First dads : parenting and politics from George Washington to Barack Obama Cover Image

First dads : parenting and politics from George Washington to Barack Obama / Joshua Kendall.

Kendall, Joshua C., 1960- (author.).

Summary:

Every president has had some experience as a parent. Of the 43 men who have served in the nation's highest office, 38 have fathered biological children and the other five adopted children. Each president's parenting style reveals much about his beliefs as well as his psychological make-up. James Garfield enjoyed jumping on the bed with his kids. FDR's children, on the other hand, had to make appointments to talk to him. In a lively narrative, based on research in archives around the country, Kendall shows presidential character in action. Readers will learn which type of parent might be best suited to leading the American people and, finally, how the fathering experiences of our presidents have forever changed the course of American history.

Record details

ISBN: 9781455551958
ISBN: 1455551953
Physical Description: 391 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm
Edition: First edition
Publisher: New York : Grand Central Publishing, 2016.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Prologue: the sense and sensibility of James Garfield: "It is a most intense and innocent passion" -- The preoccupied: "I should like to have your opinion on it" -- Playful pals: "My father likes snakes" -- Double-dealing dads: "You know such things happen on plantations" -- Tiger dads: "I could feel nothing but sorrow and shame in your presence" -- The grief-stricken: "I always see my boy playing tennis on the court out there" -- The nurturers: "When is my daddy coming" -- Epilogue: presidential choices: "I knew I had to share my daddy".