From the acclaimed bestselling author of The Conquerors Michael Beschloss's dramatic and inspiring saga explores crucial times when a courageous President changed the history of the United States. With surprising new sources and a dazzling command of history and human character, Beschloss brings these flawed, complex men -- and their wives, families, friends and foes -- to life as if in a gripping novel. Never have we had a more intimate, behind-the-scenes view of Presidents coping with the supreme dilemmas of their lives. In Presidential Courage you will witness George Washington braving threats of impeachment and assassination to make peace with England; John Adams, incurring his party's "unrelenting hatred" by refusing to fight France and warning, "Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war;" Andrew Jackson, in a death struggle against the corrupt Bank of the United States; Abraham Lincoln, risking his Presidency to insist that slaves be freed, as well as the crushing ordeals faced by Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan. As Beschloss shows, none of these Presidents was eager to incur ridicule, vilification or threats of political destruction and even assassination. But in the end, each ultimately proved himself to be, in Andrew Jackson's words, "born for the storm."
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"Becoming president has changed many men and certainly the men included in this examination of presidential decisions made in the face of public opinion and political pressures. Examples of presidential courage range from Washington facing possible impeachment while trying to keep the U.S. out of a war with France, to Jackson's war against the Bank of the United States in 1832, to Reagan's decisions that helped to end the Cold War. Michael Beschloss makes this historical examination of presidential decision making read almost like a novel." — Judy (4 out of 5 stars)
"Becoming president has changed many men and certainly the men included in this examination of presidential decisions made in the face of public opinion and political pressures. Examples of presidential courage range from Washington facing possible impeachment while trying to keep the U.S. out of a war with France, to Jackson's war against the Bank of the United States in 1832, to Reagan's decisions that helped to end the Cold War. Michael Beschloss makes this historical examination of presidential decision making read almost like a novel."
“If any book can be said to epitomize the genre of Presidential history, Presidential Courage does.”
“Beschloss is careful and well paced in his role as narrator, rarely showing emotion and pronouncing every name and foreign phrase with precision.”
“For both scholars and general readers.”
" An entertaining dip into moments that made great presidents great. I came away torn as to the "courage" behind some of the decisions, vs. the political calculation behind them. But the book highlights politics vs. idealism even in the great ones... "
" An interesting account of actions and decisions made by various president's through out history. It's a good read. "
" Engaging if you are interested in presidential politics. Nothing seems new as presidents from 1789-1989 try to stay in office and maybe do what's right once-in-awhile. Especially enjoyed the material on FDR and JFK. "
" Discussed moments when presidents made tough decisions and how they maneuvered through the political turmoil that these decisions presented. "
" Excellent information. Superior writer. Great lessons of leadership and courage over the 200 plus years of American government. "
" Contains nice insight into the real people behind the legends that history has built up around our presidents. However, this guy was way, way too into footnotes. It was distracting. "
" So far I am enjoying it. I have refreshed my memory of some key points in history that I sort of remembered but not really. "
" fun reading....each chapter stands on its own so it is easy to put down and pick up again "
" Very good, I learned alot from this book. "
" Really enjoyed the "tour" through presidential leadership. The core theme is that there are times when a leader must do the right thing even if it puts him at peril of losing his position. "
" This book accounts the changes made by presidents in peace time and war from Washington to Reagan. It is very thought provoking and makes you see each president a little differently than you may have before. "
" Very interesting... stories about some of our greatest presidents that you've never heard. We glorify our founding fathers, but this book shows many of the petty, partisan politicking of today was also rampant from the start. "
" A look at some of the most popular presidents in US history and a key decision each president's administration, that were not always publicly supported, and it shows each president as regular human beings, warts and all. "
" Comment: This book is a collection of stories about several of our Presidents over a 200 year period who exercised extraordinary personal courage for the good of the country and on some occasions at great personal loss. "
" Fascinating and fun read. "
" Ok history of moments that presidents were courageous. Kind of pedantic. "
" Interesting and not always well known aspects of presidental history, but the language and style is not as lively as the author presents when on TV. Worth the read for the observations of history. "
" For the history buff this is a terrifc read. The 'moments' of courage presented are described in all their complexity, nuance and conflict. In some ways the more recent current events, or those happening within my lifetime seemed even more interesting than I expected. Well written. "
" Choppy and anecdotal. Did learn a few things though. "
" An set of interesting arguments for a select few presidents. Of course, the heavy hitters in presidential history are presented, but some of the decisions that are brought up and argued are not as well known. This adds to the overall effect of the book. "
" This book needed a better editor. Why was the story for each of the Presidents divided into 4 chapters? There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to that division. "
" Brilliant, as is Michael's other books. "
" Excellent discussion of pragmatic presidential courage in making unpopular decisions. Well done in that presidential motivation is captured realistically -- political factors were always considered even when doing the right thing. "
" Very interesting book on several selected presidentsI listened to this on audio book. "
" Excellent book by a popular and insightful historian. Examples of Presidents and decisions they made that were difficult. "
" I wish we could give half-stars. Gun to head however I had to give a 3 as anyone interested enough in this topic is already familiar with scenarios each President faced. "
Michael Beschloss has been called “the nation’s leading Presidential historian” by Newsweek. He has written eight books on American Presidents and is NBC News Presidential Historian, as well as contributor to PBS’s The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two sons.
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