Second Acts: Presidential Lives and Legacies After the White House (Hardcover)

by Mark K. Updegrove (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
As life expectancy increases, U.S. presidents are living longer out of office than ever before. But the post–White House lives of the presidents since Truman have been a mixed bag, according to this creative work by Updegrove, former publisher of Newsweek. Updegrove delineates how these men, formerly the world's most powerful, coped with their new status, earned a living and tried to shape their legacies. Lyndon B. Johnson became depressed, and overate and smoked, despite an earlier heart attack. Jimmy Carter found a new purpose in his humanitarian and diplomatic activities. Some of the book's most surprising moments come in the accounts of the immediate post-WWII presidents: Updegrove reminds us that when Truman left office, there was no pension for former presidents. Updegrove also focuses on the relationships among the ex-presidents, noting that many former adversaries made common cause, though Richard Nixon found it more difficult to get along with his successors. Scholars may find little new, as Updegrove mainly relies on presidential memoirs and secondary sources, in addition to personal interviews. But for those interested in the former presidents, this popular history will do the trick. B&w photos. 40,000 first printing; $75,000 ad/promo; first serial to American Heritage. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
For most of our history, ex-presidents were expected to, and usually did, retire to private life and relative obscurity. After his two terms, Washington, with one brief exception, labored as a gentleman farmer, the occupation he claimed he wished to resume. Jefferson, as the "Sage of Monticello," exercised considerable influence over his Republican successors but did so behind the scenes. Recently, however, it has been accepted and even expected for former presidents to put their talents to public use. Updegrove, former publisher of Newsweek, partially attributes this to the financial security guaranteed to former presidents, including lucrative pensions, book contracts, and honoraria. Freed from financial concerns, they can devote themselves to public endeavors. Utilizing interviews with former presidents and their associates, the author examines the activities of chief executives from Truman to Clinton after they left the White House. Clinton and the elder Bush concentrated on disaster-relief efforts. Nixon tried to influence foreign policy, and Carter has combined both charitable efforts with offering advice on foreign policy. Updegrove writes with a breezy, easily digestible prose. Jay Freeman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592289428
• ISBN-13: 978-1592289424
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #582,080 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!, September 18, 2006

By	Rob (new york) - See all my reviews

Mark Updegrove has written an entertaining and deftly researched story of the lives and accomplishments of our modern American presidents after their terms in the Oval Office. The author offers a fair-handed, nonpartisan history as he interweaves tales of both personal and political dimensions. SECOND ACTS shows how these men continued to forge their legacies after leaving the most powerful office in the land. It's a rare book that can truly be described as "important," but with the contributions that Updegrove makes to the field of presidential history, I feel that SECOND ACTS merits such a label.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for any collection strong in American history or politics., December 11, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Second Acts: Presidential Lives and Legacies After the White House chronicles the activities of former presidents who, far from retiring from office, are making important contributions. Now ex-presidents perform valuable services such as international emissaries, taking their own agendas overseas. Interviews with former presidents, first ladies, family member and staff members not only present these activities, but analyze how ex-presidents are continuing to shape the politics and events of the Oval Office. Essential for any collection strong in American history or politics.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A most ejoyable book to read, December 15, 2006

By	Schmerguls "schmerguls" (Sioux City, Ia USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This book tells of the post-presidential years of all the Presidents beginning with Truman. It is jam packed with interesting information, and while it may break no new ground it does a superlative job of summing the times and men involved. It is a very easy read, and I found it fun to read.