Synopses & Reviews
A premier leadership scholar and an eighteenth-century expert define the special contributions and qualifications of our first president Revolutionary hero, founding president, and first citizen of the young republic, George Washington was the most illustrious public man of his time, a man whose image today is the result of the careful grooming of his public persona to include the themes of character, self-sacrifice, and destiny.
As Washington sought to interpret the Constitutions assignment of powers to the executive branch and to establish precedent for future leaders, he relied on his key advisers and looked to form consensus as the guiding principle of government. His is a legacy of a successful experiment in collective leadership, great initiatives in establishing a strong executive branch, and the formulation of innovative and lasting economic and foreign policies. James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn also trace the arc of Washingtons increasing dissatisfaction with public life and the seeds of dissent and political parties that, ironically, grew from his insistence on consensus. In this compelling and balanced biography, Burns and Dunn give us a rich portrait of the man behind the carefully crafted mythology.
Review
“This excellent series of biographies, each written by an eminent historian,
is a rich and rewarding listening experience.“ —AudioFile
“A publishing milestone...Schlesinger, a master craftsman, is imposing his high standards on these books. Hail to the chief. It's a wonderful series”—Chicago Sun-Times
Synopsis
Revolutionary hero, founding president, and first citizen of the young republic, George Washington was the most illustrious public man of his time, measured by higher and broader criteria than either virtues or busines ethics. From the start, American leaders would be evaluated not only for their private conduct and personal honesty but also for their commitment to the values of national security, individual liberty, equality, the welfare of the people, and the pursuit of happiness. For Washington, these were Enlightenment values, ones he had absorbed and admired from the great debates of the era. As a boy, Washington memorized a rule book of conduct appropriate to a Virginia gentleman; as a man, he sought to embody those qualities of community, honor, strength of character, and conscience. His is a legacy of a successful experiment in collective leadership, great initiatives in establishing a strong executive branch and the formulation of innovative and lasting economic policies. In this compelling biography, James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn bring alive the man behind the dawn of American history and explore the themes that run through his public and private lives.
Synopsis
Praise for The Three Roosevelts: "A remarkable example of narrative and biographical history at its best ... [explores] how three extraordinary people helped shape their country."--The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. [159]-167) and index.
Synopsis
Leading scholars define the special contributions and qualifications of our first presidentWashingtons legacy is a successful experiment in collective leadership, great initiatives in establishing a strong executive branch and the formulation of innovative and lasting economic and foreign policies. Along with highlighting these accomplishments, the authors also trace Washington's later dissatisfaction with public life and the seeds of dissent and political parties that grew from his insistence on consensus. In this compelling and balanced biography, James McGregor Burns and Susan Dunn give us a rich and surprising portrait of the man behind the carefully crafted mythology.
About the Author
James MacGregor Burns is the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Political Science Emeritus at Williams College. He is the author of numerous books, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning
Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom. Susan Dunn is a professor of literature at Williams College and author of many books, including T
he Three Roosevelts (with Burns). Burns and Dunn live in Williamstown, Massachusettes.