to brag about it. Pendle's Fillmore is a likeable and naive dullard, part Baron Munchhausen and part Forest Gump, who turns up unexpectedly at many strange places and times in history. These include a stint as a sumo wrestler in Japan, finding the source of the Nile, dueling Andrew Jackson, tightrope walking across Niagara Falls and being in the President's box at Ford's Theatre on the night of the Lincoln Assassination. He rubs shoulders with the likes of Edgar Allen Poe, Nat Turner, Chief Osceola, John Brown, and Dr. Henry Livingstone among many others. Don't look these events up in the history books, you probably won't find them. Pendle also incorporates the real details of Fillmore's life, though likely not precisely as they occurred. Serious historians lacking in a sense of humor seem to take great offense to this book, so if you're one of those, you might want to give this book a miss. But if you're a history geek looking for a break from the serious (or from those who take themselves too seriously) or if you just enjoy this kind of fun fiction, this is a quick and easy read that will insert some laughs and smiles into your reading, while you marvel at how the author manages to weave in the historic events of the time.
16. The Bloviator by Jim Yoakum: This is a wonderfully written fictional account of the last days of President Warren Harding. Faced with impending scandals within his administration that were about to explode, corrupt advisors, failing health made worse by a quack of a physician, blackmailers attempting to exploit his numerous affairs, and an ambitious domineering wife, the President of the United States embarked on a cross-country train trip from Washington D.C. to Alaska in an effort to rehabilitate his chances for re-election. Yoakum stays true to the known history, and wonderfully embellishes the unknown, decorating the already colorful characters with the stuff of Dashell Hamett (who makes a cameo in the book). He has ably researched his characters and tries not to deviate from what is known about them in composing his fiction. As the author notes, the strengths and weaknesses of the real-life characters are spectacular in themselves, almost unbelievably so. The crooked and vain are extraordinarily so, and so are the virtuous. Yoakum exploits this brilliantly. We know what's coming, that is, we know that Harding dies in San Francisco, and yet the novel never loses its sense of mystery.
17. Buchanan Dying by James Updike: In this three act play, Updike presents a fictional account of the final days of James Buchanan. In a well researched work, Updike explores almost every controversial aspect of Buchanan's life, as well as Buchanan's unsympathetic attitude towards slavery and his influences on the outcome of the famed Dred Scott decision. The second act of the play is a series of reminiscences of Buchanan during his presidency, but with overlapping incidents from other periods of his life which insinuate themselves and merge together. In the last act, Buchanan attempts to justify some of the more controversial aspects of his presidency. In addition to the three acts of the play, Updike writes a very detailed summary of his research, demonstrating a thorough study of a great deal of biographies of Buchanan and his times. In doing so, he shows that most of his fiction has a foundation of fact. But he also attempts to come to Buchanan's defense and even makes the case for why Buchanan was not such a terrible president, but rather was confronted by times so difficult that they would have perplexed any president. Not all will agree with him, probably most would disagree, but to his credit, a considerable amount of study and research has gone into Updike's opinion.
18. Alternate Presidents edited by Mike Resnick: a collection of 28 short stories edited by Mike Resnick, speculating on what history might have been like if the outcome of 28 presidential elections would have been different. Resnick, a Hugo Award winning science fiction writer, also contributes one of the stories (about what would have happened if Theodore Roosevelt had won the 1912 election) as does his daughter Laura (who pens one of my favorites in the book so far, a story told in a series of letters from Queen Victoria, complaining about the effects of a fictional administration and policies of President Victoria Woodhull).
19. Washington's Circle: The Creation of the President by David and Jeanne Heidler: Historians and life partners David and Jeanne Heidler explore what it must have been like for George Washington to form the first national government. Central to their analysis is an intimate examination of the many relationships between the reserved and poker-faced first President and the men (and women) that he came to rely on as cabinet members, friends and confidants. The authors explore both the relationships between Washington and his "circle" and how Washington weathered political storms, challenges, betrayals and public criticisms as he steered the ship of state through uncharted waters. They show a sincere desire to understand the man, both in their capacity as scholars and as persons whose gratitude for all that Washington was able to accomplish is apparent. Their passion never seems to overcome their sense of fairness and objectivity and they succeed as best as 21st century historians can in showing us what it must have been like to be around George Washington and to be George Washington as he guided a new nation through unprecedented and dangerous times.
20. 1932: The Rise of Hitler and FDR by David Pietrusza: The great thing about reading history written in the exceptionally enjoyable style of author David Pietrusza is that we the readers learn so many things that we didn't know before. This is certainly the case with this book in which the author traces the background of the two men who would be most prominent during the second world war, culminating in an in depth accounting of the year 1932, one which would lead to both men attaining the presidency (in Hitler's case the Reich Chancellery) of their respective nations. It was a time when, as reporter Dorothy Thompson had observed, "post-war Europe was finished and pre-war Europe had begun." Ditto for America, Pietrusza adds. Pietrusza generally has a remarkable ability to provide the reader with an understanding of complicated historical situations, and he very capably explains how Adolph Hitler, an Austrian-born misfit came to become a powerful Svengali-like figure to the masses and ultimately one of history's greatest monsters. Normally Pietrusza is able to ingest a fair amount of levity and amusement into his books, but this task is much more challenging, given the subject matter of this book. It must have been a mentally exhaustive exercise for the author to research and write this book, especially given the volume of treachery and human misery that is part and parcel of the Nazi rise to power, not to mention the struggle for those living through the depression. The author continues to draw from his well-stocked cupboards of things most people didn't know before and many of these are strewn throughout this book. Pietrusza yet again displays his ability to analyze, distill, explain and supplement history's most fascinating years and its most fascinating personalities, and in the process he gives those of us who love to read history another excellent and enjoyable literary experience.
21. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell: The always entertaining Ms. Vowell takes a fresh look at the 18th century French teenager who left his home in France like a grounded kid breaking curfew and traveled to the United States to become George Washington's most trusted officer and surrogate son. It is a remarkable story that Vowell intersperses with vignettes of her own experiences researching the book, and in the process she explains to the reader the importance of the amazing young Frenchman in today's world, both in how he has been remembered and how he has been forgotten. The book chronicles Lafayette's amazing life, but it is much more than just a linear biography. It explains what was happening in the United States from the beginning to the end of the Revolution, it introduces the reader to the leading figures of the revolution, it explains some of the war's more prominent battles, and it brilliantly explores the roller-coaster like relationship between the United States and France. The book contains a myriad of interesting digressions, including the author's meeting with a Lafayette reenactor and Bruce Springsteen's connection to the Revolutionary war. Do not mistake this book for history lite. History fun, yes. History lite, no. If you like to read history, like intelligent writing, but also like your reading to be fun, Sarah Vowell hits the trifecta with her latest book.
22. 1944: FDR and the Year That Changed History by Jay Winik: The author critically examines the actions and inaction of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as the world witnessed the second world war and the horrendous occurrence of Adolph Hitler's "final solution" which led to the killing of approximately six million European Jews. This book is not, as its title might suggest, a biography of President Franklin Roosevelt, nor a study of how Roosevelt engineered his fourth consecutive electoral victory. At its essence, this is the story of the Holocaust. It is also a damning indictment of how the inaction of Roosevelt's State Department ignored (and by doing so enabled) the Nazi atrocities to continue. This book is not for the faint of heart or for the squeamish. Winik is quite graphic in his description of what took place in camps like Auschwitz and Dachau. He does so, not for shock value, but because of the importance for mankind to never forget what took place, and hopefully to learn from the lessons of what happened to millions of Jews during Adolph Hitler's horrific tenure.
23. The Triumph of William McKinley: Why The Election of 1896 Still Matters by Karl Rove: I've almost finished this and will post a review before the end of the year. Rove explores the election of 1896 which pitted William McKinley against William Jennings Bryan in a battle over protectionism and currency. What is fascinating about this book is seeing the election campaign analyzed by a modern-day master political tactician. In this enjoyable examination of the life of an overlooked and under-rated president, Rove shatters the myth that McKinley was merely the puppet of politico Mark Hanna, and shows how McKinley was and sometimes wasn't able to read the political issues of his day.
That's what potus_geeks was reading in the past year. Next up will be The Peace That Almost Was: The Forgotten Story of the 1861 Washington Peace Conference and the Final Attempt to Avert the Civil War by Mark Tooley and The Bank War: Andrew Jackson, Nicholas Biddle and the Fight for American Finance by Paul Kahan.
But first, our top 10 list from 2015:
1. 1932: The Rise of Hitler and FDR by David Pietrusza
2. Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, Cherokee Chief John Ross and a Great American Land Grab by Steve Inskeep
3. 1944: FDR and the Year That Changed History by Jay Winik
4. Reagan: The Life by H. W. Brands
5. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell
6. Presidents and Their Generals: An American History of Command in War by Matthew Moten
7. One Man Against the World: The Tragedy of Richard Nixon by Tim Weiner
8. Washington's Circle: The Creation of the President by David and Jeanne Heidler
9. The Triumph of William McKinley: Why The Election of 1896 Still Matters by Karl Rove
10. Crucible of Command: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee - The War They Fought, The Peace They Forged by William C. Davis
Here's to another year of good reading. Once again, so many good books, so little time. Thank you to all of the amazing authors whose labors of love produce such wonderful works.