Presidential Biographies discussion

Perhaps it's time to update the photo on the home page. It has, after all, been over four years! (P.S. Where's George?)

James,

Has it really already been 4 years? I can't believe it - perhaps this calls for a celebration! (i.e. Changing the photo).

Donny

Did you know this bit of trivia? President John Tyler (1841-1845) has living grandsons.

I saw Tyler's grandson some 20 years ago; he and his wife were showing Tyler's Sherwood Forest where they lived in Virginia. I read recently this( or a) grandson is still alive but in very poor health. I just put away the Julia Tyler White House Historical Association ornament. She showed up with her portrait unsolicited during the Andrew Johnson years, starting the First Lady portrait collection.

Joseph wrote: "I saw Tyler's grandson some 20 years ago; he and his wife were showing Tyler's Sherwood Forest where they lived in Virginia. I read recently this( or a) grandson is still alive but in very poor hea..."

no way!! I was just listening to a podcast & the guy was talking about how Tyler still has 2 living grandchildren. nuts.

I just joined this group & am really excited about it! I'm reading a bio of every US President this year. Love for any of you to follow along @ www.ilovethepresidents.com. I just finished Meacham's one on Thomas Jefferson and about to start Brookhiser's on James Madison.

Has anyone read it before?

That’s really cool! I read Brookhiser’s James Madison. It’s been a while, but I don’t remember it being fantastic, but there was a good deal of detail about his role in framing the Constitution and then later, the Bill of Rights. I remember Monroe’s biography better, when it comes to thinking about Madison’s presidency and the War of 1812.

A related story to you meeting Tyler’s grandchild: I had just finished reading Paul Angel’s John Quincy Adams bio, and I just happened to take a road trip that ended up in Quincy, Massachusetts on JQA’s birthday. I was able to shake the hand of JQA’s direct descendent who gave a speech in the church above his tomb. After reading Dumas Malone’s six volume biography of Jefferson, I was able to look JQA’s descendent in the eye and tell him that I thought JQA was a greater public servant than Madison and Jefferson combined. I am a huge JQA fan :)

I am currently working on David Herbert’s Lincoln!

Paul Nagel’s bio (autocorrect run afoul)!

Houston wrote: "Joseph wrote: "I saw Tyler's grandson some 20 years ago; he and his wife were showing Tyler's Sherwood Forest where they lived in Virginia. I read recently this( or a) grandson is still alive but i..."

no way!! That's incredible. What got your first into Presidential bios? Do you teach history or just love it for fun?