Bad Presidents

Bad Presidents seeks to interpret the meaning of presidential 'badness' by investigating the ways in which eleven presidents were 'bad.' The author brings a unique, and often amusing perspective on the idea of the presidency, and begins a new conversation about the definition of presidential success and failure.

Auteur

Philip Abbott is Distinguished University Professor at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. His recent books include Accidental Presidents: Death, Assassination, Resignation and Democratic Succession (2008) and Political Thought in America: Conversations and Debates, fourth edition (2010). He has published articles in a number of journals, including Journal of Politics, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and Perspectives on Politics. He has held the Thomas Jefferson Chair in American Studies at the University of Amsterdam.

Résumé
Bad Presidents seeks to interpret the meaning of presidential 'badness' by investigating the ways in which eleven presidents were 'bad.' The author brings a unique, and often amusing perspective on the idea of the presidency, and begins a new conversation about the definition of presidential success and failure.

Contenu

1. Classifications: Presidents and Kings 2. John Tyler: The First Bad President? 3. The 'Irredeemables': Millard Fillmore 4. The 'Irredeemables': Franklin Pierce 5. The 'Irredeemables': James Buchanan 6. Lincoln in Reverse: Andrew Johnson 7. The First Hidden Hand Bad President: Ulysses S. Grant 8. The 'Irresponsibles': Warren G. Harding 9. The 'Irresponsibles': Calvin Coolidge 10. The 'Irresponsibles': Herbert Hoover 11. Ex Parte Exercitii: Richard Nixon 12. The Latest Bad President?: George W. Bush Conclusion