Greatness in the White House
Subtitle: rating the presidents, Washington through Carter ; final report, the presidential performance study
By: Robert K. Murray and Tim H. Blessing.
Contributors: Blessing, Tim H.
Series: The Pennsylvania State University studies ;; no. 50
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press
Published: 1988
Place of publication: University Park
Language: eng
Number of pages: 145
Subjects: Presidents -- Rating of -- United States.; United States -- Politics and government.
Description: "A narrative account of the survey of almost 1,000 professional historians on what constitutes a successful performance in the presidency, this survey tells us almost as much about the thinking and biases of historians as it does about the nature of the American presidency. Besides comparing past presidential polls and constructing a ranking list of the nation's chief executives, this study examines why historians rate presidents the way they do, and it analyzes those qualities and traits historians look for in a successful president. It also delimits what constitutes a failing performance in the White House and marks the major pitfalls that almost assuredly lead to an adverse historical verdict. In the process, the study demonstrates that there is not always a close correlation between what historians say a president should do and what historians obviously feel when actually ranking the performances of the presidents of the United States. This study should prove enlightening not only to the historical profession but to the general public, political pundits, newscasters, public officials, and all presidential aspirants, and even to past and present occupants of the White House and their staffs."--Publisher's website.
Notes: Bibliography: p. 96-111.
Includes index.