LibGuides: U.S. Presidents: Presidents of the United States

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Presidential Facts (Washington to Kennedy)

Three Presidents died on the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826; James Monroe died on July 4, 1831.
Seven Presidents were born in log cabins: Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Millard Fillmore, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, Chester A. Arthur.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first and only President to be inaugurated more than twice. Beginning with Eisenhower, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution limits to two terms.

Source: The Presidents and Their Wives: From Washington to Kennedy. The Haskin Service, 1961, pp. 3-5.

Role of the President

Qualifications

The president must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and have lived in the United States at least 14 years.

How Elected

Americans vote for president every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. That popular vote chooses delegates to the Electoral College, which actually elects the president in December.

Term

Four years. The president cannot serve more than two terms.

Income

Yearly salary: $400,000.

Succession

If a president dies, resigns, is disabled, or is removed from office, the Vice president assumes the office. This has occurred nine times.

Job Description

The Constitution assigns the president two roles: chief executive of the federal government and Commander in Chief of the armed forces. As Commander in Chief, the president has the authority to send troops into combat, and is the only one who can decide whether to use nuclear weapons.

As chief executive, he enforces laws, treaties, and court rulings; develops federal policies; prepares the national budget; and appoints federal officials. He also approves or vetoes acts of Congress and grants pardons.

Library Books

The books listed here are about all or most of the Presidents of the United States. For books about a certain president go to their page and check out what books we have listed.

This list may not represent all the books the library may have in the library about the presidents. Check our online catalog to see if we have any other books.

The American President by Sidney Hyman
Call Number: JK516.H9 1974
ISBN: 0837171709
Publication Date: 1974-01-01
The author Sidney Hyman is concerned here not only with a theory of the Presidency, but also with the structure and practice of Presidential leadership. If it is true that an English king or queen reigns but does not govern and that the French President does neither, it may well be argued that the American President, an officer unique among the governments of the world, does both. However bitter the electoral campaign, the winning candidate becomes President not alone of his own partisans but of all the people. The degree to which a given President translates this myth into reality is one measure of his greatness. When the myth breaks down as it did in 1861, and the rival forces stand at arms violent rebellion and civil war become the price of national salvation. Mr. Hyman suggests some measures of reform in this book and makes a substantial contribution to our understanding of this most important and baffling institution.
The American Presidents by David C. Whitney
Call Number: E176.1 .W6 1975B
ISBN: 0385112653
Publication Date: 1975-01-01
From birth to manhood, presidency and post-presidency, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENTS brings to life the men who have shaped the highest office in the land and affected the course of the United States from its founding to the present day. Beginning with George Washington, who had already refused to be made king of this country when he reluctantly accepted the office of president, this fascinating book takes the reader all the way through the 2008 election of Barack Obama. Each comprehensive yet concise portrait is written to bring the man behind the office vividly to life, including the influences of childhood, education and previous careers, style, and his successes and failures as president. Revealing anecdotes, famous (and infamous) quotes, and scholarly interpretations by historians capture each man's philosophy of leadership and his vision for America. A special section of tables at the end of the book summarizes important facts about the presidents and their terms of office, including information about first ladies, vice presidents, presidential elections, Cabinets and leading officials, political control of Congress, presidential historical sites, and much more.
Our Country's Presidents by Frank Freidel
Call Number: E176.1 .F79 1979
ISBN: 0870440241
Publication Date: 1973-01-01
A popularly written introduction to our presidents and their contributions.
America's Eleven Greatest Presidents by Morton Borden
Call Number: E176.1 .B77 1971
ISBN: 0528661035
Publication Date: 1986-07-01
[excerpt] "The office of President," Alexander Hamilton predicted in 1788, "will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications. . . . It will not be too strong to say, that there will be a constant probability of seeing the station filled by characters preeminent for ability and virtue." None of America's presidents can properly be described as evil; indeed, it is a remarkable tribute to this country's political sagacity that while many demagogues have aspired to that office, none has yet succeeded. On the other hand, it is also unquestionably true that most presidents have not possessed the stature envisioned by Hamilton.
Hamilton, in fact, would not have approved of several presidents included in this volume; nor will every reader. All such selections are comparative; tastes differ, values change, and measuring rods come in assorted sizes and colors. If public popularity were an important basis for deciding America's greatest presidents, Dwight Eisenhower would rate higher than Lincoln who was convinced he could not win a second term in 1864. If courage, devotion, or hard work were the sole criteria, John Quincy Adams would be outranked by few. If creativity or brilliance were the prime indices, Washington would fail to qualify. If a sense of moderation and an ability to compromise were crucial, Andrew Jackson must be struck from the list. If the projection of a favorable image were instrumental, Polk failed. If political leadership were the ultimate test, Cleveland was lucky and Wilson was inept in his second term. Finally, if the use of democratic means and a regard for legal and constitutional scruples were considered as sine qua non for presidential greatness, half the men included in this volume--and the better half--would not belong.
American Presidents and Education by Maurice R. Berube
Call Number: LC89 .B45 1991
ISBN: 0313278482
Publication Date: 1991-06-30
The role of the president of the United States in regard to education changed significantly following the end of World War II. As the U.S. economy became more sophisticated and the country emerged as the dominant technological and world power, the demand for an educated work force increased. In this work, Maurice R. Berube offers the first comprehensive analysis of the involvement of American presidents in educational policy, tracing the efforts of administrations from Washington to Bush, and chronicling the national and international pressures to shape educational policies that have characterized the post-World War II era. Berube's work takes the form of a policy study as he analyzes presidential programs in education, the reasons for their implementation, and their correlation to national educational outcomes. Beginning with the birth of the presidency, he examines successful programs that had a considerable impact and less successful efforts that were significant either ideologically or as forerunners of future policies. The constitutional constraints of the president's role in education are explored, as well as recent developments including the corporate presidency and the rhetorical presidency. Among the other issues addressed are education and the economy and the federal and state constitutions' views of a right to education. This work will be a unique and valuable resource for students of presidential history, the politics of education, and contemporary issues in education, as well as an important addition to public and academic library collections.
Presidents, Tidbits and Trivia by Sid Frank
Call Number: E176.1 .F789 1984
ISBN: 0517385929
Publication Date: 1988-08-10
Brief anecdotes and information concerning the private lives, habits, and personal likes and dislikes of America's presidents and their families are related.

U.S. Presidents: Presidents of the United States

President of the United States