A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House: Foolhardiness, Folly, and Fraud in the Presidential Elections, from Andrew Jackson to George W. Bush [Paperback]

David E. Johnson (Author), Johnny R. Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 2004

This book profiles eighteen of our funniest-some would say dirtiest-elections, from 1828, the first election in which all states had electors, to the "election from hell" in 2000. The book also includes chapters on Watergate and impeachment, a final summarizing chapter, and a "gallery" containing an official photograph and an outrageous saying about each president by one of his contemporaries.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There’s plenty of free entertainment to be had on the campaign trail, suggest the authors of this updated volume, first published in 1983. Able storytellers Johnson and Johnson, two retired Alabama college professors, explore 18 elections from 1828 to 2000 to prove that in presidential campaign rhetoric, "a little slander or a few well-placed potshots are as American as apple pie." Certainly, this collection of anecdotes shows that gratuitous mudslinging sometimes sidelines constructive debate—and has since the earliest days of the republic. During the 1840 election, for example, Martin Van Buren was castigated for his peculiar personal hygiene—he actually took regular baths. A relative of Abraham Lincoln claimed he wouldn’t vote for the "disgraceful" candidate in 1864 even to save himself from Hell. Theodore Roosevelt scoffed that William Taft, one of his two 1912 challengers, possessed "brains of about three guinea-pig power." The authors trace the pivotal moments of modern campaigns as well, from Harry Truman’s upset victory over a presumptuous Thomas Dewey, through Richard Nixon’s awkward appearance in the first-ever televised debates against a relaxed, confident John Kennedy, to Bill Clinton’s cutting campaign mantra, "It’s the economy, stupid." Marred by huge payoffs to state election officials and disputed returns from several states (including Florida), Rutherford B. Hayes’ 1876 win provoked as much outrage as the 2000 election (described here as "The Election from Hell"), with some newspapers labeling the hapless victor, "Rutherfraud." Raffish political cartoons illustrate the vignettes, and a presidential portrait gallery, based on 1991 best-to-worst rankings, concludes the book. As the latest race ignites, readers may enjoy a chortle over the otherwise serious business of electing a president.
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Review

A hilarious book that shines light on the vast history of irreverence for the most scared elected office in the nation. (Ed Reynolds, Black and White Magazine )

It's a real education. (Tom Brooker, Door County Advocate )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (July 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589791509
• ISBN-13: 978-1589791503
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( J ) > Jackson, Andrew

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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 a must-read for history buffs, March 18, 2009

By 

N. Forshaw (Alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House: Foolhardiness, Folly, and Fraud in Presidential Elections, From Andrew Jackson to George W. Bush (Hardcover)

This book was hilarious as well as educational. It's very interesting to see how insults and scandals have changed over time. What was outrageous in Lincoln's day has become ordinary and commonplace now. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history and politics.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Funny Thing Happened....., October 11, 2011

By 

Steven D. Wittberger "Steve Wittberger" (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House: Foolhardiness, Folly, and Fraud in the Presidential Elections, from Andrew Jackson to George W. Bush (Paperback)

A very intersting account of some of the nefarious means of how our Presidents get elected and the lengths to which parties will go to get their candidate in office. Well worth a read.

5.0 out of 5 stars A TERRIFIC BOOK!, March 20, 2009

By 

N. Forshaw (Alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House: Foolhardiness, Folly, and Fraud in the Presidential Elections, from Andrew Jackson to George W. Bush (Paperback)

This book was hilarious as well as educational. It's very interesting to see how insults and scandals have changed over time. What was outrageous in Lincoln's day has become ordinary and commonplace now. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history and politics.