Synopses & Reviews
When Doug Wead wrote his report on presidential children for George W. Bush in 1988, he never expected that it would still be a hot topic of interest and debate more than a decade later. But as America's current President confronts the legacy and expectations of his father, the subject is more relevant than ever. In this groundbreaking book, Doug Wead analyzes the unsettling curses, public failures, and personal triumphs of the extraordinary people born to the American presidents throughout history. From Abigail "Nabby" Adams to Margaret Truman, George Washington Adams to John F. Kennedy, Jr., these children have lived under the watchful eyes of their powerful fathers and the glare of the ever-changing public. Wead reveals the unique challenges they face--the higher than average rates of alcoholism, divorce, and premature death--and the amazing successes of many presidential children in spite, or because of, the enormous pressure placed on them. He includes accounts of the eight weddings performed in the White House (and what happened in each marriage) and reveals the truth about the real and rumored illegitimate children of the presidents. Both an entertaining lesson on American history and a fascinating look at the father-son dynamics of the current White House, "All the Presidents' Children is a must-read for anyone interested in America's most high-profile pedigree.
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Mark Victor Hansen author of andlt;Iandgt;Chicken Soup for the Soulandlt;/Iandgt; Some of the greatest missing stories of American history, told by one of America's greatest storytellers.
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U.S. News & World Report A fascinating study of the 159 first kids.
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U.S. NewsandWorld ReportA fascinating study of the 159 first kids.
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andlt;Iandgt;Saturday Evening Postandlt;/Iandgt; Compelling...captures the human side of presidential history.
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andlt;Iandgt;U.S. News and World Reportandlt;/Iandgt; A fascinating study of the 159 first kids.
Synopsis
ALL THE PRESIDENTS' CHILDREN is an entertaining, authoritative analysis of the public failures and personal triumphs of the extraordinary people born to American presidents throughout history. Author, Doug Wead, discusses the broken and tragic lives of presidential children and why they are plagued with higher than average rates of alcoholism, divorce, and premature death. He shares the triumphs of many presidential children in the fields of literature, politics, business, and education. He tells the stories of outstanding presidential daughters and accounts of the eight weddings performed at the White House. Wead addresses the real and rumored illegitimate children of presidents and also goes into the long list of presidential children who pursued politics and the five who were almost president as well as the role of powerful parents: stories of the Adams', the Kennedy's, and the Bush's. There are short biographies of living presidential children and where they are now. He shows the relationship between George W. Bush and his father and how it impacts today's White House. Both an entertaining lesson on our nation's history and a fascinating look at the current White House, ALL THE PRESIDENTS' CHILDREN is a must-read for anyone interested in America's most high-profile pedigree.
Synopsis
From Abigail "Nabby" Adams to Chelsea Clinton, George Washington Adams to John F. Kennedy, Jr., the children of America's presidents have both suffered and triumphed under the watchful eyes of their powerful fathers and the glare of the ever-changing public. Whether they perished under the pressure like Andrew Johnson, upheld controversial views like Amy Carter, or carried their father's torch right back to the White House like George W. Bush, all presidential children grew up having to share their fathers with the whole of their fellow countrymen -- and, in too many instances, spent the rest of their lives in a desperate search for their own identities. andlt;BRandgt; In this illuminating bestseller, Washington insider Doug Wead offers an authoritative analysis of our nation's presidential offspring. Featuring lively anecdotes, photographs, short biographies, and never-before-published personal accounts, andlt;Iandgt;All the Presidents' Childrenandlt;/Iandgt; is an important socio-cultural work, a groundbreaking study of American family dynamics, and an entertaining foray into the homes, hearts, and history of our forefathers.