Fishing With the Presidents (Paperback)

by Bill Mares (Author) "For two months during the sweltering summer of 1787, the Federal Convention met in Philadelphia to draw up a constitution for the United States..." (more)
Key Phrases: presidential fishing, presidential library, first salmon, White House, Herbert Hoover, Jimmy Carter (more...)

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.

Product Description
* 63 b/w photos * 58 drawings * 6 x 9 *
* Historic photos from private collections
* Excerpts and anecdotes from journals, letters, diaries, personal interviews
* Extensive collection of political cartoons

"Bill Mares has written a unique book about the fishing habits of the United States presidents--good, bad, or indifferent. A fly fisherman himself, he writes with vigor and perception. When you read this book, you too will be hooked." --Stephen E. Ambrose, bestselling author of Undaunted Courage

Fishing with the Presidents is not only a terrific piece of Americana, it's great fun, and packed with irresistible and blessedly noncontroversial presidential lore." --Paul Schullery, author and fly-fishing historian

A treasury of anecdotal lore about our fishing presidents, from Washington to Bush. This richly illustrated collection covers both the avid and expert fishermen among them--Cleveland, Hoover, FDR, Eisenhower, Carter, Bush--as well as the reluctant and marginally competent--Truman and Nixon. Packed with fascinating trivia--Washington was a successful commercial fisherman and FDR had specially-rigged chairs in his fishing boats--this delightful collection adds to the history of American angling and to the personality profiles of American presidents.

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 19851991 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.

"Bill Mares has given us an anecdotal history that is as entertaining as it is authoritative, as delightful as it is informative. It is also beautifully illustrated." --James MacGregor Burns, Professor Emeritus, Williams College

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811727688
• ISBN-13: 978-0811727686
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,123,083 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

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

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing man, February 12, 2003

By A Customer

Mr. Mares now teaches at my high school, in fact he is my Western Civilization teacher (and U.S. Foreign Policy next year). I must say that I am quite impressed with Bill Mares, both as an author and as a man. His resume is longer than one would expect. The result is an excellent book and, more importantly, an excellent educator. He is a graduate of Harvard, part of the United States Marine Corps, photojournalist, adventurer, marathon-runner, and statesman.

As for the book; it is intelligent and enjoyable. I often found myself belly laughing at what I, as a typical American teenager, would find disinteresting