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Presidential Leadership, Illness, and Decision Making

Rose McDermott

4.75 · Rating details · 4 ratings · 2 reviews

This book is about how illness affects the behavior of American presidents. It discusses four cases in American history of presidential decision making being affected by illness. The main purpose of this book is to show that health problems have a bigger impact on important political decisions than people may have realized. This book differs from the competition because it ...more

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Hardcover, 342 pages

Published December 1st 2007 by Cambridge University Press (first published January 1st 2007)

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Oct 29, 2018 Jennifer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-nonfiction

This book covers an important topic, and that's why I read it. Usually, books like this are dry academic treatises, and yeah, this book is like that at times, too. However, I finished this. The accounts of how their health affected Woodrow Wilson, FDR, and JFK are ... well ... terrifying.

I was hoping that some examination of Bill Clinton possible psychological issues (which I identify as a mechanical engineer and supporter of Bill Clinton's presidency) would be included. I think there is someth This book covers an important topic, and that's why I read it. Usually, books like this are dry academic treatises, and yeah, this book is like that at times, too. However, I finished this. The accounts of how their health affected Woodrow Wilson, FDR, and JFK are ... well ... terrifying.

I was hoping that some examination of Bill Clinton possible psychological issues (which I identify as a mechanical engineer and supporter of Bill Clinton's presidency) would be included. I think there is something there that is common to men in power and their inability to back off their presumed right to access to women as sexual objects, but Bill Clinton was not included.

Richard Nixon was included as someone who had psychological issues. This is a much harder case to resolve; diagnoses are nebulous. But still it was an interesting discussion of how that stuff may have influenced him. (So I may not get a satisfactory (to me) examination of Bill Clinton, ever.)

There is also a short bit on the Shah of Iran. Whether or not American knowledge of the severity of his health issues would have made a difference is not a resolved question, but we are still dealing with the fallout. Jimmy Carter may well have made different decisions. Would that make a difference? I don't know. I think a lot of countries like Iran have large, legitimate grievances with the USA because of what America is willing to do to defend American business interests under the guise of "we're supporting democracy".

There was also some discussion on how health issues during the formative years may have influenced president's decisions and actions with respect to passing bills that affected health care.

I highly recommend this book. Like I said above, I'm a mechanical engineer, so I am not well versed in the side effects of things like severe, uncontrolled high blood pressure or the extreme use of steroids (e.g. compromised cognitive function with strong influences decision making). There were a lot of paragraphs that I just skipped to the end of and entire sections that I didn't read, but over all this is a very interesting, well written, engaging book. ...more

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Sep 24, 2018 Sue Davis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Published in 2008, but SOOO relevant as we assess current issues, politics and Presidential health. This book was well researched and gave great insights into the murky waters that exist for the President’s doctor. Should be a must read for members of the White House Medical unit. Quite academic at times and I had to look up a few words, but thoroughly enjoyed the case studies!

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