
Celebrity in Chief
A History of the Presidents and the Culture of Stardom
Kenneth T. Walsh(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 13. February 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
280 pages
978-1-61205-707-1 (ISBN)
Description
It didn t take long for Barack Obama to make his mark as the biggest political star to ever occupy the White House. Over the course of his two terms in office, Obama has injected the American presidency deeper into popular culture than any of his predecessors. He and his wife Michelle have become iconic figures, celebrities of the first order.This book, by award-winning White House correspondent and presidential historian Kenneth T. Walsh, discusses how the Obamas reached this point. More important, it takes a detailed and comprehensive look at the history of America s presidents as celebrities in chief since the beginning of the Republic. Walsh makes the point that modern presidents need to be celebrities and build on their fame in order to propel their agendas and rally public support for themselves as national leaders so that they can get things done.Combining incisive historical analysis with a journalist s eye for detail, this book looks back to such presidents as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as the forerunners of contemporary celebrity presidents. It examines modern presidents including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, Franklin Roosevelt, and Theodore Roosevelt, each of whom qualified as a celebrity in his own time and place. The book also looks at presidents who fell short in their star appeal, such as George W. Bush, George H. W. Bush, Richard Nixon, and Lyndon Johnson, and explains why their star power was lacking.Among the special features of the book are detailed profiles of the presidents and how they measured up or failed as celebrities; an historical analysis of America s popular culture and how presidents have played a part in it, from sports and television to movies and the news media; the role of first ladies; and a portfolio of fascinating photos illustrating the intersection of the presidency with popular culture."
Reviews / Votes
"An enjoyable and keen inquiry into how presidents play the celebrity card and the consequences of failing to do so."-Library Journal
"Ken Walsh brings his keen eye to one of the defining aspects of the modern presidency. In this entertaining and informative book, Walsh provides a fascinating look at the ways in which celebrity culture has shaped presidential politics in recent decades. The book is sure to contribute to debates about the future of the White House and the health of American democracy."
-Julian E. Zelizer, author of The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Inc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional Practice & Development
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
520 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-61205-707-1 (9781612057071)
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
12/2015
Routledge
€39.49
Available for download

E-Book
12/2015
Routledge
€39.49
Available for download

Book
03/2015
1st Edition
Routledge
€54.40
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Authored by Walsh, Kenneth T.
Content
Introduction; chapterOne Forerunners of the Modern Celebrity Presidents; chapterTwo Theodore Roosevelt; chapterThree Franklin D. Roosevelt; chapterFour John F. Kennedy; chapterFive Ronald Reagan; chapterSix Bill Clinton; chapterSeven Barack Obama; chapterEight Second Billing; chapterNine First Ladies; chapterTen Presidents and Television; chapterEleven Presidents and the News Media; chapterTwelve Presidents and the Movies; chapterThirteen Presidents and Reading; chapterFourteen Presidents and Sports; chapterFifteen Presidents and Music; chapterSixteen Presidents as Trend Setters and Trend Spotters; chapterSeventeen Consequential vs. Shallow Celebrity; epi Epilogue;