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Presidential Temples: How Memorials and Libraries Shape Public Memory

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This book compares the various modern presidents' efforts to construct their own public memory. These modern, self-promoted presidents are compared as a group compared to Lincoln who occupies the first chapter. Though Lincoln was directive of his image, it became iconic after his death. Modern presidents construct their images directly before they die through the Presidential Libraries.

Remember those true presidential giants? FDR, Harry Truman, and LBJ--and larger-than-life Bill Clinton. Did you know that FDR was his own architect for his presidential library at Hyde Park? Jefferson wasn't the only architect-president. But most fun of all is to get another look in the imperial-yet-downhome machinations of Lyndon Johnson as he strove create a library that rivaled the Egyptian tombs. OK, so it looks like a scholarly book--and it is, but there is a lot of good reading here. Hufbauer is too polite to employ his scholarship to point out what intellectual pygmies some of our leaders are, and now more than ever, it is important to understand the significance of memory in national life.