The Presidents Club

by Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy

Behind the scenes of the Presidency from Truman to Obama....reliance on ex-Presidents for advice/political gain and friendships

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Government

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Roger Smitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two writers have written a long book about the history of the presidents of the United States since Hoover to Obama and there’s just a little about those two names. The book was published in 2021.

The chapters work on what happened about the change from one president to the next one. But the most interesting piece is how the President worked with to make the changes. The surprise is that the men work with each other when a new president comes in and one goes out. There’s a sense of these people working with each other, even when they may have different politics.

Every chapter is grounded in the work and character of two presidents: the one going into the White House and the one leaving it. According to Gibbs and Duffy, the presidents work together to get the new man into his job and to help him in his work. That’s the theme of the book: that president’s work with each other. It’s a surprise that Eisenhower and Truman together as did Johnson and Nixon. And there are some others.
And, the Six Presidents: The Golden Age of the Club. There were that many Presidents we have had at one time.

It’s a long book. But it’s something that we don’t know about Presidents (in the job of not) have to work and thing about the world. And…..in the early part of the book, there’s a note that there will be a woman president.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many of these presidents have been in office in my lifetime, so I found the book fascinating. Mostly from primary sources, the authors examine relationships between the president occupying the office and his predecessors in a rather exclusive "club" thatsupercedes politics, parties, and campaign promises. This is a long book but well worth the read. One of the better books I have read in the last few years!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept. While there is no Presidents Club, the catchy title generates interest in the subject matter, which is some of the interactions between serving and former presidents. Entertaining, interesting, educational (in some places). It might have been helpful to have included footnotes for readers who care to fact check.

[JimC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting anecdotes regarding the relationships among the presidents, but once you get to Bush 41 there is really nothing new.

[Nancy Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative.

[Pamela Okano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entertaining and informative book traces the relationships between former presidents and current presidents--hence, the Presidents Club--from Harry Truman's dealings with Herbert Hoover to Obama (first term--book was published in 2012) and Clinton. Everyone knows of the affectionate relationship between the Bushes and Bill Clinton, and Obama's reliance on Clinton in his 2012 campaign. But did you know, for example, that Herbert Hoover had expertise in getting food to starving people? He did so to keep Europe from starving after WWI, so Truman called upon him to do it again, pre-Marshall Plan, after the German surrender in WWII. Nixon was a valued political and foreign policy adviser for many, both Republican and Democrat. Bush I and Gerald Ford come out looking like true mensches. The Club has unwritten rules: each current President has relied on past presidents for counsel and often to actually perform special projects; and each President has, for the most part, avoided criticizing current Presidents. The question that kept running through my mind as I read the book: will 45 become part of the Club?

[Donna Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a book! There are two things about this book that really need to be said. First, if you have ever wondered why our presidents always look as if they have aged so much during their times in office, here is your answer. A quote from the book -- "Nobody just shows up ready to be president." The enormity of the job and the responsibilities involved are something that no one, other than a member of this very small club, can understand or even imagine. The modern-day Presidents Club starts at the inauguration of Eisenhower in 1953, with Hoover and Truman as its members. This book then covers all of the rest of the presidents through the early years of Obama's presidency. That brings us to the second thing that needs to be said about this book -- The amount of detailed information about these presidents, some of it intensely personal, is amazing. The authors do a tremendous job in reporting the information, combining it with wonderful storytelling. It is a compelling read -- a great book.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look at how ex-Presidents formed a club to advise and help each other, beginning back with Presidents Truman and Hoover. You'll be really surprised at how much support they give each other, no matter how ugly their campaigns may have been if they ran against each other. They all are the only ones who truly understand the stresses and difficulties of the types of decisions that Presidents must make, and all go in vastly underestimating how hard it really is.

It's a long book, but worth the read. You'll be surprised how the public and personal personas are so much different.

[David Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheds lot of light on the relationships of the ex presidents. It also make you understand that the issues danced by a president are much more complicated than cable news leads you to believe. Only downside was at times it felt a bit biased. There is certain language it don't like to see when reading biographies. I like to form my own opinions, and don't like when an author writes in a way to push me towards their opinion. Otherwise it was well worth reading. The last paragraph sums up the entire book.

[Patti Doty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors present history from the perspective of past presidents and their interaction plus their contributions to the country as former presidents. Makes sense that they would support one another--no one else really knows what the job and the life are like. Written well. I warn you though, it is dense. I enjoyed it and learned a lot. Recommend, but not for beach read!

[Jeankil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history of the personalities and interactions on the U.S. presidents from Hoover to Obama. Many, many interesting anecdotes. Nixon came off even worse than I thought before and Carter whom I had esteemed, had some rough edges that weren't flattering. No surprise that Truman, Ford and H.W. Bush came off as good guys.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. It really gives you insight into the role of President and how respecting the role supersedes party politics. I gained new understanding about the men who have held the office.

[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far so good/interesting/informative about the influences of former Presidents in relation to the current sitting President

[Joanne Timm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was strictly a book for historians. A lot of info about the presidents. Some I knew but some I didn't

[Roberta Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!

[Dr Pebbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Duffy lecture at Louisville Main Library hooked me -- fascinating history.