Customer Reviews

William Howard Taft and the First Motoring Presidency, 1909-1913

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

 

 

I found this book for a research project for school, and I was captivated by it. It's a fresh look at the progressive era, and, as far as I can tell, the first happy look at the Taft presidency around. I read the Pringle book, too, and was I glad that the Bromley book references areas of disagreement with Pringle, which helped me make my own conclusions. The Pringle book and all the other biographies of Taft are stale. This one stands out! Above all, the text flows easily and the story moves in and out of an amazing array of information presented. A must for any student of the progressive era, and a fun time for anyone who enjoys history.

Well written but beware that this book is little about the presidency and more about cars. Interesting, but if you are trying to read through all the presidents and want a look at the presidency, this is not the Taft book for you. Otherwise a well written book and I will return to it, thus the five stars.

While this book approaches the Taft presidency through the lens of the coming of the automobile, it accomplishes much more than establishing Taft's imperative role in the rise of motor cars. The book covers two subjects, Taft and automobiles, and the Taft presidency, and it covers both thoroughly.

Bromley approaches the Taft presidency with the question as to why Taft was the first president to endorse and extensively use automobiles. From there the question expands across the presidency itself, and the larger narrative of the 1909-1913 period expands to include the major themes and battles of the Progressive Era itself.

The research is broad and well-represented in the work, especially for its exploration of contemporaneous attitudes and perspectives. Also, through extensive use of footnotes, Bromley explores the general historiography of the Progressive Era.

Well researched, lively written, this book is highly recommended.