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U.S. Presidents For Dummies with Online Practice

2. Aufl.

von: Marcus A. Stadelmann
16,99 €
Verlag:	Wiley
Format:	PDF
Veröffentl.:	16.06.2020
ISBN/EAN:	9781119748632
Sprache:	englisch
Anzahl Seiten:	480

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Titelbeschreibung

Discover how the Oval Office’s occupants have made and make history Which one was the tallest? Which one fought a duel? Which had liquor smuggled into the White House during Prohibition? And why is the president even called the president in the first place? From periwigs and knee breeches to the 24-hour news cycle and presidential Tweets, the fascinating and colorful stories of the 45 incumbents are a powerful lens through which to view U.S. history and get insight into the present. Taking readers on a fact-filled journey through two centuries, this book examines how each individual obtained their dream (or nightmare) position, what they stood for (or against), achieved (or didn’t), and how their actions affected the country—for better or worse. And—remembering that presidents are people too—it shows how the personal really can be political, exploring how each president’s vision, strengths, and foibles helped or hindered them in building the country and their own legacy. <ul> <li>Accessible biographies of all presidents</li> <li>Sidebars, timelines, and photos</li> <li>Lists of best and worst administrations</li> <li>Bonus online content, including quizzes galore to help build retention</li> </ul> Whether you’re a student, a history buff—or are even interested in becoming president yourself one day—U. S. Presidents For Dummies is the perfect guide to what it takes to be leader of the free world, who has stepped up to that challenge, and how those personal histories can help us understand yesterday’s, today’s, and even tomorrow’s union.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: Understanding U.S. Presidents 5 Chapter 1: Presidents and the Presidency 7 Establishing the First U.S. Government 7 Facing problems 8 Writing a constitution 8 Drawing up the presidency 9 Interpreting presidential powers 12 Examining Presidential Influence on the Presidency 12 Challenging Congress: Andrew Jackson 13 Creating the imperial presidency: Franklin Roosevelt 13 Dethroning the imperial presidency: Richard Nixon 14 Restoring the imperial presidency: George W Bush 15 Perfecting the Power to Shape Public Opinion 16 Persuading the people 16 Making use of the media 16 Performing Many Roles: Today’s President 18 Chapter 2: Presidential Rankings and Evaluations 19 Evaluating the Presidents 20 Policy leadership 21 Crisis management 21 Presidential appointments 22 Foreign standing 22 Character and integrity 23 Public persuasion 23 Presidential vision 24 Ranking U.S Presidents 24 Explaining results 26 Changing rankings over time 27 Part 2: Starting with Known Quantities: Washington to John Quincy Adams 29 Chapter 3: Starting Well with George Washington 31 Washington’s Early Career 31 Proving his prowess in the military 33 Turning to politics 33 Fighting for Independence 34 Designing the New Country 36 President George Washington (1789–1797) 36 Dealing with the Issues of the Day 37 Passing the Bill of Rights 38 Splitting into two parties 39 Running unopposed for a second term 40 Establishing a policy of neutrality 41 Quelling civil strife 41 Stepping Down 42 Retiring Briefly 43 Chapter 4: The Authoritarian and the Philosopher: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson 45 Founding the Country and Almost Destroying It: John Adams 46 Adams’s early career 46 Representing the new country 47 Running for president 49 President John Adams (1797–1801) 50 Losing the presidency in 1800 53 Master of Multitasking: Thomas Jefferson 54 Jefferson’s early political career 55 President Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809) 58 Keeping busy in retirement 61 Chapter 5: Prominent but Ineffective: Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams 63 James Madison: From Founding Father to Presidential Flop 64 Madison’s early career 65 Serving in Congress 67 Returning to national politics 68 Fighting the British for the last time 68 Changing policies and retiring 69 Succeeding Abroad, Failing at Home: James Monroe 69 Monroe’s early career 70 Serving well: Monroe’s foreign policy 72 Serving not so well: Monroe’s domestic policy 73 Running unopposed 74 Calling it quits after two terms 74 Like Father, Like Son: John Quincy Adams 75 Getting elected at home 76 Going back to Europe 76 Picked by the House 78 President John Quincy Adams (1825–1829) 78 Going back to Congress 79 Part 3: Enduring the Best and the Worst: Jackson to Buchanan 81 Chapter 6: Standing Firm: Andrew Jackson 83 Jackson’s Early Career 83 Going to war 84 Saved by a political enemy 85 Suffering through the Stolen Election of 1824 86 President Andrew Jackson (1829–1837) 87 Dealing with states’ rights and tariffs 88 Hating banks 89 Forcing Native Americans west 90 Getting tough with France 91 Cruising toward reelection 91 Deciding what to do with Texas 92 Reaching retirement 93 Chapter 7: Forgettable: Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, and Tyler 95 Martin Van Buren, Master of Politics 96 Going from law to politics 97 Establishing a political machine 98 Politicking at the national level 98 President Martin Van Buren (1837–1841) 101 Losing badly in 1840 102 Staging a minor comeback and retiring 103 The Founder of the Image Campaign: William Henry Harrison 103 Using politics and militia against Native Americans 104 Focusing on politics 105 President William Henry Harrison (1841–1841) 106 Stepping into the Presidency: John Tyler 107 Supporting states’ rights and slavery 108 Balancing the ticket; becoming president 109 President John Tyler (1841–1845) 109 Dying a Confederate 110 Chapter 8: Dreaming of California: James K Polk 111 Young Hickory 111 Polk’s Early Political Career 112 Texas to the Rescue 113 Keeping His Campaign Simple 114 President James Polk (1845–1849) 115 Establishing a treasury system 115 Expanding north and south 116 Winning the War but Losing the Battle 118 Choosing Not to Run Again 119 Chapter 9: Working Up to the Civil War: Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan 121 Trying to Preserve the Union: Zachary Taylor 122 Fighting Native Americans and Mexicans 122 President Zachary Taylor (1849–1850) 124 Serving for just one year 125 Making Things Worse: Millard Fillmore 125 Fillmore’s early career 126 President Millard Fillmore (1850–1853) 127 Turning racist 128 Sympathizing with the South: Franklin Pierce 128 A Northern Democrat with a Southern soul 129 Pierce’s early political career 129 President Franklin Pierce (1853–1857) 130 Controversial to the end 132 Failing to Save the Union: James Buchanan 132 Buchanan’s early career 134 President James Buchanan (1857–1861) 134 Sitting by through secession 136 Part 4: Becoming a Force in the World: Lincoln to Hoover 137 Chapter 10: Preserving the Union: Abraham Lincoln 139 Lincoln’s Early Political Career 140 Getting ready for the national level 141 Studying law on the side 141 A Star Is Born 142 Annoying everyone 142 Voting his conscience on slavery 143 Debating his way to national prominence 143 President Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865) 144 Dealing with secession 146 Confronting the Confederacy 147 The Civil War 147 Issuing the Emancipation Proclamation 149 Motivating the Confederacy 150 Drafting soldiers: North and South 151 Addressing the crowds at Gettysburg 152 Lincoln’s Short Second Term 153 Offering terms of surrender 154 Serving briefly 154 Chapter 11: Reconstructing the Country: Johnson, Grant, and Hayes 155 From Poverty to the Presidency: Andrew Johnson 156 Getting into politics: Johnson’s early career 156 Acting on his prejudices 157 President Andrew Johnson (1865–1869) 158 Enter a War Hero: Ulysses Simpson Grant 162 Grant’s early career 163 Becoming a war hero 164 Entering politics 165 President Ulysses Simpson Grant (1869–1877) 165 Passing on a third term 166 Corruption Leads to an Uncorrupt President: Rutherford Birchard Hayes 167 Hayes’s early career 167 Governing Ohio 168 President Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1877–1881) 168 Chapter 12: Closing Out the Century: Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison 173 A Promising President Is Assassinated: James Abram Garfield 174 Garfield’s early political career 174 President James Abram Garfield (1881–1881) 175 Being assassinated 176 The Unexpected President: Chester Alan Arthur 177 Arthur’s early political career 178 Staging the comeback of his life 178 President Chester Alan Arthur (1881–1885) 179 Making History by Serving Nonconsecutive Terms: Grover Cleveland 180 Cleveland’s early political career 181 President Stephen Grover Cleveland (1885–1889 and 1893–1897) 182 Serving again 184 Retiring to Princeton 186 The Spoiled Republican: Benjamin Harrison 186 Harrison’s early political career 186 President Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893) 189 Losing in 1892 190 Returning to his legal career 190 Chapter 13: Influencing the World: McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Taft 191 Discarding Isolationism: William McKinley 192 Being a loyal Republican 192 President William McKinley (1897–1901) 194 Getting reelected and assassinated 196 Building a Strong Foreign Policy: Theodore Roosevelt 197 Becoming governor of New York and vice president 200 President Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) 200 Winning reelection in 1904 203 Saying no to a third term 204 Becoming a Bull Moose 205 Retiring for good 206 The President Who Hated Politics: William Howard Taft (1909–1913) 206 Taft’s early career 208 President William Howard Taft (1909–1913) 209 Beating the odds and accomplishing quite a bit 210 Losing the presidency, gaining the Supreme Court 210 Chapter 14: Protecting Democracy: Woodrow Wilson 213 Studying Government 213 Breaking into Politics in New Jersey 215 Governing New Jersey 215 Running for president in 1912 216 President Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) 216 Managing the media 218 Establishing a moral foreign policy 219 Being Drawn into the War 221 Winning reelection and preparing for war 222 Entering World War I 223 Getting the public involved 223 Making the Peace 224 Advocating Fourteen Points 224 Traveling to Europe 225 Losing the peace at home 225 Serving out his term 226 Chapter 15: Roaring through the ’20s with Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover 227 Living the High Life: Warren G Harding 227 Harding’s early political career 228 Becoming president by default 230 President Warren Gamaliel Harding (1921–1923) 230 Dying suddenly 232 Quietly Doing Nothing: John Calvin Coolidge 232 Coolidge’s early career 232 President Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) 234 Serving a second term 235 Choosing not to run 235 A Great Humanitarian, but a Bad President: Herbert Hoover 236 Hoover’s early career 237 President Herbert Clark Hoover (1929–1933) 239 Staying active in retirement 241 Part 5: Instituting the Imperial Presidency: Franklin Roosevelt to Richard Nixon 243 Chapter 16: Boosting the Country and Bringing Back Beer: Franklin D Roosevelt 245 Roosevelt’s Early Political Career 246 Serving in the executive branch 247 Overcoming polio 247 Governing New York 248 Preparing for the presidency 248 Winning in 1932 249 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933–1945) 249 Rescuing the economy 250 Fighting the Supreme Court in term two 253 Winning a Third Term, Facing a World War 254 Fighting isolationism 254 Dealing with neutrality 255 Helping democracy survive 256 Creeping closer to war 256 Fighting World War II 257 Winning the War 257 Running and Winning One More Time 258 Pondering postwar problems 258 Dying suddenly 259 Chapter 17: Stopping the Buck at Harry Truman 261 Truman’s Early Political Career 261 Entering the Senate 263 Making his mark in the Senate 263 Receiving the vice-presidential nomination 264 President Harry S Truman (1945–1953) 264 Getting up to speed on the war effort 265 Stopping the spread of communism and recognizing Israel 267 Reforming the country 269 Defeating Dewey in 1948 271 Hating His Second Term 272 Losing China to communism 272 Fighting in Korea 273 Succeeding at home 273 Ceding to Stevenson 274 Chapter 18: Liking Ike: Dwight David Eisenhower 277 Eisenhower’s Early Military Career 277 Getting ready for World War II 278 Liberating France 279 Finishing off Germany 279 Retiring from the Military 280 Defending NATO 280 Squeaking by 280 Campaigning in 1952 281 President Dwight David Eisenhower (1953–1961) 281 Dealing with the Brown vs the Board of Education case 282 Managing military matters 283 Changing foreign policy 285 Running for reelection 286 Staying active in retirement 288 Chapter 19: Fulfilling Family Expectations: John Fitzgerald Kennedy 291 Kennedy’s Early Political Career 291 Serving in the Senate 293 Campaigning for the presidency 293 President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1961–1963) 295 Changing Foreign Policy 296 Dealing with arms and the U.S.S.R 296 Helping the Third World: Creating the Peace Corps 297 Stepping into the Bay of Pigs 297 Building a wall in Berlin 298 Increasing U.S. involvement in Vietnam 299 Attending to Domestic Policy 299 Pushing for civil rights 299 Heading to the moon 300 A Promising Life Cut Short 301 Chapter 20: Fighting for Might and Right: Lyndon Johnson 303 Johnson’s Early Political Career 304 Serving in the House of Representatives 305 Trying for the Senate 305 Serving in the Senate 306 Becoming vice president and president 307 President Lyndon Baines Johnson (1963–1969) 308 Honoring Kennedy’s agenda 308 Pushing his own agenda: The Great Society 309 Getting involved in Vietnam 311 Chapter 21: Covering Up: Richard Nixon 315 Nixon’s Early Political Career 316 Pursuing communists in the House 317 Red-baiting his way to the Senate 317 Delivering California and being chosen vice president 317 Serving as vice president 318 Losing the Presidential Race in 1960 319 Contending from Coast to Coast 319 President Richard Milhous Nixon (1969–1974) 320 Ending the war in Vietnam 320 Having more successes in foreign policy 322 Dealing with domestic issues 322 Serving Part of a Second Term 323 Falling prey to the Watergate scandal 323 Resigning the presidency 324 Retiring and rehabilitating 325 Part 6: Changing the Dynamics: Gerald Ford to Donald J Trump 327 Chapter 22: The Career Politician and the Peanut Farmer: Ford and Carter 329 Stepping in for Nixon: Gerald Ford 330 Ford’s early political career 331 President Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr (1974–1977) 333 Retiring publicly 335 Sharing Faith and Principles: Jimmy Carter 336 Carter’s early political career 336 President James Earl Carter, Jr (1977–1981) 338 Losing his reelection bid 341 Retiring but not retreating 341 Chapter 23: A Starring Role for Ronald Reagan 343 Reagan’s Early Career 344 Governing California 345 Challenging Ford in 1976 345 Winning the presidency in 1980 346 President Ronald Wilson Reagan (1981–1989) 346 Surviving an assassination attempt 347 Stimulating the economy 348 Increasing the national debt 349 Breaking a strike 349 Implementing conservative social policies 349 Packing the Supreme Court 350 Reestablishing U.S. World Domination 350 Influencing events around the globe 350 Dealing with the Soviets 351 Dealing with Scandal in His Second Term 352 Keeping the Revolution Alive during Retirement 353 Chapter 24: Acting Out: George H W Bush and Bill Clinton 355 Bringing an End to the Cold War: George Bush 356 Bush’s early political career 357 President George Herbert Walker Bush (1989–1993) 359 Losing reelection in 1992 362 Retiring and advising 362 Scandal Amid Domestic Policy Success: Bill Clinton 363 Clinton’s early political career 364 Running for president in 1992 365 President William Jefferson Clinton (1993–2001) 366 Losing Congress in 1994 368 Winning reelection in 1996 368 Leaving under a cloud 370 Chapter 25: Getting the Call: George W Bush 373 Bush’s Early Career 375 Running for governor 375 Governing Texas 375 Running for the Presidency 376 Surviving the 2000 Election 377 Going to court 377 Being appointed 378 President George Walker Bush (2001–2009) 378 Domestic accomplishments 378 Foreign policy 379 Disaster Strikes 379 Punishing terrorists 380 Dealing with Afghanistan 381 Going to war against Iraq 382 Dealing with the defeated Iraq 383 Winning Reelection 384 Getting sunk by a hurricane 384 The Great Recession of 2007/2008 385 Going into Retirement 385 Chapter 26: Breaking Tradition: Barack H Obama 387 Growing Up Global 388 Getting involved in politics 388 Going back to school 389 From Senator to President: Obama’s Political Journey 389 Starting at the state level 389 Serving in the U.S. Senate 390 Campaigning for the nomination 391 Getting elected president 391 President Barack H Obama (2009–2017) 392 Tackling the recession 393 Changing healthcare 394 Being progressive 395 Protecting the environment 395 Getting reelected 396 Dealing with Foreign Policy 396 Being stuck in Afghanistan 396 Fighting a new enemy 397 The Arab Spring and failing in Syria 398 Being Active in Retirement 399 Chapter 27: A Billionaire in the White House: Donald John Trump 401 Growing Up Wealthy 402 Succeeding in Business 403 Marrying a model 403 Failing in Atlantic City 403 Getting into golf and loving Florida 404 Entering Politics 404 Going on TV and receiving national exposure 404 Turning on democrats 405 Running for the presidency 405 Winning the nomination 406 Winning in 2016 406 Shocking the world 407 Being Controversial at Home 408 Implementing domestic policies 408 Succeeding economically 408 Being Controversial Abroad 409 Scandals: Defining Trump’s Presidency 411 The Russia scandal 411 The Ukraine scandal 412 Part 7: the Part of Tens 413 Chapter 28: The Ten Best Presidents 415 Abraham Lincoln 416 Franklin Delano Roosevelt 416 Theodore Roosevelt 416 George Washington 417 Harry Truman 417 Ronald Reagan 417 Thomas Jefferson 418 Woodrow Wilson 418 Dwight D Eisenhower 418 James Polk 419 Chapter 29: The Ten Worst Presidents 421 Andrew Johnson 421 Warren G Harding 422 Franklin Pierce 422 James Buchanan 423 John Tyler 423 Millard Fillmore 423 Ulysses S Grant 424 William Henry Harrison 424 Martin Van Buren 424 Herbert Hoover 425 Chapter 30: Ten Presidential Libraries Worth Visiting 427 Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum 428 George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum 428 William J Clinton Presidential Library and Museum 429 George H W Bush Presidential Library and Museum 429 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum 430 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum 430 Franklin D Roosevelt Library and Museum 430 Dwight D Eisenhower Library and Museum 431 Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum 431 Jimmy Carter Library and Museum 431 Appendix: Presidential Facts 433 Index 443

Autorenportrait

Marcus A. Stadelmann, PhD, is a Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science and History at the University of Texas at Tyler. He received his PhD from the University of California at Riverside and has subsequently taught at universities in California, Utah, and Texas.

Back cover copy

<ul> <li>Biographies of every president</li> <li>Lists of best and worst administrations</li> <li>Find FREE quizzes online!</li> </ul> How U.S. presidents made and make history Who was the tallest? Who fought a duel? Who smuggled liquor into the White House during Prohibition? Why do we call them presidents in the first place? From Puritans to presidential tweets, this book uses the stories of the 45 incumbents as a framework to examine U.S. history and the present. Whether you're a student, a history buff—or even interested in becoming president yourself someday—this guide shows what it takes to be leader of the free world, and helps understand yesterday's, today's, and even tomorrow's union. Inside... <ul> <li>Trace the birth, growth, and influence of the office</li> <li>Assess the effect of personality and philosophy on policy</li> <li>Chart the rise—good and bad—of presidential "star" power</li> <li>Evaluate the 10 best—and 10 worst—administrations</li> </ul>