Every four years Americans have the privilege to vote in the presidential election. It is critical that those of voting age take advantage of this right and go to the ballot box. This great gift of choosing our president distinguishes the United States from many other countries.
There have been 44 presidents in the nation’s history. Each of these leaders has brought an array of skills and abilities to the office. Some have been intellectual giants while others were smooth politicians. The human foibles and unusual traits of our presidents have long been the staple of cartoons and comedy. This humorous and entertaining account of the first 41 American presidents is a delight to read. Judith St. George has entitled her enjoyable book "So You Want To Be President?"
It helps to have the right name to become president. For example, six presidents have been named James and four have been named John.
Some of the presidents have come from very rich and privileged families, but others have come from backgrounds filled with poverty. Andrew Johnson came from such a deprived background that he could not read until he was 14 years old. On the other hand, Thomas Jefferson was one of the most brilliant men ever to become president. He was an architect, a political theorist, a diplomat and a writer. He is one of the primary authors of the Declaration of Independence and of the United States Constitution. Both of these brilliant documents have served as models for other countries in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Some presidents hated the presidency, with John Quincy Adams stating the presidential years were the unhappiest times of his life. On the other hand, Teddy Roosevelt loved being president. Characteristically, Teddy enjoyed most everything about being president. Ebulliently crying "bully" at all the adventures and interesting events he encountered each day, Teddy had a grand time as president. Teddy frequently had pillow fights with his equally energetic children during his presidential terms.
Several presidents have followed in the footsteps of other family members to become president. The first such father-and-son combination was John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams. President Benjamin Harrison was the grandson of President William Henry Harrison. Franklin and Teddy Roosevelt were cousins and the two Bush presidents were father and son. So there must be something to family gene connection.
St. George does not shy away from disgraced presidents either with a dark picture at the end of the book showing President Nixon and President Clinton leaving the White House under suspicion. But most of the book is filled with funny drawings of the presidents which leaves readers asking questions about the events during the presidential terms.
Why would a president allow his children to take a horse up the White House elevator? Who had 11 brothers and sisters? How many of the presidents played golf? How many served in the military? To find out the answers to these questions and many others, go to the library and check out this humorous book, "So You Want To Be The President?" by Judith St. George.
This book is simply charming. The information is entertaining and the pictures are comical. My favorite picture is the one showing Woodrow Wilson dancing. Talk about poetic license, the stern Wilson would likely not find the picture humorous, which of course makes it very funny.
I hope you get a chance to read this book with a younger member of your family. I am sure you will have a delightful time. Enjoy!
