Historical viewpoint:  Friend or President?
353085
Received in plenty of time to read and discuss at book club meeting.  40 yr old paperback in serviceable condition.  Not a collectible.  Very satisfied with purchase.
4505398
David Axelrod takes us through the presidential story from a very early time before Obama was even in the U.S. Senate. Having been in campaigns and even run for office I can sympathize with him in trying to keep the candidate on the proper path, and at the same time not so antagonize him so not to be excluded from additional advice and a personal bond. There is an underlying sadness that the relationship although close somehow didn't develop the intimacy you would've thought it would have. No doubt this is almost always true with a candidate and  elected official and their aides. Axelrod does a good job being constantly reminding the reader of Obama's aspirations and hopes that he can transform the political process and achieve substantial goals. It helps a lot in the understanding of President Obama.
607635
A fun and interesting read on a major friendship that affected the way we look at the world.
4570181
Just enough detail offers great insight to who our president is. I would love to meet him. Would be like seeing an old friend.
3923359
I think there needs to be a mini-series on every president leading up to Eisenhower.  Who knew anything about John Adams besides being the 2nd president?  Come on.....really?

Very well portrayed.....  Got a little slow at times......  A perfect follow up to this would be Thomas Jefferson........  I don't think we Americans appreciated the friendship these two political opposites shared.....all the way to their death on the same day....

This should be a "must view" for EVERY politician today......  What these true patriots did....for the Constitution....the USA...
192629
Always thought Johnson had a hand in Kennledy's death and thought he was a self serving individual. I think a couple of presidents learned a lot from him as there has been too many assinations since, but not charged to any particular individual. Power seens to have it's rewards if you want to call it that.
3829453
This book's thesis is that Madison was a great man but not a great president.  His work on the Constitution alone raises him to an elite status, as does his work as a legislator, but not all great men are great leaders and Madison, the president, faltered.  The book treats him and his presidency fairly, but it presumes the reader is more or less familiar with Madison already.  It is not a biography.  First time students of Madison, or casual readers, will do well to read a standard biography first.
428161
Very interesting historical novel about an aspect of our first president not commonly appreciated.
1983897
While reading presidential biographies; I enjoy reading about female perspective. Abigail & John Adams is original romance story. Dolly Madison have not done yet. Rachael and Andrew Jackson was an awesome tragedy. Chief Justice John Marshal and Josephine (I believe; read long time ago.)
3751388
Friendships function like kaleidoscopes, certain sides are hidden and other parts become revealed, the more we get to know the people we consider friends.  One of the main characters who was a player in the Holocaust befriends a woman in a grief group. What draws them to meet and develop a friendship? Once again, Jodi Picoult explores multiple dimensions of issues and relationships.  She enters into areas when you  ask whether it is acceptable, morally right or wrong, to befriend a person with a hidden past?  Would you forgive as an act of redemption or not? And ... does telling the truth really set us free?  Read the book and discover what evolves!
3527199
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met for the first time as U. S. President and British Prime Minister respectively in August 1941.  Both took ships under great secrecy from their home countries to meet off the coast of Newfoundland.  This was to be the first of several historic meetings and was convened at the urging of Churchill who desperately wanted America to enter the European war.  Britain had been under German air attacks for many months and wanted American help with weapons, ammunition, ships and food.  Roosevelt was at first reluctant because of political reasons back home but eventually managed to send Britain some beat-up destroyers under a lend-lease program, the first of many men and materials to be sent east across the Atlantic.
 Churchill visited Roosevelt in the White House several months later and the duo discussed many things including the invasion of Europe and the global situation after the war was won.  One of the few points of contention was the future of Englands colonial possessions around the world.  Churchill thought they should remain intact but Roosevelt believed the people in those countries would want to govern themselves, an opinion that history proved Roosevelt correct.
 Roosevelt and Churchill continued to meet in various parts of the free world and were eventually joined by Joseph Stalin in Teheran and Yalta.  Roosevelt took a perverse pleasure in goading Stalin to needle Churchill in order to make some political gains that would benefit the U. S.  Stalin continually badgered both Churchill and Roosevelt to commit to invading France in 1943.  It eventually happened in June 1944 and history shows that if Stalin had his way a 1943 operation would have been a disaster.
 The book focuses on the close friendship between two great leaders and how they worked effectively together to end World War II.  The military events occurring during this time are already well known and not covered in detail.
3829779
Very good, albeit too brief, look at our 38th President. Ford was the last moderate Republican to hold that office. His presidency was hardly dynamic & he did make mistakes (as they all do). But this is a good warm-up for one that would like to get the know the man.
1508332
Horace Busby provides and intimate and interesting view of President Lyndon Johnson in THE 31ST OF MARCH.  Although Busby provides selected views of other incidents that were key moments in the Johnson presidency and of course the story of how he became involved with Johnson the focus is on LBJ's decision not to seek re-election and the process of announcing that decision to the world.

Busby's view of LBJ is that of a much more fragile man than generally preceived of. It's a quick read.  Busby's walks the reader through the family quarters of the White House and the inner workings of the presidency with facinating detail.  One particulary interesting aspect of the story is how Johnson was treated at JFK's funeral. Most accounts are totally sympathetic to the Kennedy's but in reading Busby, you see that LBJ had a side too. The reader comes away with a very unique view LBJ.

Though brief, the work is very powerful.  It is the story of friendship, loyality and devotion.  I wish that the son, who edited the work would have provided a brief description of the relationship between Busby and LBJ after the White House years.  It would rounded out the story.
2774870
This book is a delightful read!  I enjoyed it immensely, especially the monologue format!  Full of humorous anecdotes, the reader is allowed a small glimpse into the minds of these two great leaders. Although different in style and personality, they had many things in common, and the friendship forged at such a pivotal time in history was truly very special.
2312230
A good explanation of one the early "power couples". Lady Bird was a  gracious force to be reckoned with.  A Presidential couple who did a lot of good. Too bad he was mired in the Vietnam War. He could have gone down in history as a Progressive with a vision. I think history will revisit his negative reputation with a little more fairness.
1967319
Wished this was the way that I learned about history. This story gives history such a personal point of view. Who knew that Adams and Thomas Jefferson were best friends!!!
2153683
As a life long history buff, I was looking forward to reading this book.  It is a very interesting look at a part of modern presidential history that has often been overlooked.  I thought the book very readable and well researched.  Entertaining for the history lover or a casual reader.