Customer Reviews

All the Presidents' Children: Triumph and Tragedy in the Lives of America's First Families

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Doug Wead has an approach that is somewhere between history, psychology, gossip, inspiration, and side splitting humor. From young Lincoln to Teddy Roosevelt's daughter, it is hard to put this book down. As a fervent reader of history and biographies, I got not only what I expected, i.e., insight into the family legacies left by our nation's leaders, but also, a very funny, sometimes almost irreverent yet touching narrative with the most unexpected protagonists. Obviously, it's not easy growing up as a President's kid. Weads depiction of historical facts and events is a wonderful time machine that brings us into the most intimate moments and secrets of the anterooms of power. I'd like to get my hands on other books Wead wrote.

Doug Wead, in "All the Presidents'Children," has written a masterful book that is enticing, insightful, and brings vivid color and understanding of our American Presidents through their offspring. The lives of these children range from thrilling to tragic. It matters whom these children were, whether their youth brought smiles to the population (the adorable baby Ruth Cleveland who died too young, the vibrant Caroline and John Kennedy, Jr. who helped our nation heal) or their earnest commitment to social causes, internationalism, democracy, faith, and sacrifice (Margaret Woodrow Wilson) formed a covenant of peace with nations such as France. This book will fascinate, inspire awe, and be passed from one generation to the next. It is perfect family reading and a must for all history buffs. Each story is riveting. Each life was worthwhile and deserves our attention. Only a storyteller with the insight and sensitivity of Doug Wead could bring dignity to these distinguished and often beloved children. It truly is a "MUST READ!"

I have read most of the biographies writtern in recent years about America's first families but this book is by far one of the best. The first impression you will get is the amount of work that was put into the research. I have read all the biographies available on Washington, Lincoln, Grant, kennedy, Bush and yet there was information I never read in other books. The color and black/ white photographs are a nice touch.Doug Wead has done a really good job of telling the reader what became of these Presidental children after the White House.

This is one of the finest historical yet entertaining books I have ever read. This book is a must read not only for lovers of history but for parents raising children. Author, Doug Wead effectively presents timeless principles from the lives of America's leaders. I plan to purchase several more copies of this book as gifts for family members, co-workers and friends.

A fun book to read, once you start it's hard to put down. It's easy to find a time frame of your special interest. The reference and source detail is the best I've ever seen. The thorough coverage on every offspring with detailed background on their lives is most impressive. These are stories that need to be told for people to truly understand the high price and sacrifice our presidents and their families make in serving our country. You must own this book for yourself and as a future reference for your children. Doug Wead deserves a special thanks for identifying this unique topic with a first class presentation.

According to author Doug Wead, being the child of a president is a real negative factor towards childrens chances of success. This theme is pervasive though the stories of presidential children. The author rightfully points out the pressure on presidential children, even before our current media emphasis on the White House and its occupants.

But there seems to be a bit of historial snobbery in the thesis. That is to say, well into the 19th century, children were seen as little adults. The distance between presidents and their children was not merely a presidential "flaw." It was not uncommon for children to be sent to boarding schools and farmed out by parents. Child labor was not seen as a social evil. It was a different society and we should not impose our 20th century values on 18th and 19th century. Family life was different in certain sections of the society. Children were often raised by care givers rather than parents in certain levels of the society.

There is a great deal of valuable information relating to scions of presidents and some great points of trivia. The writing is straight forward and no frills. The stories prior to 1950 seem to be more comprehensive and readable perhaps because the subsequent children are still alive and it is impossible to put them into true historical context.

I read the large print edition of this work. Though this is not my usual medium, it is not the first large print that I ever read. However, the set up of the pages and the lack of an index made finding information difficult, unless you read the work like a novel. If looking for stories about specific person, there was no way to do it.

Appendix A, which is a chronological list of the presidential children was helpful in supplying basic information, but the chapter headings do not disclose the persons discussed.

The author did an admirable job. The printer of the large print edition did him a disservice.

This is a book that fills a void in the historical record of Presidential Families. There is piecemeal information in other volumes, but this book brings all the history into one very readable account. Mr. Wead is known to be close to the Bush Family, and thus he appears to have a personal reason to research this aspect of the Presidency.

I teach classes on"First Ladies", and my audience had urged me to tell them more about their children, but I had been largely unsuccessful at finding interesting, reliable information which covered the President's children, their joys, health, and trials and tribulations, including their similarities in how they coped with their celebrity with all its benefits and disadvantages.
This is a book that anyone who is interested in people and history should enjoy and find enlightening. This is facts, not gossip.

Doug Wead, in "All the Presidents'Children," has written a masterful book that is enticing, insightful, and brings vivid color and understanding of our American Presidents through their offspring. The lives of these children range from thrilling to tragic. It matters whom these children were, whether their youth brought smiles to the population (the adorable baby Ruth Cleveland who died too young, the vibrant Caroline and John Kennedy, Jr. who helped our nation heal) or their earnest commitment to social causes, internationalism, democracy, faith, and sacrifice (Margaret Woodrow Wilson) formed a covenant of peace with nations such as France. This book will fascinate, inspire awe, and be passed from one generation to the next. It is perfect family reading and a must for all history buffs. Each story is riveting. Each life was worthwhile and deserves our attention. Only a storyteller with the insight and sensitivity of Doug Wead could bring dignity to these distinguished and often beloved children. It truly is a "MUST READ!"

The children of presidents must feel like all the eyes of the world are watching every move they make. Doug Wead tells their stories with compassion and care, and objectivity. The children grown up are often legends in their own right, and still they were children once upon a time. Mr. Wead sets the stories in the framework of history to make this a fascinating and informative book. If you like history, and real life, this is great reading.

I just finished reading Doug Wead's book on presidential children. I found it to be fascinating to read about the children of our presidents and how each of these families were shaped and influenced by the activities of their presidential fathers. It was quite apparent that presidents and their wives in the earlier years of our nation were quite strict and expected too much of their children so that many of them had difficulty meeting those expectations. On the other hand, there were a few who rose above their identities to become recognized for their own contributions to society. Fortunately, presidential children have fared much better in the latter half of this century. Mr. Wead ends the book with describing the personalities of the only two men in our history to follow their fathers in the role of president of the United States. This book is a thorough and well-written narrative giving an inside look at presidential families and how they were affected by this highest office in our nation and molded by expectations both within their families and by society at the time. For anyone that likes history, Wead's book on presidential children should be a "must-read" and part of their personal collection.