Presidential Portraits

PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAITS, as the name suggests, is a book that displays bright and colorful verbal pictures of the forty-two men who have led our country, from George Washington to George W. Bush. Unlike many works about the presidents, this one is neither a large scholarly tome nor a complex study of presidential polices or historical themes arranged by more or less useful analytical categories. Philip Secor, an acclaimed author and historian, has provided here a useful comparative reference for the beginning student and, at the same time, a "good read" for the history buff. Although there are no footnotes and no extensive bibliography, there are a few books suggested for further reading on each president. Each portrait seeks to answer four general questions: (1) What kind of a person was (is) he, in terms of appearance, temperament, personal habits and idiosyncrasies; (2) What was his childhood and early life like and what did he do before becoming president, in both his personal life and his career? (3) What did he accomplish as president? (4) What did he do after leaving office and what was the manner of his death? Throughout, special emphasis is placed on personal and social relationships.