The Presidents Club - Nancy Gibbs & Michael Duffy

The Presidents Club

By Nancy Gibbs & Michael Duffy

  • Release Date: 2012-04-17
  • Genre: U.S. History
Score: 4
4
From 592 Ratings
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Description

The New York Times bestselling history of the private relationships among the last thirteen presidents—the partnerships, private deals, rescue missions, and rivalries of those select men who served as commander in chief.

The Presidents Club, established at Dwight Eisenhower’s inauguration by Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover, is a complicated place: its members are bound forever by the experience of the Oval Office and yet are eternal rivals for history’s favor. Among their secrets: How Jack Kennedy tried to blame Ike for the Bay of Pigs. How Ike quietly helped Reagan win his first race in 1966. How Richard Nixon conspired with Lyndon Johnson to get elected and then betrayed him. How Jerry Ford and Jimmy Carter turned a deep enmity into an alliance. The unspoken pact between a father and son named Bush. And the roots of the rivalry between Clinton and Barack Obama.

Time magazine editors and presidential historians Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy offer a new and revealing lens on the American presidency, exploring the club as a hidden instrument of power that has changed the course of history.

Reviews

  • Very Intriguing

    5
    By theadventurousone
    This book reveals a whole new side of some of the most interesting and influential presidents of the 20th century. Definitely a must read for people who enjoy non-fiction American History.

  • True Leadership

    4
    By EALEAL
    A must read for those who understand leadership or wish to understand leadership, critical thinking and emotional intelligence. Finally a must read for those who tragically think linearly as the book will show you how wrong you are!

  • The President's Club

    5
    By CA Waterman
    What a wonderful read! An insightful look at the last 7 decades from the perspective of those at the center of history. Carter won't care for it much. But all the other Presidents should take pride in this account. It actually makes you respect that scoundrel Dick Nixon.

  • Wealth of Information

    5
    By Mojo;'(&.?(@(-
    This was a great book. Very informative yet easy to read. I really enjoyed it.

  • The Presidents Club

    4
    By Stockopocko
    One surprise after another. Outstanding research and documentation. Very hard to believe the difference between appearances as portrayed publicly with what happened in private among club members.

  • Exceptional

    5
    By Pa Saba
    I thought it was fascinating. The authors explore relationships former and current presidents develop with each other (starting with Truman and Hoover and extending through to Obama's relationships with Clinton, Bush and Carter). Apologies to those on the left or right but this is a decidedly non- partisan book and, in fact, celebrates the many cases where members of the "president's club" have put aside political differences in order to serve the best interests of the country. In this era of nasty politics and divisiveness, it seems there might be hope after all.

  • Behind the scenes

    4
    By FrankieQ
    Great stories of the behind the scenes stories of how presidents work together, overcome differences of opinion and party and form genuine friendships. The stories of how presidents tap their predecessors to aid them in tricky domestic and global issues was fascinating. There are surprising typos which were bothersome. Overall an enjoyable read!

  • Photo Finish

    3
    By bestwine
    How can grammatical errors get past people paid to catch them? "Each had to learn what they..." (page 39)-- as one of many.

  • Awesomeness

    5
    By Bjhpicks
    I love reading the back story to presidential decision making, and had previously enjoyed the memoirs of contemporary presidents... Then came this book, and hence my delight in reading it... Twice since April 17, just to savor the details the authors have carefully stacked into this book. Well done. Well organized. Well worth the read.

  • Awesome!

    4
    By Cali-Meow
    Enjoyed the book tremendously! Very well written and its loaded with behind the scenes history that were not well known to the general public.

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