Bad Presidents seeks to interpret the meaning of presidential 'badness' by investigating the ways in which eleven presidents were 'bad.' The author brings a unique, and often amusing perspective on the idea of the presidency, and begins a new conversation about the definition of presidential success and failure.

"Philip Abbott is one of the nation's leading presidency scholars. His edge is a deep historical understanding of executive power and his franchise is the accidental presidents, the failed presidents, the bad presidents, the presidents bruised and battered and sometimes crushed by the office. We all know how much we learn from the study of great presidents, but Abbott has again surprised by showing us just how much there is to learn from a close and candid look at failed presidents." - Cal Jillson, Professor of Political Science, Southern Methodist University, USA

"This truly important project is original, creative, significant, and fun." Lara Brown, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Villanova University, USA

Autorentext

Philip Abbott is Distinguished University Professor at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. His recent books include Accidental Presidents: Death, Assassination, Resignation and Democratic Succession (2008) and Political Thought in America: Conversations and Debates, fourth edition (2010). He has published articles in a number of journals, including Journal of Politics, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and Perspectives on Politics. He has held the Thomas Jefferson Chair in American Studies at the University of Amsterdam.

Inhalt

1. Classifications: Presidents and Kings 2. John Tyler: The First Bad President? 3. The 'Irredeemables': Millard Fillmore 4. The 'Irredeemables': Franklin Pierce 5. The 'Irredeemables': James Buchanan 6. Lincoln in Reverse: Andrew Johnson 7. The First Hidden Hand Bad President: Ulysses S. Grant 8. The 'Irresponsibles': Warren G. Harding 9. The 'Irresponsibles': Calvin Coolidge 10. The 'Irresponsibles': Herbert Hoover 11. Ex Parte Exercitii: Richard Nixon 12. The Latest Bad President?: George W. Bush Conclusion