Vanity Fair's Presidential Profiles: Defining Portraits, Deeds, and Misdeeds of 43 Notable Americans--And What Each One Really Thought About His Predecessor [Hardcover]

Graydon Carter (Editor), Mark Summers (Illustrator), Todd S. Purdum (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2010

Forty-three men have held the highest office in the United States, making up an exclusive club of statesmen and sinners, grinds and slackers, winners and losers, Boy Scouts and rogues. They are profiled in incisive and entertaining commentaries written by Vanity Fair contributors Judy Bachrach, David Friend, David Kamp, Todd S. Purdum, and Jim Windolf that tell of their deeds, plumb their characters, and dispense the essential dish about their personal lives. Portraits newly drawn by the acclaimed artist Mark Summers illuminate each of them as vivid individuals. Also included: revealing remarks-in the presidents' own words-showing what each really thought about the man who had preceded him in the Oval Office, an introduction by Graydon Carter, and a foreword by Washington insider Todd S. Purdum.

 

From George Washington to Barack Obama, here is a memorable chronicle of America's, and the world's, most powerful men, combining history, biography, art, politics, and gossip--and covering international affairs, domestic affairs, and . . . affairs of the heart--in one small, indispensable volume.

 

Advance praise for Vanity Fair’s Presidential Profiles

 

“I have had the honor of interviewing every U.S. president since Richard Nixon. But oh, how I wish I had had a copy of Vanity Fair’s Presidential Profiles. It is chock full of insights and information I would have relished.”
-Barbara Walters, ABC News

“Just what we’ve come to expect from Graydon Carter and the talented teams he assembles for Vanity Fair projects—a collection of smart, well researched pieces, beautifully illustrated and filled with details and quotes we never seem to find elsewhere. This one is a keeper.”
-Bob Schieffer, chief Washington correspondent, CBS News

“This is the story of who we are, as measured by those we have elected to lead us. White men, overwhelmingly…12 military generals among them. What else does it say about us?  This is essential reading— a citizens' guide to American Presidents, written in classic American style.  May we learn from all of them…the good, the bad, the ugly.”
-Brian Williams, anchor and managing Editor, NBC Nightly News
 
“A must read for American history addicts like myself. It's also a fun resource for casual browsers who will enjoy its beautifully rendered illustrations and the pithy essays by America's greatest writers who have assembled biographical highlights and lively anecdotes that bring to life each of our nation's elected executives.”
-Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
 
“Deftly combines portraits and prose with Vanity Fair’s unmistakable style. The result is an informative and entertaining chronology of American presidents."  
-Vernon E. Jordan, Jr, senior managing director, Lazard Frères & Co. LLC, and chairman of the Clinton-Gore transition team
 
“A great historical contribution to the American library—an indispensible guide to those who aspire to public office. The Mark Summers illustrations are a magnificent study in character and leadership. Graydon Carter’s and Todd S. Purdum’s contributions are intellectually superb. Having covered ten presidents, I just love the book.”
–Helen Thomas, columnist, Hearst newspapers

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Graydon Carter is the editor of Vanity Fair and the author of What We've Lost, about the consequences for America and the world of the administration of George W. Bush. Todd S. Purdum is the national editor and a contributor to Vanity Fair. Previously, he was Los Angeles bureau chief and a White House correspondent for The New York Times. Mark Summers is a Canadian illustrator. He is best-known for the illustrations of literary figures that are used in corporate branding by Barnes & Noble.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Abrams; 1 edition (February 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810984873
• ISBN-13: 978-0810984875
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #569,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hail to the Chiefs, February 16, 2010

By 

wogan "the book reader" - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Vanity Fair's Presidential Profiles: Defining Portraits, Deeds, and Misdeeds of 43 Notable Americans--And What Each One Really Thought About His Predecessor (Hardcover)

If I had my way this 102 page book would be required reading in every US History class. It makes the presidents human and alive and gives great historical insight. It tells who each of the presidents were and a great deal of their background, beliefs and accomplishments. Each biographical sketch is poetically written, done on one page with a portrait drawing on the next page. There are interesting facts on each president right up to Obama and his Nobel Peace Prize. Included are statements from each president on his predecessor and a list of who is who on money and coins.
This is a book extremely worthy of note on the historical account about each of America's presidents.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars How could a simple book go wrong like this?, March 25, 2010

By 

Christina (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vanity Fair's Presidential Profiles: Defining Portraits, Deeds, and Misdeeds of 43 Notable Americans--And What Each One Really Thought About His Predecessor (Hardcover)

I understand how the pages are small which really makes it hard to tell the whole story of each President. But it seems the pages did have enough space to give a nice fair summary to some degree.

Mind you, I'm not saying this entire book is poor. Many of the President's pages were fine reads. But where they went bad on some pages, BOY did they go BAD.

The book seems to just flit by George Washington. I wasn't left with any impression of him or any of the founding fathers to be exact. The book seems to not really bother with them.

Of course, Thomas Jefferson's page seems to only focus on him being an "slaveowner" and spends the rest half of the page talking in some detail about his courtship with a slave woman. (which I agree is true) But honestly, the whole half of the page?? Thomas Jefferson had a lot of summary-worthy deeds to mention. It felt more scolding and ridiculing than an honest summary.

It doesn't shed light on how Woodrow Wilson wasn't really effective in his term which pitched Isolationism to the US and just seems to gush about his peace-seeking ideals and intelligence. (which weren't effective)

Whereas, it goes on to say how Teddy Roosevelt won a Noble Peace Prize that he could "hang on the wall next to his heads of elk and deer." And eloquently ends his page with retiring to likely go planning a kill hunt on animals.

The most shocking came when I reached Bill Clinton. It mentions nothing about the Lewinsky scandal and his impeachment and only sung of his "deeds." This was the page that did it for me. Being the 2nd president to be impeached is rather worthy of recognition in a mere summary, don't you think?

The most ridiculous is when it gets to Obama and accuses that people who are against him are those who don't accept his position yet. His page seemed more like opinion rather than a summary.

The way I see it, if you make a statement that says you'll point out the deeds and misdeeds of 43 presidents, you do it fairly.

I give this 2-stars only because I enjoyed was the pencil art of the Presidents. Really wonderful job by the illustrator, Mark Summers.

Where this book falls apart is just the pages I were bothered with. The book seems to focus on pointing out the "misdeeds" of only particular presidents and the deeds of others.

I know this is a book that overviews the Presidents so if you go and buy it, then it's obvious you're not getting the whole story. Remember that though. And don't let the impression that the summaries leave you with certain men to be the whole truth either. I really wanted to like this book. It was unnecessary for it to turn out this way.
It's not the worst book I've read or one of the bad. It's just a real disappointment...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Presidential Profiles, February 22, 2010

By 

Chris Graham (Colorado) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vanity Fair's Presidential Profiles: Defining Portraits, Deeds, and Misdeeds of 43 Notable Americans--And What Each One Really Thought About His Predecessor (Hardcover)

Vanity Fair's Presidential Profiles: Defining Portraits, Deeds, and Misdeeds of 43 Notable Americans--And What Each One Really Thought About His PredecessorThe volume is smaller that I thought it would be. The art is excellent. While the material for each of the presidents is well chosen and good a little more length would have been better. Given the purpose of the book and the timing it is well worth buying and having.