Reviews
"&a fascinating, level-headed, and insightful look at the pratfalls that marked our leaders' march to destiny. Great stuff." - Cormac O'Brien , author of The Forgotten History of America and Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents , "Thomas J. Craughwell has brought us presidents behaving execrably and what a great read it is. From George Washington's misadventure with taxing whiskey to another George W's decision to invade Iraq, this book captures chief executive miscalculation, malfeasance, and maladroitness in all its glory. We learn as much from our failures as our triumphs and we'll all learn a great deal from this enjoyable slice of living history." - Joseph Cummins , author of The World's Bloodiest History and The War Chronicles: From Flintlocks to Machine Guns , "…a fascinating, level-headed, and insightful look at the pratfalls that marked our leaders' march to destiny. Great stuff." -Cormac O'Brien, author ofThe Forgotten History of AmericaandSecret Lives of the U.S. Presidents , "…a fascinating, level-headed, and insightful look at the pratfalls that marked our leaders' march to destiny. Great stuff." - Cormac O'Brien , author of The Forgotten History of Americaand Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, "Thomas J. Craughwell has brought us presidents behaving execrably and what a great read it is. From George Washington's misadventure with taxing whiskey to another George W's decision to invade Iraq, this book captures chief executive miscalculation, malfeasance, and maladroitness in all its glory. We learn as much from our failures as our triumphs and we'll all learn a great deal from this enjoyable slice of living history." -- Joseph Cummins , author of The World's Bloodiest History and The War Chronicles: From Flintlocks to Machine Guns , "...a fascinating, level-headed, and insightful look at the pratfalls that marked our leaders' march to destiny. Great stuff." -- Cormac O'Brien , author of The Forgotten History of America and Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, Failures of the Presidents: From the Whiskey Rebellion and War of 1812 to the Bay of Pigs and War in Iraq.Fair Winds: Quayside. Oct. 2008. c.320p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-59233-299-1. pap. $19.99. HIST "The cover showing the Father of Our Country with egg on his face may lead readers to think they're in for a romp, but this is, in fact, a serious journey, handsomely illustrated, providing narratives on 20 episodes of presidential failure. In the introduction, the authors explain why Bill Clinton is not included, impeachment notwithstanding, while both Bushes are, and it makes sense. The writing offers accessible pathways through the thicket of American history, but signposts like 'Tricky Dick' remind us that there's some attitude here. There are also details that get lost along the way. Still, the results are a good bet for school and public libraries." -Library Journal, October 2008, " The cover showing the Father of Our Country with egg on his face may lead readers to think they're in for a romp, but this is, in fact, a serious journey, handsomely illustrated, providing narratives on 20 episodes of presidential failure. In the introduction, the authors explain why Bill Clinton is not included, impeachment notwithstanding, while both Bushes are, and it makes sense. The writing offers accessible pathways through the thicket of American history, but signposts like'Tricky Dick'remind us that there's some attitude here. There are also details that get lost along the way. Still, the results are a good bet for school and public libraries." -Library Journal, October 2008, " The cover showing the Father of Our Country with egg on his face may lead readers to think they're in for a romp, but this is, in fact, a serious journey, handsomely illustrated, providing narratives on 20 episodes of presidential failure. In the introduction, the authors explain why Bill Clinton is not included, impeachment notwithstanding, while both Bushes are, and it makes sense. The writing offers accessible pathways through the thicket of American history, but signposts like 'Tricky Dick' remind us that there's some attitude here. There are also details that get lost along the way. Still, the results are a good bet for school and public libraries." -Library Journal, October 2008, "Thomas J. Craughwell has brought us presidents behaving execrably and what a great read it is. From George Washington's misadventure with taxing whiskey to another George W's decision to invade Iraq, this book captures chief executive miscalculation, malfeasance, and maladroitness in all its glory. We learn as much from our failures as our triumphs and we'll all learn a great deal from this enjoyable slice of living history." -- Joseph Cummins , author of The World's Bloodiest History and The War Chronicles: From Flintlocksto Machine Guns, "...a fascinating, level-headed, and insightful look at the pratfalls that marked our leaders' march to destiny. Great stuff." -- Cormac O'Brien , author of The Forgotten History of America and Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents , "The cover showing the Father of Our Country with egg on his face may lead readers to think they're in for a romp, but this is, in fact, a serious journey, handsomely illustrated, providing narratives on 20 episodes of presidential failure. In the introduction, the authors explain why Bill Clinton is not included, impeachment notwithstanding, while both Bushes are, and it makes sense. The writing offers accessible pathways through the thicket of American history, but signposts like 'Tricky Dick' remind us that there's some attitude here. There are also details that get lost along the way. Still, the results are a good bet for school and public libraries." -Library Journal, October 2008, "…a fascinating, level-headed, and insightful look at the pratfalls that marked our leaders' march to destiny. Great stuff." - Cormac O'Brien , author of The Forgotten History of America and Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, "&a fascinating, level-headed, and insightful look at the pratfalls that marked our leaders' march to destiny. Great stuff." - Cormac O'Brien , author of The Forgotten History of Americaand Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents , "Thomas J. Craughwell has brought us presidents behaving execrably and what a great read it is. From George Washington's misadventure with taxing whiskey to another George W's decision to invade Iraq, this book captures chief executive miscalculation, malfeasance, and maladroitness in all its glory. We learn as much from our failures as our triumphs and we'll all learn a great deal from this enjoyable slice of living history." -Joseph Cummins, author ofThe World's Bloodiest History and The War Chronicles: From Flintlocksto Machine Guns
