Franklin Roosevelt is portrayed as a born leader. His personality was ideal for leading the country through the conflicts of his Presidency. Goodwin's section has the underlying theme that even if you did not like Roosevelt, you had to respect him.

Beschloss's chapter is my favorite as it contrasts the Presidencies of Kennedy and Eisenhower. Eisenhower was the thoughful though man America needed in avoiding a policy of isolationism and fighting a war in Korea. Kennedy was the peacemaker the country needed to avoid war with Cuba and Soviet Union. Their unique personality characteristics were suited to their time period.

Lyndon Johnson was a very secretive men. It is difficult to tell truth from myth in many cases. Lyndon Johnson is to be commended for his interpersonal skills, even though some turned sour. With his relationships in the congress, he was able to pass the Civil Rights Act. Johnson was a intelligent politician.

Richard Nixon was a complex man. He did not like failure, nor did he enjoy the comradery of politics. This is one of the reasons he was more successful on foreign issues than domestic issues. This same inability to communicate led a competent politician to be involved in Watergate. A well stated chapter.

Ronald Reagen was the great communicator. He was unique to his time period in that he gentle, people loving nature brought back people's faith in government. His acting ability transfered in to politics forging a relationship that ended the cold war. Like many essays on Reagen, this only looks at the good points. In this case, it may not be a bad thing.

Perhaps I am to harsh on the chapter on Bill Clinton since it was written in the final year of his Presidency. The focus is on his drive to be President. He was the man Republicans hated, but had to go along with because he always beat them. Little is mentioned of the economic growth in his presidency. The focus is on the sex scandal and failed health care reform. His greatest accomplishment seems to be winning elections. The author does say that time will tell how his presidency is viewed in history. This certainly won't be the benchmark. This is a poorly composed section even for its time.


Love this book!!   January 30, 2008
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

This is a volume that I will keep nearby so I can refer to it whenever I want to remember something I read or share a passage with an interested party. Power and the Presidency is a great little book...short, easy to read, and informative. I didn't know about the severe setting and conditions under which Lyndon Johnson was raised. His rise to power is quite remarkable given his beginnings. Eisenhower's lack of ease with public speaking reminds me of George Bush, but both men were/are very effective in conversations with small groups, with which they are more comfortable (though President Bush has certainly grown in that regard during his tenure in office).

For those who are not into reading long tomes, this is the perfect book, only 156 pages. Its seven essays are written by well known presidential scholars, making each very credible and well substantiated. PATP is edited by Robert A. Wilson, who writes a preface; David McCullough provides an introduction to the book; Doris Kearns Goodwin writes about FDR; Michael R. Beschloss about Ike and JFK; Robert A. Caro about LBJ; Benjamin C. Bradlee about Nixon; Edmund Morris about Reagan, and David Maraniss about Billy Clinton.

A great gift for anyone, and, perhaps, most especially for young adults who are just becoming politically aware or who are beginning to study the presidents of this amazing country.

Carolyn Rowe Hill