Title: Author in chief : the untold story of our presidents and the books they wrote /
Authors: Fehrman, Craig
Year: 2020
Subjects: Presidents United States Biography; Presidents' writings, American History and criticism.; POLITICAL SCIENCE / American Government / Executive Branch.; HISTORY / United States / General.; BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Presidents & Heads of State.; Presidents; Presidents' writings, American; United States
Abstract: Based on a decade of research and reporting, Author in Chief tells the story of America's presidents as authors--and offers a delightful new window into the public and private lives of our highest leaders.
Contents: Part I: George Washington to James Monroe. In and out of control: Thomas Jefferson and the first campaign book ; Autobiography's founding father: John Adams and the first legacy book ; Primed and cocked: American history finds its readers -- Part II: John Quincy Adams to Ulysses S. Grant. The poet, the president who couldn't spell, and the campaign biography ; "Abram" Lincoln writes a book ; "Genera Grant, the people are moving en masse upon your memoirs" -- Part III: Rutherford B. Hayes to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Head of the class: Roosevelt, Wilson, and the expansion of executive power ; Campaign books hit the trail (thanks to, of all presidents, Calvin Coolidge) ; Legacy books get personal (thanks to, of all presidents, Calvin Coolidge) -- Part IV: Harry S. Truman to Donald Trump. Harry Truman's histories ; The writer who wouldn't write ; Reagan and the rise of the blockbuster ; The literary candidate -- Epilogue -- Appendix I: a presidential reading list -- Appendix II: an essay on sources and methods.