First Fathers
The Men Who Inspired Our Presidents
Published on 1. April 2004
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-471-46597-3 (ISBN)
Description
A compelling introduction to the fathers of America's presidents
After so much literature about first ladies and first families, here finally is a fascinating book focused on the fathers of our presidents. This lively and entertaining account of 44 disparate men reveals how they inspired, motivated, and influenced sons who ultimately ascended to the presidency. They include two who were themselves presidents, John Adams and George H. W. Bush, as well as two stepfathers, those of Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton. First Fathers captures the whole range of the American experience- from utter destitution to immense wealth, from enormous success to abject failure, unified by a common thread- the restless, ambitious, quintessentially American pursuit of happiness. Harold I. Gullan, PhD (Philadelphia, PA), is a distinguished presidential scholar and the author of the highly praised Faith of Our Mothers, on the mothers of American presidents, and The Upset That Wasn't, on the dramatic 1948 election.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Turner Publishing Company
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 164 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
581 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-471-46597-3 (9780471465973)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2004
1st Edition
Trade Paper Press
€16.49
Available for download
Person
HAROLD I. GULLAN, PH.D., is the author if the critically acclaimed "Faith of Our Mothers, " a book about the mothers of American presidents, and "The Upset That Wasn't," a unique account of the dramatic 1948 victory of Harry S. Truman over Thomas E. Dewey. Following a successful career in advertising, Gullan returned to school to earn his doctorate in history, in 1988. Since that time, he has served as a visiting professor at four major universities, and has written and spoken extensively about the American experience.
Content
Acknowledgments. By Way of Introduction. 1. Fathers of Founders Augustine Washington; John Adams Sr.; Peter Jefferson; James Madison Sr.; Spence Monroe. 2. The First Line John Adams. 3. Dramatic Departure Andrew Jackson Sr.; Abraham Van Buren. 4. Patriots and Pioneers Benjamin Harrison V; John Tyler Sr.; Samuel Polk; Richard Taylor; Nathaniel Fillmore; Benjamin Pierce; James Buchanan Sr. 5. Soil of Greatness Thomas Lincoln. 6. Ambition's Sterner Stuff Jacob Johnson; Jesse Root Grant; Rutherford Hayes Jr.; Abram Garfield; William Arthur. 7. "Tell the Truth" Richard Falley Cleveland; John Scott Harrison; William McKinley Sr. 8. "One Must Live for the Living" Theodore Roosevelt Sr. 9. "My Will Is the Better Man" Alphonso Taft. 10. "You Have Only to Persevere" Joseph Ruggles Wilson. 11. "I Hate to Go Away" George Tryon Harding II; John Calvin Coolidge; Jesse Clark Hoover. 12. "Most Generous and Kindly of Men" James Roosevelt. 13. From the Heart of America John Anderson Truman; David Jacob Eisenhower. 14. "We Don't Want Any Losers" Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr. 15. "A Man Who Loved His Fellow Man" Sam Ealy Johnson Jr. 16. "He Hears the Trains Go By" Francis Anthony Nixon; Leslie Lynch King Sr.; Gerald Rudolph Ford Sr. 17. "Why Not the Best?" James Earl Carter Sr.; John Edward Reagan. 18. "Duty and Service" Prescott Sheldon Bush. 19. "The Name Doesn't Matter" William Jefferson Blythe III; Roger Clinton. 20. "If You Need Me, I'm Here" George Herbert Walker Bush. In Conclusion. Some Books I've Found Helpful. Index.