U.S. Presidents For Dummies with Online Practice,

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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.  Accessible biographies of all presidentsSidebars, timelines, and photosLists of best and worst administrationsBonus online content, including quizzes galore to help build retention 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. Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Introduction About This Book Conventions Used in This Book Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here Part 1 Understanding U.S. Presidents Chapter 1 Presidents and the Presidency Establishing the First U.S. Government Facing problems Writing a constitution Drawing up the presidency Interpreting presidential powers Examining Presidential Influence on the Presidency Challenging Congress: Andrew Jackson Creating the imperial presidency: Franklin Roosevelt Dethroning the imperial presidency: Richard Nixon Restoring the imperial presidency: George W. Bush Perfecting the Power to Shape Public Opinion Persuading the people Making use of the media Performing Many Roles: Today’s President Chapter 2 Presidential Rankings and Evaluations Evaluating the Presidents Policy leadership Crisis management Presidential appointments Foreign standing Character and integrity Public persuasion Presidential vision Ranking U.S. Presidents Explaining results Changing rankings over time Part 2 Starting with Known Quantities: Washington to John Quincy Adams Chapter 3 Starting Well with George Washington Washington’s Early Career Proving his prowess in the military Turning to politics Fighting for Independence Designing the New Country President George Washington (1789–1797) Dealing with the Issues of the Day Passing the Bill of Rights Splitting into two parties Running unopposed for a second term Establishing a policy of neutrality Quelling civil strife Stepping Down Retiring Briefly Chapter 4 The Authoritarian and the Philosopher: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Founding the Country and Almost Destroying It: John Adams Adams’s early career Representing the new country Running for president President John Adams (1797–1801) Losing the presidency in 1800 Master of Multitasking: Thomas Jefferson Jefferson’s early political career President Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809) Keeping busy in retirement Chapter 5 Prominent but Ineffective: Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams James Madison: From Founding Father to Presidential Flop Madison’s early career Serving in Congress Returning to national politics Fighting the British for the last time Changing policies and retiring Succeeding Abroad, Failing at Home: James Monroe Monroe’s early career Serving well: Monroe’s foreign policy Serving not so well: Monroe’s domestic policy Running unopposed Calling it quits after two terms Like Father, Like Son: John Quincy Adams Getting elected at home Going back to Europe Picked by the House President John Quincy Adams (1825–1829) Going back to Congress Part 3 Enduring the Best and the Worst: Jackson to Buchanan Chapter 6 Standing Firm: Andrew Jackson Jackson’s Early Career Going to war Saved by a political enemy Suffering through the Stolen Election of 1824 President Andrew Jackson (1829–1837) Dealing with states’ rights and tariffs Hating banks Forcing Native Americans west Getting tough with France Cruising toward reelection Deciding what to do with Texas Reaching retirement Chapter 7 Forgettable: Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, and Tyler Martin Van Buren, Master of Politics Going from law to politics Establishing a political machine Politicking at the national level President Martin Van Buren (1837–1841) Losing badly in 1840 Staging a minor comeback and retiring The Founder of the Image Campaign: William Henry Harrison Using politics and militia against Native Americans Focusing on politics President William Henry Harrison (1841–1841) Stepping into the Presidency: John Tyler Supporting states’ rights and slavery Balancing the ticket; becoming president President John Tyler (1841–1845) Dying a Confederate Chapter 8 Dreaming of California: James K. Polk Young Hickory Polk’s Early Political Career Texas to the Rescue Keeping His Campaign Simple President James Polk (1845–1849) Establishing a treasury system Expanding north and south Winning the War but Losing the Battle Choosing Not to Run Again Chapter 9 Working Up to the Civil War: Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan Trying to Preserve the Union: Zachary Taylor Fighting Native Americans and Mexicans President Zachary Taylor (1849–1850) Serving for just one year Making Things Worse: Millard Fillmore Fillmore’s early career President Millard Fillmore (1850–1853) Turning racist Sympathizing with the South: Franklin Pierce A Northern Democrat with a Southern soul Pierce’s early political career President Franklin Pierce (1853–1857) Controversial to the end Failing to Save the Union: James Buchanan Buchanan’s early career President James Buchanan (1857–1861) Sitting by through secession Part 4 Becoming a Force in the World: Lincoln to Hoover Chapter 10 Preserving the Union: Abraham Lincoln Lincoln’s Early Political Career Getting ready for the national level Studying law on the side A Star Is Born Annoying everyone Voting his conscience on slavery Debating his way to national prominence President Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865) Dealing with secession Confronting the Confederacy The Civil War Issuing the Emancipation Proclamation Motivating the Confederacy Drafting soldiers: North and South Addressing the crowds at Gettysburg Lincoln’s Short Second Term Offering terms of surrender Serving briefly Chapter 11 Reconstructing the Country: Johnson, Grant, and Hayes From Poverty to the Presidency: Andrew Johnson Getting into politics: Johnson’s early career Acting on his prejudices President Andrew Johnson (1865–1869) Enter a War Hero: Ulysses Simpson Grant Grant’s early career Becoming a war hero Entering politics President Ulysses Simpson Grant (1869–1877) Passing on a third term Corruption Leads to an Uncorrupt President: Rutherford Birchard Hayes Hayes’s early career Governing Ohio President Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1877–1881) Chapter 12 Closing Out the Century: Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison A Promising President Is Assassinated: James Abram Garfield Garfield’s early political career President James Abram Garfield (1881–1881) Being assassinated The Unexpected President: Chester Alan Arthur Arthur’s early political career Staging the comeback of his life President Chester Alan Arthur (1881–1885) Making History by Serving Nonconsecutive Terms: Grover Cleveland Cleveland’s early political career President Stephen Grover Cleveland (1885–1889 and 1893–1897) Serving again Retiring to Princeton The Spoiled Republican: Benjamin Harrison Harrison’s early political career President Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893) Losing in 1892 Returning to his legal career Chapter 13 Influencing the World: McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Taft Discarding Isolationism: William McKinley Being a loyal Republican President William McKinley (1897–1901) Getting reelected and assassinated Building a Strong Foreign Policy: Theodore Roosevelt Becoming governor of New York and vice president President Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) Winning reelection in 1904 Saying no to a third term Becoming a Bull Moose Retiring for good The President Who Hated Politics: William Howard Taft (1909–1913) Taft’s early career President William Howard Taft (1909–1913) Beating the odds and accomplishing quite a bit Losing the presidency, gaining the Supreme Court Chapter 14 Protecting Democracy: Woodrow Wilson Studying Government Breaking into Politics in New Jersey Governing New Jersey Running for president in 1912 President Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) Managing the media Establishing a moral foreign policy Being Drawn into the War Winning reelection and preparing for war Entering World War I Getting the public involved Making the Peace Advocating Fourteen Points Traveling to Europe Losing the peace at home Serving out his term Chapter 15 Roaring through the ’20s with Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover Living the High Life: Warren G. Harding Harding’s early political career Becoming president by default President Warren Gamaliel Harding (1921–1923) Dying suddenly Quietly Doing Nothing: John Calvin Coolidge Coolidge’s early career President Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) Serving a second term Choosing not to run A Great Humanitarian, but a Bad President: Herbert Hoover Hoover’s early career President Herbert Clark Hoover (1929–1933) Staying active in retirement Part 5 Instituting the Imperial Presidency: Franklin Roosevelt to Richard Nixon Chapter 16 Boosting the Country and Bringing Back Beer: Franklin D. Roosevelt Roosevelt’s Early Political Career Serving in the executive branch Overcoming polio Governing New York Preparing for the presidency Winning in 1932 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933–1945) Rescuing the economy Fighting the Supreme Court in term two Winning a Third Term, Facing a World War Fighting isolationism Dealing with neutrality Helping democracy survive Creeping closer to war Fighting World War II Winning the War Running and Winning One More Time Pondering postwar problems Dying suddenly Chapter 17 Stopping the Buck at Harry Truman Truman’s Early Political Career Entering the Senate Making his mark in the Senate Receiving the vice-presidential nomination President Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) Getting up to speed on the war effort Stopping the spread of communism and recognizing Israel Reforming the country Defeating Dewey in 1948 Hating His Second Term Losing China to communism Fighting in Korea Succeeding at home Ceding to Stevenson Chapter 18 Liking Ike: Dwight David Eisenhower Eisenhower’s Early Military Career Getting ready for World War II Liberating France Finishing off Germany Retiring from the Military Defending NATO Squeaking by Campaigning in 1952 President Dwight David Eisenhower (1953–1961) Dealing with the Brown vs. the Board of Education case Managing military matters Changing foreign policy Running for reelection Staying active in retirement Chapter 19 Fulfilling Family Expectations: John Fitzgerald Kennedy Kennedy’s Early Political Career Serving in the Senate Campaigning for the presidency President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1961–1963) Changing Foreign Policy Dealing with arms and the U.S.S.R. Helping the Third World: Creating the Peace Corps Stepping into the Bay of Pigs Building a wall in Berlin Increasing U.S. involvement in Vietnam Attending to Domestic Policy Pushing for civil rights Heading to the moon A Promising Life Cut Short Chapter 20 Fighting for Might and Right: Lyndon Johnson Johnson’s Early Political Career Serving in the House of Representatives Trying for the Senate Serving in the Senate Becoming vice president and president President Lyndon Baines Johnson (1963–1969) Honoring Kennedy’s agenda Pushing his own agenda: The Great Society Getting involved in Vietnam Chapter 21 Covering Up: Richard Nixon Nixon’s Early Political Career Pursuing communists in the House Red-baiting his way to the Senate Delivering California and being chosen vice president Serving as vice president Losing the Presidential Race in 1960 Contending from Coast to Coast President Richard Milhous Nixon (1969–1974) Ending the war in Vietnam Having more successes in foreign policy Dealing with domestic issues Serving Part of a Second Term Falling prey to the Watergate scandal Resigning the presidency Retiring and rehabilitating Part 6 Changing the Dynamics: Gerald Ford to Donald J. Trump Chapter 22 The Career Politician and the Peanut Farmer: Ford and Carter Stepping in for Nixon: Gerald Ford Ford’s early political career President Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. (1974–1977) Retiring publicly Sharing Faith and Principles: Jimmy Carter Carter’s early political career President James Earl Carter, Jr. (1977–1981) Losing his reelection bid Retiring but not retreating Chapter 23 A Starring Role for Ronald Reagan Reagan’s Early Career Governing California Challenging Ford in 1976 Winning the presidency in 1980 President Ronald Wilson Reagan (1981–1989) Surviving an assassination attempt Stimulating the economy Increasing the national debt Breaking a strike Implementing conservative social policies Packing the Supreme Court Reestablishing U.S. World Domination Influencing events around the globe Dealing with the Soviets Dealing with Scandal in His Second Term Keeping the Revolution Alive during Retirement Chapter 24 Acting Out: George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton Bringing an End to the Cold War: George Bush Bush’s early political career President George Herbert Walker Bush (1989–1993) Losing reelection in 1992 Retiring and advising Scandal Amid Domestic Policy Success: Bill Clinton Clinton’s early political career Running for president in 1992 President William Jefferson Clinton (1993–2001) Losing Congress in 1994 Winning reelection in 1996 Leaving under a cloud Chapter 25 Getting the Call: George W. Bush Bush’s Early Career Running for governor Governing Texas Running for the Presidency Surviving the 2000 Election Going to court Being appointed President George Walker Bush (2001–2009) Domestic accomplishments Foreign policy Disaster Strikes Punishing terrorists Dealing with Afghanistan Going to war against Iraq Dealing with the defeated Iraq Winning Reelection Getting sunk by a hurricane The Great Recession of 2007/2008 Going into Retirement Chapter 26 Breaking Tradition: Barack H. Obama Growing Up Global Getting involved in politics Going back to school From Senator to President: Obama’s Political Journey Starting at the state level Serving in the U.S. Senate Campaigning for the nomination Getting elected president President Barack H. Obama (2009–2017) Tackling the recession Changing healthcare Being progressive Protecting the environment Getting reelected Dealing with Foreign Policy Being stuck in Afghanistan Fighting a new enemy The Arab Spring and failing in Syria Being Active in Retirement Chapter 27 A Billionaire in the White House: Donald John Trump Growing Up Wealthy Succeeding in Business Marrying a model Failing in Atlantic City Getting into golf and loving Florida Entering Politics Going on TV and receiving national exposure Turning on democrats Running for the presidency Winning the nomination Winning in 2016 Shocking the world Being Controversial at Home Implementing domestic policies Succeeding economically Being Controversial Abroad Scandals: Defining Trump’s Presidency The Russia scandal The Ukraine scandal Part 7 The Part of Tens Chapter 28 The Ten Best Presidents Abraham Lincoln Franklin Delano Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt George Washington Harry Truman Ronald Reagan Thomas Jefferson Woodrow Wilson Dwight D. Eisenhower James Polk Chapter 29 The Ten Worst Presidents Andrew Johnson Warren G. Harding Franklin Pierce James Buchanan John Tyler Millard Fillmore Ulysses S. Grant William Henry Harrison Martin Van Buren Herbert Hoover Chapter 30 Ten Presidential Libraries Worth Visiting Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum Jimmy Carter Library and Museum Appendix Presidential Facts Index EULA