Presidential Campaigns

New York: Oxford University Press, 1984. First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. xii, 420 pages. Notes. Index. Front DJ flap creased and small tear, some creasing to top DJ edge. Signed by the author. Paul F. Boller Jr. was the first Lyndon B. Johnson Chair in American History at Texas Christian University. His first academic position was at Southern Methodist University, where he taught from 1948 to 1966. In 1966, he accepted a position at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. He accepted the Lyndon B. Johnson Chair at Texas Christian University in 1976. It was at TCU that he came up with a new idea for a book about American presidents. Presidential Anecdotes was unique, presenting short biographical sketches of the presidents followed by stories that illustrated their lives, careers, and personalities. It became a best seller and was followed by other presidentially themed works: Presidential Campaigns, Presidential Wives, Presidential Inaugurations, and Presidential Diversions. Campaigning for the presidency demands strength and courage. Teddy Roosevelt was once shot in the chest just before a campaign speech--but he insisted on delivering his hour-and-a-half oration anyway. Presidential nominees have to know how to play the game, moreover, whether they care for it or not. When Andrew Jackson was visiting one town, according to a campaign tale, a proud mother handed a dirty-faced baby up for him to hold. "Here is a beautiful specimen of young American childhood," said Jackson obligingly. "Note the brightness of that eye, the great strength of those limbs, and the sweetness of those lips." And all presidential hopefuls have to find ways of smoothing over the unfortunate gaffes they sometimes commit. This enlightening and endlessly entertaining book unveils the whole history of American presidential elections from Washington to Clinton--those clamorous showdowns that have so perplexed, pleased, amused, irked, and fascinated the American people from the very beginning. Condition: Very good / good.

Keywords: U.S. Presidents, Pres. Campaigns, Election Campaigns, Politics & Govt., Anecdotes, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Signed

ISBN: 0195034201

[Book #51730]

Price: $50.00

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