Customer Reviews

Andrew Johnson: A Biography

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While the "personal" Johnson is given adequate attention, this book works so well because it concentrates on the political realm, a rarity in these days of social history and psychoanalytical treatises. Of course, the impeachment trial is of primary interest, but the focus on Johnson's overwhelming ambition was appreciated as well. Despite his stubborn attitude, inflexibility, and undeniable racism, Johnson was a committed Jacksonian and sought throughout his political life to promote policies friendly to his agrarian philosophy. Because his presidency represented a key transition in American history (a definite weakening of the Executive until TR as well as a regrettable loss of Reconstruction opportunities), Johnson is, with Polk, Lincoln, and Jackson, one of the key figures of the 19th century. Overall, a solid book worthy of a wide readership.

I read this book in my ongoing project to read a biography of each President. The best part of this book in my opinion was the length. A lot of biographers lengthen their book to a point where it becomes too detailed and hard to read. That was not the case here.

Johnson was not a great president, nor was he a great person. And, other than the Civil War and Reconstruction he didn't have a key stake in American History. Why go overboard? And the author didn't.

I've read many very wonderful presidential biographies. Truman was fantastic and was 900 pages because it shouldn've been. The 3-part bio on Nixon was 1800 pages and should've been because a lot went on during Nixon's life in politics.

This bio, much like the Andrew Jackson bio I read, was between 300 and 400 pages.... detailed enough to tell the story but not detailed to the point where I got lost or just flat lost interest.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read about Andrew Johnson but if you are looking to make a life out of studying the man it is probably not the book for you because it is not overly detailed.

It was exactly what I was looking for though, well-written, well-researched and gave me a good overview of a President that I have always wanted to know more about. He definitely was not of high moral character and definitely played to his southern base with his actions surrounding reconstruction. That said, I did find it interesting that he was demonized at times by both his colleagues and the press.

Sounds like aside from his thinking in regards to blacks and slavery he was a good and honest man that tried to do what was right most of the time. That was something the author did a very good job detailing and I appreciated it.

Hans Louis Trefousse's biography of Andrew Johnson paints a balanced portrait of this unique political figure. After completing the work I walked away with a feeling that Trefousse was neither a cheerleader for the president nor out to condemn Andrew Johnson. The book gives good detail on his rise to power and his continual fight for the homestead act and against government intervention. It also shows that Johnson was far from a perfect figure and never could overcome his own prejudices against the former slaves. The book also has good detail on the impeachment of Andrew Johnson but does not make it the sole focus of the book. In general it is a good read, but at times becomes cumbersome in its detail. Overall, I would recommend the book to anyone looking for a more complete picture of the country's first impeached president.

Treffousse's look at the 17th President of the United States is a fair and well-balanced look at this driven politician. The reader will be left with little doubt that Johnson's racism was his biggest flaw in both his political and personal life. The impeachment is featured but does not dominate the book as it should not.

It gave a good overall picture to Johnson's life. It gave details about his life, home, and political tenure. It was a book that was usually interesting because of the author's style of writing. It picutured him in an objective light so that the read could form his or her own opinion about the former President.

For those looking for a thorough and fair book on Andrew Johnson this is the place to start. His tumultuous career from building himself from nothing to achieving the presidency proves to be a fascinating story. The look at rural Tennessee politics through the state machines of centered in Nashville provides a fascinating contradiction of times to today. Quick thinking and stump speaking were the tools of the politicians and Andrew Johnson proved to be a master.

Johnson may have been on of the most conservative presidents in our history favoring the reduction in government and keeping government out of all aspects of life and trade. His viewpoints provided a strong counter to the internal improvements crowd of the time and he went so far as to even oppose government funded roads. His strong sense of union left him in a position to be an obvious candidate for the vice presidency despite his previous breaking with party lines. As Lincolns vice president he would serve a function of representing the south's interest. Before his ascension to that position he had been the military governor of Tennessee and worked tirelessly to bring the state back into the union and ensure that it would be loyal afterwards despite accusations of his forming a dictatorship.

Johnson served as president between two strong factions that Lincoln had kept balanced out. Johnson did not have Lincoln's political savvy and it led to his impeachment but not conviction. While he was unable to run again for the presidency he was able to stay active in politics and served his party well. Andrew Johnson is a great political enigma and one that is often ignored. This is a highly recommended biography to learn more about a man who is not studied often.

I am currently reading a biography of every President in order. Hans Trefousse' biography of Andrew Johnson certainly seemed to be the best choice for a comprehensive biography of our 17th President.

From an academic standpoint, it is hard to criticize Trefousse's work. He has obviously done the necessary research and is thoroughly well versed in the history of the times. Indeed, this biography is complete and in depth enough and should meet most everyone's expectations. Trefousse clearly understands Johnson and his proper relationship to American history. The only reason I was unable to give this biography a full five stars is the writing is a bit uninspired and doesn't achieve a level of excellence that merits special recognition. The book is more than satisfactory in completing its task but ultimately is only going to appeal to those already interested in the subject matter.

After reading this biography I am still of the opinion that it is likely the best one available for Andrew Johnson. Indeed, it certainly exceeds expectations for a comprehensive biography of a relatively unknown President.

I found this book was fair to Johnson, despite the author's reputation as friendly to the Radical Republicans. I found myself believing that the failure of the Senate to impeach Johnson was a good thing, since he obviously was not guilty of an impeachable offense--even as our current president was not. Johnson was actually an able politician and a good President, but his bias against blacks caused him to err grievously in regard to them.

I knew almost nothing about Andrew Johnson before reading this book other than he inherited the presidency after Lincoln. I was most interested to see how he handled such a difficult situation and found that he didn't. I had no idea he was such a racist - basically undoing all that Lincoln had set about to do to grant basic rights to the freedmen from emancipation - while letting the Southern secessionists off the hook. What a mess he left us in. I have read a half dozen presidential biographies and find Johnson to clearly be the worst. The book is painstakingly researched and the detail at times is too much - especially about Johnson's political wheeling and dealing - it got so I had to skip sections to get through it - or needed a huge scorecard to remember who was who.

Necessary reading if you're trying to understand Andrew Johnson, a man who created enemies with ease. From Johnson's early days to his passing, this books help one to understand his peculiar personality. Easy and entertaining to read.