# Biographies of all US Presidents **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 7, 2013, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564 "2013-08-07T07:24:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/1 "2013-08-07T07:24:53Z")
Hi, I’ve set myself the task of reading about all the US Presidents. I would appreciate your feedback on authors you would recommend starting with George Washington. One commenter suggested Ron Chernow’s “Washington: A Life.” I should add that I’m looking for biographies that are as comprehensive as possible, and written by authoritative, well-known and/or respected scholars. I look forward to your feedback. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/2 "2013-08-07T09:17:20Z")
I’ve sent a message to the moderators that this thread ought to be in In My Humble Opinion ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/3 "2013-08-07T09:54:48Z")
If you’d like to read about the Presidents in a single uniform set of biographies, you might want to read the American Presidents Series from Times Books: [http://www.amazon.com/American-Presidents-Series/lm/R1Y5IA8HUDNANU](http://www.amazon.com/American-Presidents-Series/lm/R1Y5IA8HUDNANU) They haven’t got around to six of the Presidents yet and aren’t going to do William Henry Harrison since he was only President for a month. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/4 "2013-08-07T10:09:51Z")
Read David MCcollough’s bios of John Adams and Harry Truman. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/5 "2013-08-07T10:22:27Z")
History Channel has a series The Presidents thats a very good start. 3 dvds. > **[Amazon.com: The History Channel Presents The Presidents : Herrmann, Edward...](https://www.amazon.com/History-Channel-Presents-Presidents/dp/B0007VY3ZK)** > > THE PRESIDENTS is an unprecedented eight-part survey of the personal lives and legacies of the remarkable men who have presided over the Oval Office. From George Washington to George W. Bush, THE PRESIDENTS gathers together vivid snapshots of all 43... It runs on the History Channel every now and then. Really good information on all 43 Presidents. Then books on the Presidents gives even more details. Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book on Franklin Roosevelt is a must read. It won the Pulitzer Prize. > **[Amazon.com: No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in...](https://www.amazon.com/No-Ordinary-Time-Franklin-Roosevelt/dp/0684804484)** > > Amazon.com: No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II: 9780684804484: Goodwin, Doris Kearns: Books ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/6 "2013-08-07T10:28:08Z")
David McCullough 's books on John Adams and Truman both won the Pulitzer Prize. I’ve read them and highly recomend. > **[Amazon.com: Truman: 9781442387805: McCullough, David, McCullough, David: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Truman-David-McCullough/dp/1442387807)** > > Amazon.com: Truman: 9781442387805: McCullough, David, McCullough, David: Books > **[Amazon.com: John Adams: 9780743223133: David McCullough: Books](https://www.amazon.com/John-Adams-David-McCullough/dp/0743223136)** > > Amazon.com: John Adams: 9780743223133: David McCullough: Books ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/7 "2013-08-07T10:37:20Z")
I almost forgot Stephen E. Ambrose’s single Vol book on Eisenhower. Loved this one. > **[Amazon.com: Eisenhower: Soldier and President (The Renowned One-Volume Life):...](https://www.amazon.com/Eisenhower-Soldier-President-Renowned-One/dp/0671747584)** > > Amazon.com: Eisenhower: Soldier and President (The Renowned One-Volume Life): 9780671747589: Ambrose, Stephen E.: Books ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/8 "2013-08-07T10:45:13Z")
McCullough/Stephen E. Ambrose are on my list. I didn’t know about Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book on Franklin Roosevelt. Thanks for the tip. I’ll look that one up too. Thank you all. What about Walter Isaacson on Benjamin Franklin and John Meacham on Thomas Jefferson.? Feel free to suggest other biographers. Thanks. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/9 "2013-08-07T11:08:22Z")
I bought and read this book a while ago, it’s pretty good. It looks there’s a new edition, hot off the press. > **[The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents: DeGregorio, William A., Stuart, Sandra...](https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-U-S-Presidents/dp/1569804761)** > > The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents \[DeGregorio, William A., Stuart, Sandra Lee\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents Here’s a link to an older edition, where you can see it has generally good reviews: > **[Complete Book of U.S. Presidents: William DeGregorio: 9780517183533: Amazon.com:...](https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Presidents-William-DeGregorio/dp/0517183536)** > > Complete Book of U.S. Presidents \[William DeGregorio\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Complete Book of U.S. Presidents ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/10 "2013-08-07T11:14:52Z")
I enjoyed Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner. It is a condensation of his 4-volume biography. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/11 "2013-08-07T11:22:05Z")
Thanks Wendelll Wagner and Darth Panda. Interesting. I’ll add those to my list too. What are the most definitive biographies of Lincoln to date? I’d be very interested. thanks. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Nightfall1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@Nightfall1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightfall1)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/12 "2013-08-07T11:43:36Z")
If you’d like to read about the Presidents in a single uniform set of biographies, you might want to read the American Presidents Series from Times Books: This is a very good series. I have them all. They are good to get an overall feel for the men. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/13 "2013-08-07T12:31:11Z")
Another vote for David McCullough 's book on T **ruman** - excellent read. Whilst I realise he was never president, I found **Benjamin Franklin: An American Life** by Walter Issacson a very good and informative read, and would recommend it for insight into others around him who were. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/14 "2013-08-07T12:39:08Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Thank you all. What about Walter Isaacson on Benjamin Franklin Franklin is usually considered one of the founding fathers, but I hope you realize that he was never President. Not of the US, anyway. A quick look on Wikipedia shows that he was the 6th President of Pennsylvania, from 1785-88. Ignorance fought! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/15 "2013-08-07T13:06:49Z")
An excellent biography of Warren G. Harding is the biography of his wife: _[Florence Harding: The First Lady, the Jazz Age, and the Death of America’s Most Scandalous President](http://www.amazon.com/Florence-Harding-Americas-Scandalous-President/dp/0688077943)_. It covers Warren as a matter of course and portrays his personal life – which makes Andrew Weiner seem celibate. One neat point: I had heard the quote from Harding’s father, “If you were a girl, Warren, you’d be in the family way all the time. You can’t say No.” I wondered how anyone knew that. It turned out Warren quoted it himself, while giving a speech at a dinner. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/16 "2013-08-07T13:17:43Z")
Biographies of Founding fathers can be very useful as a reference to early presidents. So I feel I should read them too. Just to clarify. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/17 "2013-08-07T13:35:35Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > …I’ve set myself the task of reading about all the US Presidents. I would appreciate your feedback on authors you would recommend starting with George Washington. One commenter suggested Ron Chernow’s “Washington: A Life.”… Yes, definitely. I just finished it. One of the best one-volume bios of Washington I’ve ever read. > [@Crotalus](#): > > I enjoyed Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner… And this is the other! See also _Cincinnatus_ by Garry Wills for an intriguing look at Washington in the context of the Enlightenment, and _Founding Father_ by Richard Brookhiser for a very engaging explanation of why Washington is honored today without being fully understood. For the Civil War President, I’d wholeheartedly recommend _Lincoln_ by David Herbert Donald. Rich, detailed but very readable. I’ve heard good things about _American Sphinx_, Joseph Ellis’s bio of Jefferson, but haven’t read it (I don’t have a high opinion of Jefferson). Edmund Morris’s trilogy on Theodore Roosevelt (_The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Rex_ and _Colonel Roosevelt_) is both masterful and fun. I agree, you can’t go wrong with _Truman_ by David McCullough (who went to my high school, years before me). _Kennedy_ by Theodore Sorensen is a readable, detailed bio of JFK with a surprising number of funny stories; _Kennedy’s Wars_ by Lawrence Freedman is a very good examination of the foreign policy crises which JFK faced and largely overcame. Robert Caro’s ongoing series on Lyndon Johnson, which now includes four books beginning with _The Path to Power_ and may stretch to five or even six books, is quite good. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/18 "2013-08-07T13:41:47Z")
See also Joseph Ellis’s _Founding Brothers_, for which he won the Pulitzer, for a brief but very good profile of the major Framers, including several Presidents, in their relationships with each other as friends, rivals and either political allies or foes. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/19 "2013-08-07T14:25:33Z")
Thank you Elendil’s Heir. Very helpful. That will certainly cover a lot of ground. I’m also interested in the less popular presidents, notably Andrew Jackson. Also Rutherford B. Hayes, because of the constitutional crisis that evolved during the Hayes v. Samuel Tilden election. Looking forward to more of your feedback. Thanks. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564/20 "2013-08-07T15:01:22Z")
I think most historians will tell you that Robert Caro is writing the definitive Lyndon Johnson biography. It’s a great work but it is a multi-volume set - and the final volume hasn’t been published yet. The Years of Lyndon Johnson \*The Path to Power \*Means of Ascent \*Master of the Senate \*The Passage of Power \*fifth volume will be published some time around 2016 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biographies-of-all-us-presidents/665564.md?page=2)