As of 2012, only 43 men have held the office of the President of the United States. Some have been sanctified and some reviled. This historical work addresses the careers of the first ten presidents, men who made vital contributions not only to the office of the presidency, but to the course of the fledgling nation. From Washington through Tyler, every term is recounted in detail and each presidential profile provides as many as a hundred quotations (with full source notes) by the president, his friends, family, historians, and others. Each profile ends with an extensive bibliography of books about the president, his principles and policies, and also provides suggestion for further reading. Rigorously nonpartisan in approach, this detail-rich text describes the early years of what may well be one of the most demanding jobs in the world.

Robert A. Nowlan is a scholar, researcher, teacher, writer, storyteller and lecturer, and the author of two dozen books and numerous articles. He lives in New Haven, Connecticut, and Marco Island, Florida.

Robert A. Nowlan
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 460
Bibliographic Info: 122 photos, 2 maps, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6336-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0118-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      ix

Preface      1

Introduction: The American Presidency      9

1. George Washington: The Man Who Would Not Be King      23

2. John Adams: The Revolution Was Made in the Minds of the People      73

3. Thomas Jefferson: The Polymath President      109

4. James Madison: That Dear Little Jemmy      155

5. James Monroe: The Last of the Cocked Hats      187

6. John Quincy Adams: A Man of Principles, Not Parties      219

7. Andrew Jackson: A Good Friend and a Bad Enemy      254

8. Martin Van Buren: The Foxy First Full-Time Politician      306

9. William Henry Harrison: Sung into the Presidency      337

10. John Tyler: President or Acting President?      362

Chapter Notes      389

References and Further Readings      437

Index      453

“does not disappoint…excellent”—Booklist; “everything that US presidential history buff or scholar might want to know about the first ten presidents is here…extremely interesting…highly recommended”—Choice; “valuable”—ARBA; “an informative, interesting and entertaining reference book…well written and informative…highly recommended”—Reference Reviews.