Just saw the new Andrew Jackson bio American Lion Andrew Jackson in the White House, and it got me thinking about the ton of presidential biographies out there. Anyone have favorites or recommendations?

Ron Reagan Jr said "Dutch" was the closest book written to capture his Dad's personality.

I thought it was an interesting book, factually, however I didnt like the way the author wrote himself into the narrative, supposedly as a useful tool to explore Reagan's psyche.

I listened to part of 'Dutch' on tape. Never could finish it either for the same reason as Manuel mentioned. A biography should be about the subject, not the author. Edmund Morris really stretched points trying to put himself into Regan's life, IMO.

Morris did a wonderful job on Theodore Roosevelt part 1 & bored me into giving up on part 2. My uncle & cousin felt the same way. Luckily, we passed around one copy of part 2, although we each have a copy of part 1.

I never looked at publishing dates. I wonder if he had some sort of life changing event that made him go from a good biographer to a boring one?

David McCullough's "Truman" helped change historians perception of an unpopular president.

I havent read "Truman" but I really enjoyed McCullough's "John Adams".

Usually the president everyone ignores between the giants of Washington and Jefferson. McCullough really made him come alive for me. I especially liked the relationship between Adams and his wife Abigail; the original power couple.

Joseph Ellis's American Sphinx was a great read and really showed the ups and dowsn of Jefferson's life.

American Sphinx The Character of Thomas Jefferson

Passionate Sage by Joseph Ellis was also pretty good although I do not think he expands the story enough. It just may be my reading of Ron Chernow that gave me that opinion though.

Also I guess McCullough knows to hit the man between the greats. Adams- between War Hero Nation Creator and Saver Washington and Declaration author Jeffereson. Truman - between liberal icon Roosevelt and WWII hero Eisenhower.

Ones I've really enjoyed:

Mornings on Horseback The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt, by David McCullough (note: does not cover period of actual presidency)
Team of Rivals The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin
John Adams, by David McCullough
Eleanor & Franklin, by Joseph P. Lash
Truman, by David McCullough

Just finished American Lion. I highly recommend it. It was different from some of the presidential biographies I have read. It was sometimes like a novel. It showed different aspects of Jackson's personality and how complex it was. On the one hand he was absolutely resolute about the removal of American Indians to West of the Mississippi (or out right destruction of them as a people) but also he was determined to keep the Union together and viewed himself as a father figure to the American people.

Wow. Lots of suggestions here. Will have to start growing my TBR shelf. Thanks.

Joseph Ellis' book on George Washington - "His Excellency" is also an excellent read.

Anyone interested in Charles Lindbergh? I recommend Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg. I visited Lindbergh's gravesite in Maui after reading this book; beautiful site right on the edge of the ocean cliffs.

I would also recommend Anne Morrow Lindbergh "Her Life" by Susan Hertog. Their relationship was so complcated and Lindbergh was such a complex personality! He was a national hero; but seemed a very harsh taskmaster to his family. He comes across as almost void of being able to really express love and self absorbed in his own life. Fascinating to read both books. An intriguing couple.

I have a hard time seeing Lindbergh as a hero. From what I can tell he was worse than a taskmaster in his family -- his attitudes towards Jews were highly questionable. Do the Lindbergh bios that you read deal with this? And with his activity in the America First movement?

What does Lindbergh have to do with Presidential Biographies? I recommend both the TR books by Edmund Morris, although 1 was better than 2. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin is very good as well, as is her biograph on LBJ.

Sorry, I thought I posted Lindbergh in the History is not Boring forum.

Yes, the book does a very good job of exposing his anti semitism and his work with the America First movement. He is no hero to me and I would think to most Americans now.

He was a very harsh, self aborbed perso; but he also contributed greatly to the beginning of our commercial aviation industry. He was that times Michael Jordan if you will. His every move and word was international news.

But history isn't boring and neither was Lindbergh. His aviation acomplishments have been negated in some ways because of his shameful actions.

Check out Lincoln's Unknown Private Life (An Oral History by His Black Housekeeper Mariah Vance 1850-1860.

Thanks Pat,
I too really liked the Lindbergh book by A Scott Berg.
It presented a wonderful look into a really complicated and flawed American hero.
Any one who's mother shakes her son's hand instead of giving him a goodnight kiss is going to grow up with a lot of issues.

Fascinating!!!!

Nothing to do with Presidential bios, but what the hell!!!! its a great read!!!

Manuel,

I was thinking the same thing while reading the book! His childhood and relationship with his Mother is a pschyologist dream!

I found myself wondering about the relationship with Anne Morrow. I have now read several of her books to try to get a handle on how she let him basically "own" her feelings; her relationship with her children; her very essence as a woman. How could she have let Lindbergh treat the children like soliders? How could she have allowed him to insist they leave their first born son outside (in some rather cold temps) in the baby carriage for hours to instill toughness?!

What do you think of the Lindbergh kidnapping case? Was Bruno guilty? Not so sure myself.

It was incredibly shocking to read how "the trial of the century" turned into an orgy of misinformation, anti-German hysteria and media speculation. It was virtually impossible for anyone to have gotten a fair trial under such circumstances.

I suspect this whole subject could use its own thread.

I think you're right, Manuel. I'm going to start a new thread on Lindbergh. This is fascinating stuff.

Sorry, but I am new to Goodreads. What is a thread? I assume a separate "room" to discuss Lindbergh and the Trial of the Century?

Yes, Pat, you could call it a room - a thread is an ongoing conversation on a particular topic, with any number of participants contributing comments and questions. This string is about presidential biographies, so the readers who plan to have a discussion on Lindbergh are starting a new string for that subject. You can browse existing strings (they are listed within groups from the menus at the top of the screen) or, within a suitable group, start your own strings.

Thank you James.

Any time! One of the things I like about Goodreads is the sense of community among most people. I took a look, and there are nine categories with somewhere around 10,000 groups, and each group can have multiple strings on specific subjects like this one, so you could probably spend the rest of your life exploring and not have seen a lot of it.

HISTORY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I grew up reading With Malice Toward None by Oates (?) [hmm, how do you link titles in here?:] about Abraham Lincoln which I enjoyed. I also remember reading the entire several volume work on Washington by Flexner. I also enjoyed Elswyth Thane's semi-novelizied biography of Martha Washington, Washington's Lady. I also enjoyed the two newer biograhers on her that have just come out in the past few years, too.

Pat, I'll have to check out the oral history which you mentioned.

There's an "add book/author" button at the top of the comment space, Jenna.

I love Elswyth Thane, but have never read Washington's Lady.

Duh! I'm so oblivious, thanks! (As to add/author).
If you like Elswyth Thane, i'd definitely recommend it. It seems to be well-researched, if a trifle romanticized, compared to the newer biography , but still very enjoyable.Martha Washington First Lady of Liberty(I think it was that one anyway...).