The Raising of a President: The Mothers and Fathers of Our Nation's Leaders

by Doug Wead

Our greatest presidents have entered the Oval Office armed with overwhelming ambition, intellect, and ideals. But were these characteristics evident in youth? What are the family circumstances that have created our presidents? How did their upbringing shape their future -- and ours?

In The Raising of a President , bestselling author Doug Wead goes where no presidential biographer has gone straight to the childhood homes of America's greatest leaders. Wead analyzes the types of families in which they were reared, and offers fascinating psychological profiles based on his findings. Using presidential letters and personal correspondence -- as well as notes from his own private conversations with six presidential families -- Wead brilliantly portrays the early lives, loves, and political awakenings of George Washington; John Adams and the rest of America's first dynasty; Lincoln, who never betrayed his humble roots; Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, each raised in prominent political households; and the once and future commanders in chief Bush.

More than just political biography, The Raising of a President sheds new light on America¹s presidents, who were not only born but made.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, American History, Politics, Presidents, Us Presidents

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2005

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone interested in the “backstories” of America’s presidents, this one about their parents offers some fascinating information. It explores the facts, if they could be traced, about presidential ancestors, relationships with parents, and probable influence that contributed to the future successes of their sons as leaders of the free world.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book really focuses on a few of the major political families of the United States: Washington, Adams, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Bush. His chapters on Washington and Lincoln are insightful and interesting, but I found no new material or analysis on the Kennedys or Roosevelts. In the first appendix, which is about 100 pages or so, with a brief biography about every parent (and some step parents) of the presidents. There were typos, grammatical errors, and utter mistakes within its pages that should have been edited. Though I was impressed at times with the book, I ended up being disappointed at the amount of errors I found, especially in the biographies of recent presidential parents.

[Barry Mathews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doug Wead’s companion book to his very successful All the President’s Children, his book The Raising of a President deals with the commonalities of the men who have served in the White House and how the President’s parents shape their character for better or worse. Much of the book deals with the political dynasties of the Adams, Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Bushes, but devotes over 100 pages to a synopsis of all the presidents (up through George W Bush).

[Jdetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting look at the parents of the presidents. Most presidents get just a little space, but the book does a deep dive into a select few and those are the most interesting. I think the chapters on the Bush legacy may be the most interesting, although it was written when George W. Bush was still early in his second term, and the author notes that they need more time to truly be able to write about him with any distance.

[Jersc · Rating 4 out of 5]

It doesn't go through all of the President's, but a handful of the most notable. Fascinating at what drove some of them and their motivations whether it be in rebelling, idolizing, or vindicating their parents. I especially loved the chapter on Abraham Lincoln and wonder at what type of person he would have turned out if his father wasn't so cruel and his mother and stepmother so loving.

[Tebel Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read, if a bit repetitive. Even-handed account of a select group of U.S. presidents and their parents. The one abiding theme is the presence of a strong-willed mother and a frequently absent father.

[Lu Buttiglieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real eye opener into the childhoods of our former presidents up to George w. Bush. And how politics influenced so many elections.

[Louis Picone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting way of studying the presidents - through their parents. Although its a little repetitive & hagiographic at times, still a very interesting read!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good or interesting as All the President's Children, and sort of twice as long as it needed to be. I did learn some new information, though.

[Andres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting seeing how many president's parents had a mostly positive and sometimes devastatingly negative impact on their lives and even decisions as presidents

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doug Wead has created a collection of little-known information about the parents of each of the US presidents. I especially enjoy the themes he calls to the reader's attention while noting similarities and differences in the families of the men who later occupied the Oval Office. Special sections deal with Washington, the Adamses, Lincoln, the Roosevelts, Kennedy, and the Bushes. Wead includes 32 pages of photos.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It takes a look at the childhood of future presidents and the family dynamic into which they were born. Some fascinating information about the presidents through George W. Bush. I pick this book up just to glance at it and ended up reading it in one sitting. Learned that many presidents had very strong mothers and fathers who died when they were quite young.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I excitedly discovered this book as it contained four of my favorite genres:history, biography, psychology and women's lives. Although it is a good review of some of our presidents and their parents, I was frustrated that it didn't live up to it's full promise.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about the parents of our nation's presidents. I especially liked the section at the end that had a brief bio on each of the president's mothers and fathers since most of the book focused only on a handful of presidential families.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! So many facts about a side of our presidents that we don't often hear about. The writing style was very easy to read and understand. Would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about our presidents as a person.

[Debgrizzell]

Not far enough into this book to rate it yet, but it's holding my interest. My 10-year-old daughter wants me to hurry and finish it, so she'll know if SHE can read it. There's motivation!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not well written but the stories were fascinating none the less.

[Jim Blessing · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a decent book on the parents of presidents.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay a little history, but worth the read about how our presidents were raised.