I had the priviledge of bring Dr. Metcalf's student while at MacMurray College. Dr. Metcalf has a clear love and appreciation for words and language, and it's exceptionally clear in this book. I recieved my copy during the 2004 election and happened to be reading it during Barack Obama's keynote address. This book is now (thankfully) outdated until Dr. Metcalf writes a new chapter. It's interesting and full of history. It can be a little dry, but it's an interesting history lesson and looks at e More...

Easy to read (if repetitive in places), and while it may condense tidbits from several presidential biographies, it condenses the good stuff: Harrison's speech in the rain that led to his demise, Roosevelt's assasin's bullet stopped by a copy of his speech, etc. Good classroom tome.