Tag Archives: biography

Lyndon at Last

Posted on October 28, 2026 by smellincoffee

Over the last year when I have considered what books I would take on to understand LBJ, Robert J. Caro’s four-volume set (with a fifth in the works) was always recommended. No, said I, never. I disliked LBJ, thought him … Continue reading →

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Poppy

Posted on October 26, 2026 by smellincoffee

While I have had George H.W. Bush listed on my Hail to the Chief  page for a while, in truth neither of the two entries would satisfy a purist like myself. One was a collection of letters, which was a … Continue reading →

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James “Veni, vici, secessi” Polk

Posted on October 26, 2026 by smellincoffee

Note to readers: there will be two or three president reviews this week, but I solemnly promise I am reading other things. I actually began revisiting another YA title from my youth this weekend, while at the same time starting … Continue reading →

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FDR

Posted on October 23, 2026 by smellincoffee

When I began working on this project in earnest a year ago, I knew then that FDR was going to be…interesting. I’ve mentioned before that I was a World War 2 nut in high school: this translated, via the impressionability … Continue reading →

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William McKinley

Posted on October 22, 2026 by smellincoffee

After three days of trying to make progress in Robert Merry’s William McKinley, trying in vain to see the subject through a multiple of well-tailored fat man smoking cigars and blocking my way to their chosen man to guide America … Continue reading →

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The Outlier

Posted on October 1, 2026 by smellincoffee

When I read the American Presidents treatment of Jimmy Carter,  I knew right away I wanted more. Not because his presidency was hugely impactful, but he struck me as such an odd personality I wanted to ponder him more.  I … Continue reading →

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Grandpa Harrison, President for a Month

Posted on September 22, 2026 by smellincoffee

Before I began this reading project, there was a short file in my head of presidents who governed too short a season, or who were too undistinguished, to merit thinking about. I did not know that Chester Arthur had anything … Continue reading →

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The Hoover Experience

Posted on September 21, 2026 by smellincoffee

When I opened this book, I had some faint appreciation of Herbert Hoover as an accomplished engineer and disaster-relief organizer, a man who intervened after Black Thursday far more than is generally known, and who is unfairly blamed for the … Continue reading →

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Keep Cool with Coolidge!

Posted on September 18, 2026 by smellincoffee

Calvin Coolidge has long been one of my favorite presidents; I think as a child I was drawn to his nickname of Silent Cal, with its reputation for taciturnity; later on, I respected his approach to government — keep the … Continue reading →

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Benjamin “I’m More than the Guy Between Cleveland Terms” Harrison

Posted on September 17, 2026 by smellincoffee

What do I know about Benjamin Harrison? Well, he was a core part of the Cleveland Hero Sandwich, the thin bit of meat between two enormous Cleveland halves. And his granddaddy was president for a month before dying and giving … Continue reading →

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