Fishing with the Presidents [Paperback]

Bill Mares (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

Anecdotal lore about our fishing presidents. Historic photos, political cartoons, excerpts from journals, letters, diaries, interviews.

"Lighthearted and entertaining." --Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

"All men," Herbert Hoover noted, "are equal before fish." Even presidents. Mares, former member of the Vermont House of Representatives and author of eight previous books, has written an informative and often witty book on the fishing exploits of America's presidents. We learn that George Washington was, for a time, a commercial fisherman, that FDR had a special chair built into his boats to allow him to fish, and that Ike tried in vain to teach his vice-presidential running mate Richard Nixon to fly fish. "It was a disaster," Nixon admitted. "After hooking a limb the first three times, I caught my shirt on the fourth try. The lessons ended abruptly." Jimmy Carter loved fishing but admitted to being "piscatorially retarded." This lighthearted and entertaining book offers insights into the personalities and leisure habits of the presidents. Mares, it should be noted, rates Grover Cleveland as his favorite presidential fisherman. Recommended for larger public libraries.?Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Bill Mares graduated cum laude in history from Harvard and holds an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He served from 1985-1991 in the Vermont House of Representatives, is a former journalist and has written eight previous books. He teaches history at Champlain Valley Union High School in Vermont.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811727688
• ISBN-13: 978-0811727686
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #425,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply an excellent book for political fans and fishers alik, April 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fishing with the Presidents (Paperback)

Mares obviously loves his sport, and, loves presidential history. Readers will learn a side of America's leaders they were probably unaware of. And, they'll learn a thing or two about fishing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book for several reasons., March 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fishing with the Presidents (Paperback)

First, and most obviously and most crassly, it shows how other United States Presidents have enjoyed (and could enjoy) their leisure-time in less controversial ways. Secondly, it's a lot of fun. Along with the fish-tales and other anecdotes, the book is filled with wonderful political cartoons from long-ago. The issues keep changing, but the presidents keep on fishing! Lastly, it introduces the reader to the tip of the iceberg that is fly-fishing literature. Three presidents have enjoyed the art of fly-fishing so much, they have been moved to write books on the subject. Hundreds of other authors have rhapsodized, philosophized and just plain instructed on fly-fishing, that this book will serve as a good primer for the person just wading into this pool of literature.

4.0 out of 5 stars fishing with the presidents, August 9, 2011

By 

janet - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fishing with the Presidents (Paperback)

product is as offered but was surprised to pay 2 shippiing fees on the 2 books when they arrived in the same package.