Books in Presidents series

The rough-hewn general who rose to the nation’s highest office, and whose presidency witnessed the first political skirmishes that would lead to the Civil WarZachary Taylor was a soldier’s soldier, a man who lived up to his nickname, “Old Rough and Ready.” Having risen through the ranks of the U.S. Army, he achieved his greatest success in the Mexican War, propelling him to the nation’s highest office in the election of 1848. He was the first man to have been elected president without having held a lower political office.John S. D. Eisenhower, the son of another soldier-president, shows how Taylor rose to the presidency, where he confronted the most contentious political issue of his age: slavery. The political storm reached a crescendo in 1849, when California, newly populated after the Gold Rush, applied for statehood with an anti- slavery constitution, an event that upset the delicate balance of slave and free states and pushed both sides to the brink. As the acrimonious debate intensified, Taylor stood his ground in favor of California’s admission—despite being a slaveholder himself—but in July 1850 he unexpectedly took ill, and within a week he was dead. His truncated presidency had exposed the fateful rift that would soon tear the country apart.

The sixth edition of a popular favorite, this digest-sized, easy-to-read book features summaries of each president and his term of office -- from George Washington to the president elected in 2004!Hail to the chief! The highest title in the United States belongs to the president. Our 44 presidents came from many backgrounds and parts of the country. Here, readers will learn about all the inspiring individuals who've occupied the Oval Office--from George Washington to George W. Bush! Chock full of information, this accessible book chronicles each president's life and times, and even highlights some funny anecdotes. The process of electing a president is clearly explained, as is the job of a president. Freshly updated for '04, the cover will feature the newly elected commander-in-chief!