Tim Taylor

This book will become a classic. It is exquisitely documented, based on John Dickerson's extensive study of the history of the American Presidency. I listened to his "Whistlestop" podcasts years ago where he examined interesting features of many different presidencies and presidential campaigns. I'm sure that much of the research done for these contributed to this fine volume. Technically, I found it to be near perfect. The footnotes are plentiful and add much to the narratives. The chapters are relatively short - he gets to the point and yet illustrates each topic vividly with a multitude of quotes and much context around the actions of the various characters. Just about the time another author might be getting tedious and repetitious, he moves on to a new aspect, a new chapter. A book like this, at a time like this could easily have been turned into an anti-Trump screed. Nothing of the kind here! There were many cases he cited that actually put Trump in a kindlier light than we are accustomed to see him. Trump is, indeed, a frequent subject, as the changes he has wrought in the Presidency are many. But I thought Dickerson was eminently fair. As many of us might say, Trump manufactures much of his own misery, seemingly deliberately. The final chapter tries to sum everything up and intellectually launch we readers on a new political path. It may well prove to be too optimistic, but one cannot fault Dickerson for a lack of recommendations. They all make sense. One cannot help but wonder if we, the polity, deserve anything better. Let's hope so.