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Joshua C. Kendall
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First Dads: Parenting and Politics from George Washington to Barack Obama Kindle Edition

by Joshua Kendall (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 61 ratings
Every president has had some experience as a parent. Of the 43 men who have served in the nation's highest office, 38 have fathered biological children and the other five adopted children. Each president's parenting style reveals much about his beliefs as well as his psychological make-up. James Garfield enjoyed jumping on the bed with his kids. FDR's children, on the other hand, had to make appointments to talk to him.

In a lively narrative, based on research in archives around the country, Kendall shows presidential character in action. Readers will learn which type of parent might be best suited to leading the American people and, finally, how the fathering experiences of our presidents have forever changed the course of American history.
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  1. Print length
    381 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grand Central Publishing
  4. Publication date
    September 29, 2015
  5. File size
    4.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Kendall is good at linking a president's strengths or failures as a parent to his success or failure at governing....Kendall's book also provides delightful peeks at life inside the White House.Daniel Jones, The New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Joshua C. Kendall is the author of The Man Who Made Lists, about the creation of Roget's Thesaurus, and The Forgotten Founding Father, a biography of Noah Webster, the lexicographer responsible for Webster's Dictionary. He is also an award-winning journalist, with work in the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Psychology Today, and BusinessWeek, among other publications. He is an Associate Fellow of Yale's Trumbull College.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0151YQUOY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing (September 29, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 29, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.8 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 381 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 61 ratings

About the author

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Joshua C. Kendall

Joshua C. Kendall

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
61 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book interesting to read and appreciate its historical content, describing it as a history lesson. One customer specifically mentions learning interesting facts about various presidents.

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13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and interesting to read, with one customer noting that the chapters have good titles.

"...The research covered so much that was unknown to me. Very gifted author." Read more

"I enjoyed the book very much, some stories were very sad. Loved Trddy Rosevelt and President Obama stories the most!" Read more

"...The chapters had good titles, but inside the chapters the text would start with one president who fit that category, then skipped to other..." Read more

"...It is well worth reading. Lit Maxwell" Read more

6 customers mention "Information quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative, with several noting it serves as a history lesson. One customer specifically mentions learning interesting facts about the various presidents, while another appreciates the insight into former presidents' relationships.

"Excellent history regarding the personalities of these presidents. The research covered so much that was unknown to me. Very gifted author." Read more

"...I liked the premise of the book and also learned some interesting facts about the various presidents, I found the organization of the book confusing...." Read more

"...A lot of supposition and assumption to draw correlation. Great premise, but does not shake out in the end...." Read more

"this book provides an insight to the relationship of former iPresidents to their offspring...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Traveler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent history regarding the personalities of these presidents.
    The research covered so much that was unknown to me. Very gifted author.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed the book very much
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed the book very much, some stories were very sad. Loved Trddy Rosevelt and President Obama stories the most!
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  • DrButler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great alternative way to view the men who have been ...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Great alternative way to view the men who have been president. Takes the politics out of the picture. My only critique is that there was not enough made of the part that history and culture play in the way that both men and women perform their roles as parents. Their place in society is also a powerful influence. There is accident that there is commonality among the Senior Bushes, Roosevelt, and Kennedys. They are old New England money. They are products of their ancestors. Teddy, was the outlier there, as George W., perhaps. One error -- BIll Clinton changed diapers, too, I think. I was living in Little Rock when Chelsea was born. There was no nanny at the Mansion. The only help they had was an elderly African American maid who came and went during the day. I know she offered some motherly advice. Bth Bill and Hillary took leave to be home with the baby. HIllary took Chelsea to work with her when she went back to the law office.
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  • Short Southern Priest
    2.0 out of 5 stars I really wanted to like this book
    Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I really wanted to like this book. Have read many books on politics, history and various Presidents and was interested in this authors research and analysis of their roles as fathers. Although there were a few interviews with the children of presidents and some insight based on journals and letters,most of the book was based on the research and books already published. In addition, it is not very well written. I struggled to finish it.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Beverly Britton
    3.0 out of 5 stars Book's organization needed improving
    Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    While I liked the premise of the book and also learned some interesting facts about the various presidents, I found the organization of the book confusing. The chapters had good titles, but inside the chapters the text would start with one president who fit that category, then skipped to other presidents, and then sometimes went back to the first one. When this happened there was a repeat of previous information. The book just felt like it needed a better editor. I would have preferred finishing with one president before starting on another one.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Lit Maxwell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Presidents As Parents
    Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I purchased this book after hearing Kendall lecture about why and how he conceived and wrote it. He fulfilled my expectations and I learned quite a bit for his comments on United States Presidents as fathers. It is well worth reading. Lit Maxwell
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  • ma
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    While I understand the correlation, it is a stretch. A lot of supposition and assumption to draw correlation. Great premise, but does not shake out in the end. You simply do not know a person’s heart or mind.
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  • Harold Kirsh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Are you certain you want your parent to seek the Presidency?
    Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    this book provides an insight to the relationship of former iPresidents to their offspring. And it is startling to discover how that relationship--governed their own success. Unfortunately, for the most part the children paid dearly for the privilege as the Presidents were derelict by their inactions. They paid the penalty.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Finchley
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book for the reader with an interest in Paternity, Psychology and the Presidency
    Reviewed in Canada on August 7, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is a book for the reader who is fascinated by family dynamics and how they might have an effect upon history. A familiarity with the American presidency is also helpful in navigating this book. It is ideal for the reader who has those two characteristics. The book divides the Presidents into several characteristics as parents (step parenthood is given the respect it deserves). Among these are the overly demanding father (Tiger Dad?) ; the playful parent; the parent in mourning for a dead child; the preoccupied parent and the nurturant parent. 18 presidents are discussed in detail. The way in which their parenting styles were reflected in their governing style is discussed. I found the book fascinating. One interesting point. Thomas Jefferson and his relationship with his slave Sally Hemmings has gotten a great deal of attention. He should be contrasted with John Tyler and his relationships with many enslaved women and his total lack of care for their offspring. Jefferson, a man of his times, imperfect as he may have been, deserves less harshness than he has received.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Maria A. Mayor Civit
    2.0 out of 5 stars Could be way better
    Reviewed in Spain on November 10, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I found it kind of boring. Maybe the style (long paragrapheswithout interruption), the coming back and forth in history, and while trying to give a historical environment to the reader, it focuses way too much on it and this causes the book being boring, becoming more a history book (the kind of boring history) than a book about first dads. On the other side, omitting some of the more important presidents of our time it's unforgivable.
    One person found this helpful
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